18 Nov Self Care and You…

Last time I blogged, I shared about Inner Beauty. I’ve been thinking over the last few weeks about how difficult it was for me over my 10 years of motherhood to have an ebb and flow figuring out how to take care of myself. I was skilled at constantly serving and striving to be the woman God wanted me to be but many times I did not understand and tend to my own needs.

There is a strong element of sacrifice that we make everyday as moms but it’s so important to take care of you.

I think it can be really hard to do this with balance. We compare ourselves to others capacities… we are frail when sometimes just we may need to be strong… we don’t have good boundaries…we don’t regularly schedule things until we’re in crisis mode. It isn’t so easy when you’ve got littles and everything else seems to take precedence.

Here’s what the bible says about self-care…

We need to take care of our body

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We need to make EVERY EFFORT to enter into rest.

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11)

Good health and the ability to enjoy life are gifts from God that we need to manage.

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God. (Ecc 5:19)

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2)

The bible talks about caring for yourself

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church– for we are members of his body. (Ephesians 5:29-30).

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39 

Carry each other’s burdens, but first, we need to be able to manage our own load.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:2-5)

After thinking about my journey to  “self care”, I made a list of the top 5 ways I found over the years to get help so that I could take care of myself . These are things that I found helped me gain time, rest, find perspective and not lose myself.

(drum roll)…

1. Get a haircut regularly; dress nicely (this was especially true during my stay at home mom years)
2. Go to bed on time and set my alarm
3. Take a class, go to a group, volunteer
4. Exercise regularly. Do you hate me for saying this? I’ve done home and gym workouts. Its worth the time and effort.
5. Get help with something I hate doing

#5 has been my most helpful. I have budgeted in at some point (never all at once. I picked my highest need in different seasons):

• House cleaners
• Laundry helpers
• Moms day out childcare
• Someone to clean the floors and windows
• Purchase groceries online and get delivered or pick up etc etc.

This is purely my list of things that have helped me over the years. The key is to understand yourself, your needs and your resources. Then take it to the Lord and listen to what he has to say. Maybe you need to be stretched. Maybe you need some help or boundaries. Whatever it is the Lord will lead and guide you in the way you should go. But sit down, ask yourself– am I taking care of me? And make a list of ways you can do better!

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jer 31:25)

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail (Isaiah 58:11)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:26-30)

Unless the LORD builds the house,its builders labor in vain.Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—   for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:1-2