The world according to Harlee

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NIV

So, I write about my granddaughter fairly often. It is sort of like showing someone pictures of her. I have about 4,000 of them on my phone. I don’t see ever getting tired of talking about her. Even if you may have already heard the stories, they are still worth telling.

One thing that Harlee has taught me is mind control. Let me explain. Like most people, I have things that worry me. I have things that occupy my mind even if it is not a worry. Work, chores, bills and life in general can take up a lot of mental space. I have learned that anything I give mental space can take over more space if I let my mind run. I think it is very easy to let every second of mental opportunity be filled with things that just do not matter.

For a large part of my adult life I would have told you that I just cannot help it. Some things just make me worry or doubt or just ponder. Harlee has taught me that my previous thinking on this issue is largely false.

Her presence on earth has reminded me that I can, in most cases, make my mind do what I tell it to do. If she is at our house, I do not worry about anything. My wife tells me that I am sort of an under the radar worrier. It took me a little time to realize what it felt like when worry was missing. Can you imagine, chunks of thought wiped clean, filled with thoughts of a little kid who looks at me as perfect.

My wife must be paying the bills because I have not thought about them in almost 17 months. I also lose track of things I need to do around the house or yard (well maybe I still think about the yard). I have also noticed that I spend less time in comparative analysis of my life. That is probably one of my worst habits simply because I usually assign perfection as the standard of comparison to where I think we could be if I had just done a better job of ….. Insert whatever topic you want, I have probably judged myself for it. That is a self-destructive habit that I really have not seen since the birth of one little human.

The thought of “praying without ceasing” from the verse above has always intrigued me as well. I really try to have a quiet time to listen for the still small voice of God. Sometimes I think I hear it. Sometimes I do not think I hear anything, but in either case the element of time comes into play. The day has to proceed, right? Last night I sat outside in complete darkness listening to nothing for over an hour and a half and it seemed like 5 minutes. It was beautiful.

The bible also describes a permanent state of praise and worship in heaven. That thought has always seemed odd to me. I get anxious if the praise and worship at church runs too long on a Sunday morning. How am I supposed to sing for eternity?

That little girl does not have to do one thing to make my life better. She owes me nothing. She will continue to be loved even if she never stops kissing my dogs on the mouth or licking every surface she can reach in our house. She cannot form a sentence yet, but if she stands by the door and looks at me, we are going outside.

She has reminded me that time will not matter in heaven and that it usually means more to me here than it needs to. I have been reminded that if I have something on my heart like the health of a friend or the hardships that exist in life I can purposefully clear every second of time to talk to God about it, instead of worrying about it. Can you imagine, all from one little baby.

What is your biggest fear?

What is your biggest worry?

Challenge: I can struggle with the motivation to concern myself with something that I should be handing to my Savior and getting on with the life that one little baby has blessed me with.

Rick Claiborn