In ‘Under a Cloudless Sky’ by Chris Fabry, Ruby’s daughter Frances is described as someone who ‘saw the glass half-empty and suspected the water in the bottom was contaminated.’ She always fears the worst – and part of her worst-case-scenario thinking is realized in what happens to Ruby. In what ways do you relate to Frances’s tendency to worry?
I think it’s normal for a parent to worry. For a mom of children with special needs—worry can sometimes take over. Additionally, I tend to foresee the bad things that can happen and while I have legitimate concerns; I have to be careful or I come off as being very negative. I’m a realist and that can lead to a lot of worry of the “what-ifs” because we take into account past experience.
Finding a balance is hard for people like me. I have to learn when to take my worries to God. I have to also let people learn for themselves. There are times when I see people do things that from my experience will lead to a negative outcome. I have to remember that I was allowed to make my own mistakes and I need to let others do the same.
I think Frances is a realist. She just didn’t learn how to express her concerns in a way that kept her from looking like a jerk. I get it. I still struggle with it. For realists, I think we’ll always struggle with it.
How do you combat worry and stay stress-free?
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