What do you fear?
I watched a child in the mall yesterday as she was
kicking and screaming. Her parents were trying their
best to calm her down.
I also watched the people passing by them.
Some shook their heads and saw the child as a spoiled,
"give me what I want now," child. Others paused and
offered a few kind words to both the child and
parents.
"You're such a beautiful little girl. Such a beautiful
girl shouldn't cry," one lady said.
"Don't be so sad. We all have bad days," added
another.
"I think she's a spoiled brat," I heard one whisper to
a friend.
None of them were right. The child was neither spoiled
nor having a bad day. She was afraid.
The parents told me afterwards that someone carrying a
coat scared her. She's afraid of dogs. The coat looked
like a big dog. They went on to explain that it is a
challenge for them to go places. Friends have dogs,
neighbors nearby walk their dogs down the
street.
So, you can imagine what it's like to try to get
through a day without sending your child into a panic.
I can remember, as a child walking up the steps at
night I would get the feeling that someone or some
thing was going to grab my feet. So, I ran most of the
time.
I'll admit that occasionally as an adult I do the same
thing.
Fear. What you fear the most in life, owns you,
controls you, limits you.
I struggle with the fear of heights, but I fight it.
My wife sent me off in a glider on my 60th birthday. I
was fine. I was better than fine, I was great!
If I could have one foolish child-like wish come true
it would be to have the ability to fly like a bird.
The truth is fear can be debilitating. Fear cripples
many, limits abilities to enjoy even the simplest
things in life and in some cases stops people from
having medical procedures that could prevent major
health issues.
Fear also crushes dreams.
Sometimes our own fears are imposed on others around
us affecting their views and impacting their ability
to live life fully...all in the name of love, concern
and good parenting.
Someone once used the acronym F.E.A.R as False
Evidence Appearing Real.
I'm not sure that applies to all fear. One might have
had a bad experience with a dog and now that fear is
real, relevant in their lives.
But, I think the kind of fear I believe we can deal
with is the fear that reinforces doubt.
In particular poor self image issues either self imposed
or wrongfully fed to you by others in your life or the
world in general.
Fear and doubt are enemies of faith. They are the
enemy that you permit to control your decisions even
when you declare your faith in God.
You give them power over you. The enemy doesn't want
you to be happy, successful, or faithful. The enemy
wants you to fail and stay there. Why?
Because successful, happy, healthy people give credit
for their happiness to God even when they face their
fears they declare their belief in the God who fears
nothing.
"Fear prevents, faith prevails!"
Bob Perks
2believe@comcast.net