cast all your care on Him

so you've probably noticed -- my last few posts were about being yourself.  there is a reason for that.  you see, my youngest daughter is struggling.  there are aspects of herself that she does not like.  and those aspects that she doesn't like -- she sees what she wants be like in her big sister.  and that has made for some behavior problems --- fighting among my girls that i was not used to.

just as when they were babies -- when there was crying, there was a reason.  tired? hungry? gas?  as school-age kids -- when there are behavior problems, there is a reason.  sometimes it is as simple as being tired or hungry.  but as the winter months stretched on, i knew it had to be something else.

my youngest daughter is stubborn -- and proud.  she is also quiet and reserved -- and tough.  i've always said, her stubbornness and toughness is a great complement to her shyness.  honestly, no one is going to push her around.  but it is her shyness that she hates in herself.  she sees her older sister with friends galore.  her older sister is not shy, to say the least.  she is always able to talk to anyone.  and my youngest sees that, gets upset -- and finally opened up with how she wishes she was more like her sister.

so while talking with my youngest about how she is made exactly for the race ahead of her - reminding her that God does not make mistakes - I find out why she has been so irritable and sad lately.  you see, at second recess, she has no one to play with.  no one.  and that -- breaks. my. heart.  (first recess she has her good friends, thankfully).

i can relate to my youngest.  i've been there.  i've been at the work parties when everyone is paired up talking, and i'm walking around trying to look interested in the food on my plate. i know this anxiety.  i'll admit it -- i have social anxiety.  it shows up at things like recess (i always hated recess), parties that you go to alone, and yes -- even church.

this last week i've gone to the school to be with her at second recess.  i can only do so much for her--but hoping that at least walking around with someone instead of alone would help ease the pain.  and it seems it has.  i think the very thought that she has an anchor in me to help her as she feels lost with this huge problem has helped ease her little mind.

and thank goodness i have my Anchor in Jesus.  if i didn't -- i would be adrift with worry.

"cast all your care on Him, for He cares about you." 1 peter 5:7