Last night I woke up at 4:30 in the morning.  My mind was spinning.  I thought of 2 of my married daughters.  Would their marriages last?  Were they happy?  Would they have enough money to enjoy themselves?  The requirements of life are so much more than when I was in my 20’s.  They have vehicles that are run by computers – how can anybody repair a car these days?  They don’t only have a computer, they have blogs.  They write very few letters anymore that are taken to the post office – they have cell phone plans that allow unlimited use (but nothing is free!).  They chat – on the computer with a camera so they can see each other on their computer screen.  High speed internet with fiber optic cables carry phone messages from one end of the globe to the other in a split second.  Food comes in microwavable packages.  Duct tape and garlic cures all evil.  Harmful drugs are available anywhere – even in our medicine cabinets.  A seemingly incurable war goes on in the Middle East.  More countries are manufacturing  nuclear weapons are other weapons of mass destruction.  Both of my daughters are expecting babies to be born.  What kind of world are my grandchildren going to face?  The Cochabamba International Church has outgrown our rental facility and new people come every Sunday.  Where will we build?  Is a large investment wise?  My children are on the internet all the time.  Will they get hooked on pornography?  Will they meet someone – a predator – during an internet chat that will hurt them?

Ten years ago a US newspaper did a survey of fears.  54% were “very afraid” of being in a car crash; 53% of having cancer; 49% of not having enough retirement money; 36% of food poisoning from meat; 35% of getting Alzheimer’s; 33% of being a victim of individual violence; 32% of being unable to pay current debts; 28% of getting AIDS …

Do we know our future?  Do our fears of the future control our actions of today?  Norman Vicent Peale said, “Fear is a conglomeration of sinister shadows, and a shadow that has no substance.”  Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Once I got up from bed, took a shower and ate breakfast, my nighttime worries faded into nothing – but how much sleep had I lost?”  Let’s live the best “today” we can!

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.