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Anxiety

Today I was reminded of an experience I had last year that I need to write down. 


I have a sweet and loving daughter who has fallen on some hard times emotionally.  Things were getting so difficult that Derek and I decided to seek help from a counselor.  We knew that if we did not get help now that when she hit her teen years we would have no way of helping her.  We wanted her to learn how to deal with these difficulties now so that when she was older she would know how to handle them. 

She started to see a counselor and eventually was tested by a psychologist.  After the testing was done but before we knew the results I had an experience that made me realize how much the Lord is aware of us and loves us.

We had to get our flu shots.  I had made an appointment with the doctor for all of my children.  As I waited in carpool line I felt very strongly that I should not tell the children where we were going and what we were going to do until we were almost there.  I picked them up and they all inquired why they didn't ride the bus home.  I explained that I would tell them later.  All of the children settled down and waited but this daughter could not settle down and wait.  She asked over and over again where we were going, what we were going to do.  I kept explaining to her that she had to wait but this only aggravated her more. 

When we arrived at the doctor's office I explained why we were there;
this daughter immediately started to worry and cry.  She asked if she could go last but I knew that she had to go first so that she did not have to wait and worry.  She got her shot after much coaxing and crying and bribing.  The other children quickly got their shots and off we were to get ice cream. 

This daughter really did not deserve the ice cream because of her behavior.  As I sat in the line for the drive through I prayed for guidance to know what to do.  I was told, "She has anxiety, you can handle this, you are given the power, the patience, the knowledge, and the love to handle this."  I felt an immediate sense of empowerment and ability.  I realized that she was sick, that her actions in the doctor's office were beyond her control and I needed to treat her with kindness not cruelty.  She received an ice cream and I explained to the children about her sickness.  

When I arrived at the psychologist's office to receive her diagnosis, I already knew what she needed and what she had.  It didn't matter what the psychologist told me, God had given me the knowledge and the tools to help this sweet child through her struggles and hard ship.

Such a loving and kind Heavenly Father who really cares for us and knows our needs and helps us with them.

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