Self-Care

Hello Again,

Guess what! It's spring!! This is my favorite season of the year and I get so excited about the promise of warmer weather, spring flowers, the robins coming back, gold finches with their vibrant yellow colors flitting around in my back yard, seeing new calves in the pastures, even the hope of seeing a calf being born in a roadside pasture, and so much more.

I am also being more motivated to get outside and enjoy all that spring has to offer. Today my office co-workers and I all went for a walk around town to get a breath of fresh air. At first I felt very guilty about not staying in the office and working, but as we were walking, I realized that my spirits were being lifted, my brain felt much clearer, and I was excited and motivated to get back to the office and get back to my "business tasks".

Being a counselor, I should appreciate the personal benefits of self-care, but my husband Rob will tell you that I am usually the last person I take care of. I am very quick to encourage my clients to take good care of themselves, but again, I am very slow to follow my own advice.

I want you to notice the word that I used earlier, "guilty". I think that we often neglect our own personal needs because of a false sense of guilt. . . .that I am doing something that I shouldn't be doing when I take time out for me.

When we consider Jesus' example in scripture, we see that even Jesus, on many occasions, went off by himself to rest. He took time to pray and talk to God, and even spend time with his special friends, his disciples. This was never more evident than during the time just before the Crucifixion when He took time away to have His last supper with His beloved disciples. They had a very quiet, intimate meal together. Jesus took this last opportunity to fellowship with and encourage and teach them.

Shortly after the meal, we read in Luke 22:39 that "Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed and His disciples also followed." Jesus knew that He was facing some dramatic, traumatic events and he took time to be by Himself, to be in fellowship with His Father and prepare to face His future.

If Jesus not only recognized, but also acted on, the importance of self care, shouldn't we?? There was no "wrongdoing" when Jesus stepped away to take care of Himself and there is no "wrongdoing" when we do the same. My personal goal is going to be to make every effort to take a little time out of my day (even my work day) and do some self-care. I want to encourage you to do the same. Let's all get out and "smell the roses, daffodils, tulips" or whatever flower is blooming in season. Our souls too will be restored to face what is ahead of us.

God Bless, and have a blessed Easter season!