We build our own Walls of Anxiety

I was just thinking how much stress and anxiety we put on ourselves when we face an unknown situation. I love my parents, but there are times that they get way over the top. I am at an age where I don't believe theyve been able to "let go" and let me be an adult. I am going through a personal struggle and needing to find a solution to one of my problems and my father has taken it upon himself to "find a solution" and to the nth degree. My anxiety is driving with them to a family gathering and working myself up for 2 weeks knowing that we were going to carpool for over 2 hours and I was not going to hear the end of it.

I was even, much to my own personal disagreement, going to cancel going because I just didn't need to hear the lecture. See how much we build up? Or at least what I did to myself? ergh! All for nothing. blemishes, overeating and an upset stomach for a week and a half all for a 10 minute conversation and how did I do it? First, I believe in the power of prayer - just sat with my Lord for a few minutes and let him hear what I needed to get off my chest and just yelled with tears pouring out that I don't know any other way to handle this other than avoidence (which was not the answer and it would mean not being able to see the number 1 man in my life - my 2.5 y/o nephew and my brother+his wife) and I was truly upset with the way this situation was being handled. They arrived, I said my greetings-Hi how are ya how's life, whatcha been up to and so forth. 10 min into the ride I laid it on the table "this is how's it's been and this is what I am doing - any questions?" He heard me, had a question- discussion closed.

Good grief, that was it? I was ready for an altercation, I was ready, my gloves were on and what I realized was I was ready and built up a Huge issue into a minor two sentence...um thing! And we're done! That's it. How did I finalize things? for the next hour I sat there silently praising Jesus for covering the situation and asked for my next request - take the butterflies out of my stomach and suppress the acid rising.

I know you've been there also - just remember, even if you don't pray, sometimes we build those little bumps in life into huge mountains and our anxiety gets the better of us. Bless you!

'Chele