The courage to walk out in public is there, you just have to see it.
One of the toughest things I struggle with is worrying about everyone else around me. From making sure everyone else is ok to not wanting to be an inconvenience. After having kids, I started worrying about how they may act while we were out in public. This is more true due to the fact that my son would get over stimulated while we were out in areas that were busy or contained a lot of things that grabbed his interest.
The issue with overstimulation is that once your child reaches this point, it is very difficult to come back down while you are out and about. The courage to walk the store aisles can feel impossible some days due to this exact thought.
You are not alone in those busy aisles.
When you are not open to the world of mental and behavioral health, you can quickly put judgment on someone who is not of the norm. Think about it. You are walking around the store, and you then hear someone screaming extremely loud. As you turn to look, you notice the shrieking noise you are hearing is coming from a 7 year old child. This child is now on the ground and not wanting to be a part of the mother who is frantically trying to calm her child down.
Amidst all the glares, she appears to be holding her composure and trying to bargain with the screaming child. If you aren’t aware of all the possibilities of this situation, then you will automatically jump to the idea that this child is a spoiled brat who obviously didn’t get something he/she wanted. ‘That mom needs to get her child under control.’ whispers the adult who has no clue what is truly going on in that overstimulated child who doesn’t quite know how to manage all the feelings he is currently feeling.
The mom of the child knows exactly what the onlooker is thinking. The obvious eye roll and a look of ‘I am better’ tells it all. You see, the mom took all that she had to get up the courage to go into the store for a few items. She knew of the possibility of the breakdown, but also knew that she can’t constantly keep them in a bubble.
She knows that her son needs to still be apart of the world he is living in. ‘Maybe this time will be the time that he learns how to cope!’ is what she tells herself every time she steps out of the front door. The one way she tries to scrape up the courage to walk the store aisles.
You are not alone.
Let me tell you, you are not alone! Even if you feel as though you are receiving all the glares from those around you, you are not alone. Let me share a Bible verse that has truly helped me when some days are tough.
“Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
-Philippians 4:6
Don’t be anxious. Telling this to a person who is anxious all the time about everything may seem impossible. It isn’t impossible if you ask for God to give you the courage you need and to show you that you are capable of handling it. Find the time to have quiet time with the Lord and ask Him!
When you live your life for God, you will see things differently. You will seek Him when things are tough, giving you a different perspective of all that is going on around you. I know this first hand. What is keeping you from having the courage to do something? Ask God to help you find the courage that He has for you! Find the courage to walk the store aisles and conquer aspects of your life that you didn’t believe was a possibility.
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