BREATHE

The “bar” has been lifted (or the limbo stick lowered...depending on your preferred image) in the lives of our teens and even tweens compared to when we were in their place. In middle-school, they are pushed to take high-school classes and tests; in high-school, they are prompted, cajoled, and strongly encouraged to take dual enrollment classes and knock off college credit with no guarantee that the laborious studying will be rewarded with the coveted credits. Teens could be enjoying a couple more years of unencumbered wonder as they ease into adulthood; instead, in the name of success, they are pushed to reach their full potential, intellectually, spiritually, and otherwise; they are prodded to excel in athletics, the arts, or a club or two, and sometimes keep a job. They wear many hats at school, within their families, and in their communities while participating on various teams, suffering through standardized tests, some caring for younger brothers and/or sisters, worry abo

ANXIETY RELIEF ~ “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Emotions are vital. They signal that our body is either in “homeostasis” (equilibrium) or in crisis. When, however, they become “body-bullies,” building, growing, and controlling what we can and can not do — it’s time to surrender those feelings to our Lord and focus on relief.  Let’s recognize ANXIETY as a signal instead of allowing it to trigger more and more anxiety.   HOW?         Purposeful breathing                          Taking a walk       Prayer                           Listening to praise music                                           We surrender worry, anxiety, or other strong emotions by focusing on ANYTHING other than the cause of the anxiety.  This allows our minds and bodie