Today is my birthday. Tatatada!!! So my gift to YOU is to share one of the mottos of my life.
Fifty-two years ago God brought me into this world. When I was sixteen, I began dating my future husband. During these 36 years of life, Tim has said on numerous occasions that my theme song is “Don’t worry be happy”. So, I’ve claimed it as my song and when it comes over any speaker, I’m sure to let others know it is my song as well.
One example that vividly comes to mind was when I was about to jump off a bridge. Okay, not in a horrifying way…well, some may disagree with THAT statement…but for an exhilarating experience. In February 2014, we were in Queenstown, New Zealand. We passed by the Kawasaki Gorge Suspension Bridge, the site of the world’s first commercial bungy jumping site. Our driver proceeded to tell us about the AJ Hackett Bungy Company, and three of us booked the experience for the next day. When we arrived, the establishment appeared to be safe and secure, and very professional, and it was. 
Before you jumped off the bridge into the view of stunningly aqua colored waters, the employee asked if you had any specific song you wanted to hear as you were about to plummet 141 feet. Now that I think about it, did they do this so you would have a specific song in mind before you possibly ended your life? Yikes…no…I rebuke that thought, but I am smiling. My friend, Theresa, asked them to play a religious song. When they asked me, I believe I was still in thought when they started playing “don’t worry be happy”. My face lit up and said, “THAT’S my song! My husband says that I don’t worry, and am always happy.” That moment felt like a team in a locker room, getting pumped up before a big game, playing their go-to/fight song. (See original bungy post here: https://soakinguptheson.com/new/daily-journaling/call-me-crazy/ )
A couple of lyrics in the song say: “In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double” and “Here I give you my phone number, when you worry, call me, I make you happy”. The first line reminds me how YES, we will have troubles in life, but don’t let those troubles define you. Hold on to the hope that Jesus gives, and know that “this too shall pass”. When I read the latter line, I thought about how we have a direct line to our Heavenly Daddy. He is available 24/7. When worries wash over you, call out to Jesus. He will take care of you.
The bible has plenty to say about worrying.
Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ERV
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 HCSB
Don’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. Philippians 4:6 MSG
“So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small! “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries. Matthew 6:25-34 ERV
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5 MSG
Give your worries to the Lord, and he will care for you. He will never let those who are good be defeated. Psalm 55:22 ERV
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 HCSB
I’m sure I could muster up many more bible verses that remind us to DON’T WORRY. I want to encourage you to dig deeper into God’s word and find more if you need them.
Now listen, I’m not saying that I don’t have any worries in life. For goodness sake, I’m a mother of three, whom their ages range between 18-24! And ask my massage girl, Monica. She will tell you I keep it all in my upper back area. Yet, I will confess that when a hint of worry wells up within me, I get on my knees and give it to God. Like Erma Bombeck once said, “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” So…why worry?!.
A dear friend of mine told me, “Stephanie, you are the happiest non-dope-smoking friend I have.” That cracked me up! I am grateful that others see me as a happy-go-lucky-person. Life is too short. Live life and love big, and give all your worries to God!
George Burns once said, “If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.” I’ll never forget seeing Mr. Burns at Gator Growl (an event that happens the night before a University of Florida homecoming game), back in the 1980’s. I would have thought he would have said his longevity was due to him having a cigar in one hand and a martini in the other. So when I read that he said what he did, I had to include it and agree. DON’T WORRY.
Writing about not worrying isn’t anything new for me. Here are just a few journal entries that pertain to this matter. Please click on and be encouraged:
“You can’t add any time to your life by worrying”
“Flowers make me happy”
“Bloom”
“It’s a bit windy” (I viewed the video in this entry…good stuff…and I think I should change the title to “Ship Happens” haha.)
“The purpose of life” (This brought back some fun memories of the hunting camp in GA. I’m not sure why this article came up in my search for “Don’t worry be happy”, but it is a great reminder for us all.)
“Live however or whatever?”
So, as I stated in the opening of today’s journal entry…one of my life mottos is my gift to you…DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY! Actually, I’m more than happy (external), I am filled with JOY (internal)! Thank you Jesus!!
(I even bought an early bday gift for myself this week…a candle with my motto on it.)
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Inspiring!