Last night, while I lay thinking here,
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif my kids are dumb in school?
Whatif they contract a disease in the pool?
Whatif I get pregnant and throw up?
Whatif I break grandma’s china cup?
Whatif I get nervous and start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif the color in my hair turns green?
Whatif I can’t fit into my skinny jean?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif my kids don’t grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my husband wants a divorce?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my kids’ teeth don’t grow in straight?
Whatif I bend over and rip my pants?
Whatif someone sees me dance?
Everything seems swell . . . and then . . .
The nighttime Whatifs strike again!

P.S.  I tweaked this poem after Shel Silverstein’s poem (found here).  My friend had asked me to write about worry in our MOPS newsletter and this is what popped into my head.  It made me giggle.

P.S.  Let’s talk about worry.  It does sneak up on us, especially at night when we finally slow down enough to think.  But God commands us not to worry — it doesn’t really accomplish anything besides getting us into a tizzy (See Matthew 6:25-34).  Worrying doesn’t solve my problems, I don’t gain anything from it, and it is self-seeking.  On the other hand, when I give my worry to God, I know that He will guide me through whatever I’m facing.  He may not solve my problem and it may not disappear, but He promises peace to me.  Next time the Whatifs strike you, rest in God’s promise that if He takes care of the birds, He will certainly take care of you (Matthew 6:26).