Ok, so in my last post I told you about the idea of a “God Box”.  This is not original.  I heard about it in an Al-Anon meeting and it was very impactful for me.  This is a great strategy  to help us as hurting parents deal with our emotions of fear, worry and anxiety.  For me it helps me trust God and let go.

When you realize you are worrying, anxious or upset about something related to your child who is struggles with substance abuse, self harm, anorexia or bulimia, a mental health issue (depression, bipolar, etc.), is in jail or prison, or suffers from thoughts of suicide —  write it down on a piece of paper and put it in a “God Box”.  Choose a box (any kind or size you want) and put  on the  top, “My God Box:” or “God Box”.  It’s up to you if you want to decorate it in some way.  For convenience I put a small notepad with a pen inside.  I can’t explain it but there is something about  writing down what I’m fretting over it in the box.  Writing it down helps me get out the feelings.  Putting it in the box symbolizes giving it to God, putting it in his hands, letting it go.

Well, it took me a few days to put my Christmas wish list in my box.  First, I got sick.  Then, family arrived from out of town and things got really busy, but I finally got to the task.  I pulled out my God Box, got out my pen and notepad, wrote down my Christmas Wish List, then I put it carefully inside.  There’s something so powerful about this process.  Writing it down.  Putting it in the box.  Leaving it there.  Walking away and trusting God with it.  It only takes a few minutes and it’s helping me find a little more peace.  I am a little less anxious and sad.  A little less nervous and fearful.  It’s a simple thing . . .  an easy thing to do that has a big result in my heart and mind.

So, I challenge you to give yourself this gift.  Go find a box and get started today!  I hope it helps you find a little more peace as you give your fears and anxieties more and more to the only One who can help you.

This Christmas season we are reminded once again that Jesus is our source of help, our Prince of Peace.  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”   (Isaiah 9:6 Contemporary English Version)