Hakuna Matata!

I've been reading in Philippians lately. As I was reading Chapter 4 this morning, I found myself humming the "no worries" song from the Lion King. I laughed out loud when I realized that Paul's words had taken me there:

6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (The Message)

I love those verses, but for me, they fall into the much-easier-said-than-done category. I just have one of those brains that doesn't turn off that easily. I KNOW not to worry, but putting that into practice is sometimes hard for me to understand. Anyway, hearing that song in my head made me wonder about Hakuna Matata, so I did some searching. "Ha" is a negative. "Kuna" means "there are." "Matata" means "tangles." ("There are no tangles.") Now tangles? Tangles I understand. I have two beautiful daughters, both with beautiful hair. Beautiful, wild, curly hair.

 

(Maggie, 1999)

                                                    

                                                                 (Anabel, 2004)

We definitely have had our share of tangles (and tears!) over the past 10 years. Why just this morning........ but I digress.

So, going back to Philippians, what a great word picture of what worry does to me. It just "tangles" me up! Causes stress "knots" in my muscles and stomach. Keeps me from focusing on what's important. Trips me as I try to run the race. 

So, I'm taking a deep breath and diving in. I'm going to pray and praise in place of worry. I am. School stress? Pray and Praise! Church stress? (did someone say "amen?") Pray and Praise! "Ike" who? Pray and Praise!

Humming to myself even now,

Mel