There’s a word that says so much—Please stop, I’m done, and content. Going on vacation can be stressful. Watching how my parents prepared for a trip taught me what not to do and yet, somehow, i do. I never realized what anxiety looked like...
As a child, my Dad yelled, my Mom would cry, then stop talking to him. This was a common cycle. He would apologize, but it took her days to get over it. My Mom handled stress differently. Apparently just by walking in the room, i created stress and became the object of her verbal assault. He stress was family gatherings. Something about them just did things to her.
I developed a well-tuned sense of dread for trips and especially family gatherings. The pressure to ensure that everyone is packed and we get to the airport or our destination is more than i can handle at times. Cue the Stress Monster and she is not pretty. She rushes around muttering things, unpleasantries. At first, she becomes overwhelmed, so much so that she cannot move. Then something snaps inside and she kicks into high gear. There are three people living under one roof (and a dog). Each person is responsible for packing their stuff. But the Stress Monster, based on previous experiences, starts pressuring the youngest to get clothes together four to five days before a trip, which she doesn’t until the night before, but that could be a whole different blog. I did allow her to pack her suitcase once, we ended up at stores (yes, plural) to purchase what she forgot.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and you minds in Christ Jesus.
Two verses that need to be plastered all over my house. Time to change the Stress Monster and the control she has over me. My new approach to vacation is to PRAY first, thanking God for the opportunity to travel, and set all my anxiety at His feet. (Note—should have done this at the start of the week and everyday since, but I am a stressed out, control freak Mom). Happy Mother’s Day. Oh and hang in there, we will get through life together (:
