The forecast was frost; the weatherman with a worried look on his face predicted temperatures below freezing, which spelled trouble for those with pets or plants.  Science had calculated the odds and observed the atmospheric conditions, then their front men wearing a tie and a somber expression told of the coming doom.  Afterwards I took a stroll through the woods and came upon this dogwood tree.

        As I looked at its beautiful blooms I thought of the trouble coming tomorrow and worried about the certain destruction and disaster coming to such a pleasant plant.  I thought to myself that nothing could be done to shield or protect it from such a harsh demise.  I began to wonder what Mr. Dogwood would say if he heard the predictions of his disaster.  Would he spend his last day worrying about what might be tomorrow?  Would he weep for what he was certain to lose tomorrow?  Would anxiety and fear fill his thoughts today as he worried about tomorrow?

        As I took this photo I was struck by the warm and friendly expression I saw beaming out from his petals.  I imagined I could see tranquility and serenity oozing out from his leaves.  Then in a dreamy whisper I thought I could hear him say, there is no need to worry about tomorrow.  My only concern is to make the most of today.  Worrying will only pull tomorrows clouds over today’s sunshine.  I can not change the past, so why would I ruin the present by worrying about the future?  We need not be anxious about what the future holds for us if we truly know who holds the future.

        Can you guess what happened to my calm Mr. Dogwood?  I know this will be hard to believe, but no frost touched his leaves and all his petals were accounted for the next day.  Apparently the wind blew too hard for the frost to do its damage to our trusting friend.  Today, let us too live a life of courage and faith as we face uncertain foes.  We do not know what tomorrow will place in our lap, but we do know that whatever comes we can meet head on without fear.  Courage and faith are a choice; don’t hurry, don’t worry.  You’re only here for a short visit.  So be sure to stop and smell the flowers.

Something to think about:

• A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.

• Trouble is often the lever in God’s hands to raise us up to heaven.

• One is given strength to bear what happens to one, but not the one hundred and one different things that might happen.

• Your attitude toward your trouble often hurts you more than the trouble.

• Don’t let yesterday’s mistakes trouble you, nor tomorrow’s fears spoil your day.

• Don’t worry what you could do if you lived your life over; get busy with what’s left.

• Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its strength.

• Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is, with thoughts of what may be.

• The best cure for worry is to go deliberately forth and try to lift the gloom off somebody else.

Philippians 4:6-9
Rickey Moore