Oh How a Mother Worries

By Laura Kenda

My father died when I was just ten years old, so I always thought I would not be on the planet for a long time. Working as a nurse during COVID-19, I was even more anxious about my life expectancy and the safety of my daughter.

I know God doesn't want me to worry, yet ever since I became a mother, that just seems to come with the territory. I've only been a mother for twelve years, and I haven't slept well since!

This book was written for her as a guidebook to remind her of all the things I've been telling her about being safe, healthy, and happy but not quite sure she was listening! In fact, she even admits to only hearing a portion of what I say.

The stories are meant to instill joy in knowing that we are not alone, which I thought of naming this book but figured surely that title was already taken.

God wants us to be happy, but we may have some difficult lessons along the way, but He has a plan for us. We will have ups and downs, but if we keep the faith and make positive choices, then we will have everything we need. We may even have a few things we want.

God is ever present, and for that, we are blessed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685173227

Book preview

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Oh How a Mother Worries

Laura Kenda

ISBN 978-1-68517-321-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68517-322-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Laura Kenda

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Dangers Lurking Everywhere

Chapter 2

Independence

Chapter 3

Love

Chapter 4

Sweet Memories and Traditions

Chapter 5

Grief

Chapter 6

Music

Reflections

About the Author

Introduction

This book is for my daughter as an instructional guide for when she leaves home someday. It is also for everyone else to understand how your mother may think and feel since we all have or have had a mother at some point! It includes many things one should avoid and many ways to be safe—just in case she hasn't been listening all these years. Hopefully, she won't be a helicopter mom as I am when she is a mother someday. I hope this provides some humor, as it is in part intended to make you laugh. On the other hand, I hope it does not make you more neurotic as we have enough of that already, especially this year amidst the global pandemic.

Perhaps I have read too many books about worst case scenarios or seen too many psychological thrillers or facts I learned in nursing school, or simply the hormone flux after delivering a baby was enough to put me on this path of perpetual worry and lack of sleep. However, there is hope that my prayers and my faith make a difference. On that note, I thank God for reminding me always that we are not alone and to live free of distress and anxiety; I keep trying! But in all seriousness, those words do actually help calm me when I find my parental worrying gets out of hand. That, and yoga—namaste!

It does help to see an angel in the sky and other signs to remind us that we are not alone. I took this photo, leaving the hospital where I work just as the sun was setting, and it brought me peace in the midst of all the chaos in 2020.

Chapter 1

Dangers Lurking Everywhere

Martial Arts

My daughter was enrolled in karate during preschool and again during elementary school as I always told her that she should have these skills to protect herself. I once read a book (sorry, I can't remember the title, but I vaguely recall the cover was purple) that said one such technique is to eat meat, cheese, and eggs so that you can pass gas just at the right time as an offense to your opponent. This skill of passing gas may just come in handy, though it might pose a problem in the area of relationships! However, there are other maneuvers that might be handier in case the right combination of foods hadn't been eaten when an unexpected attacker decides to strike. There's the old kick him in the balls trick, but I tell her what my big brother taught me, find the soft spot in the middle of the neck and hit it hard as this will take your breath away. Of course, there is the more severe upper strike of the nose, but that could kill someone, and we don't really want to kill anyone, being one of the Ten Commandments and all.

Just the other day, I was showing her how to flip someone who comes from behind even if they are bigger. She was actually far too excited about the idea of flipping me! One may think this is taking an eye for an eye too literally, and rather we should turn the other cheek, but the world is changing and has its dangers due to those humans who have not followed the straight and narrow path. In lieu of this sad fact,