Did I ever tell you about the time I was so busy taking care of everyone in the world, nourishing myself with Pepsi and chocolate chip cookies, and so obviously neglecting my own needs that I landed myself in the hospital for several days, unable to properly care for my husband and little boys for well over a month?
Fun times.
I started learning to take better care of myself after that, but it’s weird. Even though I knew I needed to, I still felt guilty. Guilty any time I laid down for a much needed nap. Guilty any time I spent grocery money on a cart full of produce. Guilty any time it seemed I was putting my needs over those in my care.
Can you relate?
Are you taking good care of yourself?
I mean really taking good care of yourself – being intentional to make yourself a priority? Or are your hormones, emotions, food cravings, and moods running amok?
Yes, it’s hard. I know it’s hard. And very much counter-intuitive. After all, a good Christian woman puts others above herself, right?
Ehhh, I’m not so sure.
Lessons from the airplane and also Mother Teresa
You know how before you take off for a flight, the stewardess instructs that in an emergency, you should always secure your own air mask before assisting someone else? That always sounded so backward to me. How could I possibly consider taking care of my own air mask before helping my children put on theirs?
(Yes, because apparently I think I can help them better if I’m dead.)
I think we get the logic but have a difficult time putting this truth into practice – the truth that in order to take care of others we have to take care of ourselves first.
I was reading a book to my boys recently (ok fine, two years ago) about Mother Teresa. I was so interested to read that even during a major food shortage in India with starving people all around her, Mother Teresa insisted that those serving alongside her eat a large helping of food each day. Why? Because she knew that those caring for others had to stay healthy and strong. That they needed energy to do what they did day after day. That if they didn’t take care of themselves, they could in no way take care of others.
She wasn’t asking the servants to be selfish. She was asking them to be healthy – so that they could serve selflessly.
Taking care of ourselves so that we can serve others is a selfless act.
So how about you?
Are you taking good care of yourself?
Obviously, no matter what we do, we’re going to get sick and run down sometimes. It’s no fun, but it’s life. But I tell you what. If there’s anything I can do to have optimum energy, to keep my moods from swinging from pole to pole, to help myself be fit, to avoid headaches and feeling sluggish – you better believe I’m going to do it. I am so much better as a wife, mom, and friend when I am making my health a priority.
How about you?
I know I frequently harp on getting plenty of water and nourishing food. (You’ve been listening, right?) But there’s more.
As women, we can really be all over the place with hormones and emotions. (Or MaYbE tHaT’s JuSt Me?) This truly isn’t just “our cross to bear.” We can find overall health in this too.
We can find ourselves rested and nourished and well. We can find ourselves at peace and in a place of calm as we enjoy our families, our work, our ministries, and our down time.
We can.
Women, let’s make our health a priority. Then we can selflessly serve those we are called to serve.
Eat well, drink well, rest often. Pray always. Do what you need to do, with God’s strength, so that you can enjoy great health as you serve others.
