Anxiety, Fear, and Faith
This trip down memory lane is inspired by my friend, Russell Lott, and his new blog: mybackpagesblog. Russell writes eloquently about his childhood in the Big Level community in Stone County, Mississippi. I hope you will subscribe to his blog for some good reading.
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When my grandfather died from a massive heart attack, my dad dropped out of college to return to my hometown to run the family-owned department store. I was 11 months old. My mother was a school teacher.
Knowing what it’s like to have an 11 month old in the house, I am astounded at how my parents were able to make things work during that transition. My dad knew nothing of how to run a business. Luckily for him, my grandfather had forged lifelong relationships with other store-owners in town. These men quickly rose to the challenge and gave my dad a crash course on running a small business.
My dad often spoke of the “almighty dollar.” He enjoyed making money and he enjoyed spending it. Life was good for my brother and me growing up. We wanted for nothing. My friends thought we were wealthy. I mean, we owned “Strong’s Department Store.”
It wasn’t until I was old enough to follow balance sheets and accounts receivable and accounts payable that I knew the sacrifices that mom and dad made for my brother and me. We were not, in fact, wealthy (in terms of money). Running that small business was a month-to-month operation. My dad quite often did not bring home a “paycheck.” And yet, as children, none of this registered to us. Again, we wanted for nothing.
Dad was a hard worker. He and mom instilled a work ethic into my brother and me that remains to this day. More than once my mother reminded me that it was my job to provide for my family. And, I think my brother and I have succeeded in this provision even though our wives have worked, continue to work, and most definitely are capable of being the “breadwinners” in the family.
When the big box stores appeared on the scene, small department stores began to suffer. For our small town, it was K-Mart. Don’t get me wrong, I loved K-Mart. It was a wonderful store. I enjoyed shopping there. K-Mart had things you just could not find without having to travel to Mobile. However, there was no way a small clothing store could compete with the bulk buying power of the big box stores. Eventually, the small stores succumbed and were squeezed out of business.
When I was old enough to work in the store, the struggles had already begun. Those struggles took a toll on dad. There was much anxiety before all was said and done. You could tell when there was a bad day at the store. The almighty dollar had to stretch farther than it usually did.
Dad would come home stressed. (I am convinced that the stress of trying to make a small business succeed, in addition to heredity and lifestyle choices, led to my dad’s early demise.) Yet, in spite of the stress and anxiety, I do not remember ever seeing fear.
I cannot imagine what it would have been like in today’s environment. I’m not sure our small store would have made it. Dad could not have paid the clerks beyond even a few days of closing the doors. Certainly, the $10,000 small business loan would have helped…but only if it truly turned into a grant. We certainly would have had no way of paying it back. The anxiety would have been enormous.
Yet, I still do not believe fear would have entered the equation. Why? I guess the simple answer would be faith. Mom and dad made sure that my brother and I were immersed into the activities of the Baptist church in my hometown. We both made public professions of faith in Jesus Christ at early ages. Faith was always an integral part of our lives.
And so we ponder the relationship among anxiety, fear, and faith. In Philippians 4:6, Paul instructs us to “be anxious for nothing.” That’s a tough one. And I’m not sure how realistic it is in a COVID-19 world for us to “be anxious for nothing.” Anxiety tends to nudge itself into our lives in the most subtle of ways. It’s certainly not healthy to be anxious or to worry, but eliminating it totally is a tall task.
Fear is different, however. Even though fear and anxiety are related, fear seems to have more to do with things that are permanent. It just seems that fear carries a different tone than anxiety.
The Bible is loud and clear regarding fear. A quick google search indicates that we are instructed against fear over 300 times. Some say, though I have not counted, that the admonition against fear occurs 365 times in the Bible. (Again, I have not confirmed this.)
However, Jesus has much to say on fear:
Matthew 10:26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” Jesus said this when speaking of persecutions.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Jesus said this to his disciples when they saw him walking on water in the midst of a storm.
Mark 5:36 “Do not fear, only believe.” Jesus said this to the leader of the synagogue before Jesus restored his daughter to life.
Luke 5:10 Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” Jesus said this to his early disciples upon calling them to follow him.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. Jesus says this as he promises his followers the help of the Holy Spirit.
These are just a few examples of Jesus instructing his followers against being afraid.
If mom and dad were still with us, mom would be 79 and dad would be 78. They would likely be retired and would be watching wall-to-wall coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic like many of us. They would be anxious. He would still be pondering the “almighty dollar” as he checked his stock listings every day. They would likely be upset at not being able to travel to visit grandchildren. But, they would not be afraid. And neither should we.
For those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, our faith is quite capable of overcoming any and all fear. Anxiety and worry may still find room to edge into our lives–even though we try to fight it. But our fear has been conquered.
“You Are My Hiding Place”
words by Michael Ledner
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You
33 Comments so far:
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Thank you for sharing Chuck. This is great.
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Loved this post. Anxious, a little. Fearful, no. I have a hiding place. 🙂 One of my favorite songs. Thinking of you and Martha and the girls with love in my heart for our friendship.
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Thank you Chuck! A wonderful tribute to your mom and dad. I miss your wisdom and your words of encouragement.
