One thing I didn't think about when I moved to the "Grass Seed Capital of the World" was that this is also the "Grass Pollen Capital of the World". My goodness, allergy season in the Willamette Valley is no joke!
The weird thing about seasonal allergies is that it’s not really the pollen that causes the problem directly, but the body’s overreaction to the pollen that leads to the itching, sneezing, watery-eyed misery.
It’s hard to believe that such a teeny-tiny thing can cause so many people so much misery!
But, when you think about it, it’s often the little things in life that cause us the most stress. Remember the book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all Small Stuff?" According to the book, most of the things that cause people major stress and angst turn out to be relatively small problems that we respond to poorly.
Unfortunately, like the air in the Valley right now, life is full of these tiny irritants. If we aren’t careful, they can build up causing us major stress and unhappiness.
How do we avoid stressing out over life’s day-to-day problems? Richard Carlson, the author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” recommends that we focus on: serving other people, avoiding perfectionism, and practicing patience.
I've also found that making time for solitude and prayer is essential for dealing with the things that stress me out.
Finally, remember this promise from Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
God Bless You! (a-choo!)
