Big Question. Who is going to take care of you? If you have flown on a plane, or even if you haven't, you probably know the familiar instructions the flight attendants give to passengers preparing them for an emergency. The whole oxygen mask thing? Yeah, you know where I'm going with this. In order to help another passenger, you put your mask on first, right? You are of little assistance passed out in the aisle. I may need to say that one more time for the more stubborn super women types out there. YOU ARE NO HELP TO ANYONE IF YOU ARE PASSED OUT IN THE AISLE!
For sure, there are certain seasons in life that seem more exhausting than others. Whether you are waking up at all hours of the night feeding a newborn, working two jobs to help provide for your family, chasing toddlers around your house while trying to explain to your poor husband why he has no clean underwear, or if you are driving children to and from way too many practices, your body, emotions, and intellect may be stretched way too thin. Along with the whole super hero theme, most women are more like Elastigirl from The Incredibles. That's our "super power". God designed us as nurturers, care givers. But, we give and give, we strrrreeeeeeetchhhh so far to take care of it all, to try to keep it all together, that we don't even resemble the woman God designed us to be. We're all stretched out. Overextended. Exhausted. Empty. Spent. Even Elastigirl can only stretch so far.
This week, I want to encourage us girls to take some steps toward taking care of ourselves so that we have the energy, joy, health, and time to do what God has designed us to do. More than anything he wants us to love him and make his love known. Both of those are hard to do when we are unhealthy, spiritually dry, emotionally wrecked, disconnected from friendships, and too busy to notice. We need to put our oxygen masks on! Tomorrow we can begin a journey some balance as we take care of so many people.
Start here. Nothing too hard. Just answer these questions today. Where in my life am I overlooking myself? In what areas of my life do I need to get healthier so that I can be who God wants me to be? Who else is going to do this for me?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Forgive us Lord for not taking care of ourselves. Thank you for giving us freedom to make our bodies, hearts, and minds a priority today. Amen
See you tomorrow!