
Hello everyone!
I wanted to take today and remind us to take care of ourselves. I don't mean be selfish, I mean take care of our own mental, spiritual, physical and emotional health. We can't take care of others unless we take care of ourselves in these areas first. Nor can we "preach" about these areas of our lives unless we are willing to do those very things we "preach" at times. I have been the one who preaches without doing. I have also been the one who takes care of others before I have myself in order. Trust me, that only keeps everything out of order; you, others, work, home and life in general.
I want you to ask yourself some questions: 1) Are you easily frustrated?, 2) Are you able to sleep well at night?, 3) Are you stress eating?, 4) Are you constantly worrying about everything?, 5) Are you constantly exhausted?
If you aren't pleased with the answers to these questions, you are most likely not taking the time to take care of yourself. I have been here before. I was, in essence, spinning my wheels trying to be all things to all people and not taking care of my physical body, my mind, nor my spirit. I was emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. I was going through the motions. I was working hard but not producing. I gave myself no room for grace or rest. I gained unhealthy weight and believed lies about myself. I am here to tell you, it is not worth it! I have done alot of backtracking to get back to self-care and doing so was the best thing I've ever done for me. I will never again put other people so far ahead of my own health interests that I harm myself again.
If you are in the place today where you have taken care of everything else but yourself, I encourage you to stop and look around. Take stock of what is going on with you. Make some hard decisions about who and what can and cannot be in your life. Learn to say, "No." Learn to say, "I don't like that" and "I don't want to do that." Learn to say, "I'm not going to tolerate that." Work on your health boundaries and you will draw healthy people to you. I sure did!
I will leave you with these verses to encourage you today:
1 Peter 5:7; ...casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
3 John 1:2 NIV; Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
Until next time,
Elizabeth