I tend to worry about life.  I don’t worry about death so much – I am confident that God sent Jesus to take care of that for me (and you), so I can let that one go.  But, I do worry about my husband and family.  I worry about being the best teacher I can be.  I worry about the car making it through the snow drifts that are piling up on our road.  I fret about 28 below zero (last Wednesday morning as we left for work!!), I wake up sometimes in the middle of the night and think about the new novel I’m writing, or  if I paid the cell phone bill on time. This is only a tiny list.

Yikes.

I was at a funeral on Saturday.  A friend of mine died, and we were all there to honor her life.  She had cancer and knew she was dying.  In fact, her Christmas card to me this year said,

“This will be the best Christmas ever!  I am going home.  Time to celebrate.”

I have pondered that card since I got it – especially knowing she was failing each day.  At her funeral, which she planned and her family executed beautifully, the pastor talked about John 14: 27.  Oh yeah, I’ve heard that one before many times.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled …”  I buy it, mostly.  I don’t have to worry about death – see above.  But what hit me while I was sitting, tissue in hand, saying goodbye to my friend is this:  IT IS A CHOICE!  I can let my heart be troubled or I can choose to be joyful and worry free.  I do not have to worry.  It is not required.  Okay.  So now I have something to work on.  I’ve made myself some little cards that say Let not your heart be troubled.  I’m going to stash them places – especially in places where I tend to worry, like beside my bed, on my desk, in the car,  maybe tattooed on my arm.  I am going to choose wisely as often as possible.