John Mixon -
John, so good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well during these strange times.
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Thinking of yall too. Stay safe.
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Don’t expect a huge increase in subscribers. But I’m doing what I can.
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Wow Chuck, this article brings back so many memories. You, your mom and your dad are in so many of my memories as a teenager. One of the main reasons I have run my own engineering company for 30 yrs is because of their example.
I am so proud of your “strong” life in the service of Christ! I am sure Elder Wayne Crocker helped you stay between the navigational beacons. You married his daughter, I sat with him in church with my Grandad. Lol. Small world. -
Chuck, you have brought back sweet memories for me of your mom & dad….. thanks for that!
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Chuck I always remember how your Dad took time to fit my hard headed brothers in pants that not only pleased them but my Mom. As they got older when school was about to start Mom would drop the boys off and let your Dad work his magic. He was a wonderful man and your Mom a true treasure.
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Chuck thanks for not only memories but words of encouragement. George snd I have wonderful memories of your parents. I think of them every time I pass their house
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That was wonderful Chuck. Your mom was my 7th grade math teacher. She always took time out to talk to me. She knew we didn’t have much but she helped us when we needed it.
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Oh what memories! I worked for your Grandad when I was a teenager in school and later became friends with all the Strong family but particularly your Mom and Dad. Watched you grow up. Memories… baptisms, graduations, football, vacations, trips in the Strong station wagon , beach trips, a trip to Ridgecrest for leadership conference ( you, Mitchell, Debbie and David in back , all 8 of us no seat belts, luggage on top) , many fishing trips and on and on I could go. I failed to mention that both of our children worked for Strong’s Department store when they were teenagers. The Strong family holds a special place in our hearts 💕
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Chuck,I remembered Mrs. Strong as Middle School math teacher. I came in store with my grandparents often, they were regular customer of Strong’s Department Store. Thanks for the memories!
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What a great article, and floods my mind with amazing memories. Your Dad took care of us every time we can into Strongs Department store, and your folks were dear family friends. Many great memories of times long ago, well said!
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Chuck, thanks for putting this artical on here. It brought back so many memories all good but rest assured your mom and dad were loved.
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Loved me some Charles Strong. What a guy! What a salesman!! Went into Strong’s Department Store one day TO PAY MY PHONE BILL (I think it was a service he provided) and ‘Strongman’ sold me a new suit (complete with shirt and tie). Always a jolly happy soul. And I think Florene was on the search committee that brought me to FBCBM. Seems like a lifetime ago. Great stroll down memory lane. Thanks Chuck.
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Your mom was my seventh grade math teacher. She assured me that I was not stupid many, many times. She believed in me more than I believed in myself. She was my academic angel after a horrific sixth grade math year. Your dad may have loomed big and bubbly, but your mom was a calm bastion of hope. Loved them both.
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My childhood and teenage shoes and garments came from Strong’s Department Store. Good people. Honest people. Community people. This was beautifully written.
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Enjoyed reading this. I remember your parents well. Fine folks.
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Thanks for the wonderful story and pictures. Seeing them brought back floods of memories of your dad, always with that huge smile on his face. Glad I got to grow up while the store was still there!
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Thanks for this Chuck. I remember Strongs Department store very well. I knew Charles and having premature gray hair I would call him an old man. (Not much older than me). And I would call the store and have him pick out a set of matching clothes for my husband. All I had to do was charge them and pick them up. Great people, your mom and dad were. Thanks for the memories and be safe
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Thanks for the reply. I wouldn’t give anything for my experiences at the store. He absolutely loved doing just what you described…picking out an outfit for someone to give to a spouse for a present. You be safe too.
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Thanks so much for your comments. She loved teaching (for the most part) and loved seeing students learning math.
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Bud Passmore…my goodness. So good to hear from you. Yes, we did take phone bill payments. And I can guarantee you that dad would have been a happy camper at selling someone a suit when they came in to pay a phone bill.
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Thank you. It was a good life in a good church and a good community. We all were certainly blessed.
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Oh my goodness. What friends they were!! So good to hear from you.
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Oh my goodness. Ms. Price, we had wonderful memories of y’all too. I hope y’all are doing well.
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He could really be a charmer, especially if he thought he could make a sale…LOL. Thanks for you comments.
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Is this Jeff McGee? Oh my. It has been a while. Wayne Crocker is actually the brother of my father-in-law. Calvin Crocker is Martha’s dad but many folks get them confused because they really do look a lot alike. Do you still live in the area? We have moved to Montevallo recently.
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Thank you dear Chuck for these treasured family memories that we all hold so dear. What you wrote is a priceless keepsake that was written so beautifully about our loved ones, our family. Thank you.
I love you dearly!
Aunt Anne -
Well said & well written Chuck!
I knew your mother first as my 7th grade math teacher but remember the store well especially getting Cub Scout uniforms for my brothers. But I got to know them more through my in-laws, Sue & Earl Stephens.
My best to you & your family.
Amelia Bryars Stephens -
Chuck, I love the memories! Childhood and youth were such precious gifts to so many of us! Some of us didn’t know what we had. This is wonderful. Please keep writing!
I love this post, Chuck—I’m flattered to think that I inspired it. And I appreciate the plug.