What If?

I was tucking her into bed one night last week & after we prayed together, out of the blue she rambles off a few, “What if…?” questions.

“What if I get sick & we miss the trip to the zoo? What if the doctor tells me I need another surgery? What if______?”

We had a fun trip to the zoo planned with some friends the next day & later in the week we had an appointment with her new orthopedic doctor for her yearly check up for her hip dysplasia. Isn’t it always when you’re tucking them into bed that they all the sudden get chatty? Or maybe that’s just our kids?

If I’m honest, she’s probably heard me play the “What if?” game a few times lately. Yesterday morning, I found myself letting my mind wander into the land of What If as Greg was preparing to leave for a motorcycle trip. My phone kept beeping alert after alert of severe weather in our area. It’s one thing to be inside during a severe thunderstorm or even driving in a car, but to be on a motorcycle, exposed to the pounding rain, wind & possible hail?? Outright dangerous. I know Greg is a smart rider and will pull over when he can but some of the routes they take on these trips are rural & nothing but corn & soybean fields for miles. Shelter can be hard to find. What Ifs were swirling around like crazy.

I can always pinpoint any anxiety I’m feeling when I have let my faith slack & start to listen to my own inner fears instead of turning them over to God in prayer. I’m quiet by nature but when I’m feeling anxious, I withdraw from all interactions & hide {which isn’t easy in small house!}. I’m sure my kids see right through those moments & my youngest catches on to the anxiety. That is not the legacy I want to instill on my children.

As parents, it’s our job to help our kids handle the “What if?” questions with grace & wisdom.  I kindly answered her by saying {speaking to myself as much as to her}: “We don’t play the ‘What if?’ game. We trust God. We live each day to the fullest. We do not live in fear of the ‘What if?'”. Then I reminded her that the best way to defeat the What If’s is by prayer & reciting His Word. These verses immediately came to mind:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:6-9 {emphasis mine}

Honestly, the doctor could look at those x-rays & say something doesn’t look right. Someone could get sick & we could miss the zoo trip. Greg could get caught in severe weather. Something could happen that is beyond our control. Every. Day.

Tossing around every What If thought is not going to change our reality. Our What If’s rob us from living our life to the fullest. Our What If’s can make us cower & hide.

The amazing news? We have the power of prayer & His Word to turn those What If’s into Whatevers.

Daughters. Sons. Sisters. Brothers. Think about whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

What if? Whatever!