Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. Matthew 6:34 (CEV)

Some of my favorite people in the world are not people at all. I thrive on the wisdom of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Winnie the Pooh, and Paddington the Bear. Their lives seem so complicated over so little and that reminds us that that is probably how God sees some of our worries and situations.

Ever wonder why you enjoy reading to your children or grandchildren? Here is the secret. Every good children’s book has a message for the adult reading it to the child. Put in words that even a child can understand, great truths are perpetuated. I still read Dr. Seuss’ The Places We Will Go before heading out from home on a yet unknown adventure.

Charlie Brown said, “Worrying won’t stop the bad thing from happening. It just keeps you from enjoying the good.” And his friend Snoopy chimes in, “Always remember that your present situation is not your final situation. The best is yet to some.” Lucy, the focus of much of Charlie’s energy said, “I can’t help thinking that this would be a better world if everyone listened to God.” Paddington was largely a friend to British children who were sent from cities out to rural areas to live with strangers during WWII, thus protecting them from the blitz. He was always going on an adventure and it never seemed to work out quite the way he had thought, but a marmalade sandwich always saved the day as he never traveled unprepared. My son’s Paddington bear shared a seat with me in economy class from London and he was larger than my son, a small child at the time. We loved Paddington. He said, “I think the merry-go-round is a very good way to travel if you don’t want to go anywhere.” And then there is our other British friend, Winnie the Pooh, who said, “Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart, and strong enough to live the life you have imagined.”

What really fascinates me is that at the end of many episodes in the lives of these childhood friends, they fall asleep with a big smile on their face. As Charlie Brown put it, “Give it to God and go to sleep.” Seems like wonderful wisdom to me.

Prayer

May the God of peace and understanding wash away anxiety and replace every nightmare with eternal calm. Amen.

Judy Butler