Why Self-Care?

“Yes, you definitely need a break!” my consultant confirmed.

She wanted me to get away for a weekend, and proceeded with a litany of instructions:

“No phone.”

“Sleep as much as you want.”

“Enjoy a reprieve.”

“Give your mind a vacation. No self-help or homeschool material. Bring light-hearted reading.”
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“Give your mind a vacation. No self-help or homeschool material. Bring light-hearted reading.”
​
Then she listed suggestions for such reading.* 

“Whatever gives you life and encourages you.” 

“Make this a quarterly event if possible, but at least two times per year,“ she concluded.
​
My journey of self-care in motherhood has been a slow one, continually building on itself. 

One step has led to another, creating a rhythm of self-care that not only mends my soul, but equips me for the days ahead.

When practiced, I respond to circumstances with an attitude and character I desire. I laugh. I enjoy myself, and my children, more. Anger comes slower, patience is quicker.

Jesus modeled this for us.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)

He bids us to cease from our labors and rest in Him.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (NLT)

Consider a masterpiece. 

How about Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa? Or Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel? 

People travel from all over the world and stand in long lines, all to catch a glimpse of the beauty, the creativity, the magnificence, and the originality of the masterpiece.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Milan, Italy to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. There I found Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. I was so excited to glimpse this masterpiece. 

Yet when I arrived, I was disappointed to discover the masterpiece dilapidated and covered with scaffolding. 

Dilapidated means, “reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.”

YOU are a masterpiece. 

You are created by God in His imagine! He is the Master and you are the art of His skilled hand. 

You ARE a masterpiece. 

You are creativity. You are beauty. You are magnificent. You are original.

As a masterpiece you need to protect yourself from getting dilapidated. 

Or in other words, from:

• not knowing what you need or desire
• having nothing to give
• becoming mechanical and detached
• living without joy or laughter
• a life of drudgery, going through the motions

Self-care is protecting the masterpiece that you are. 

This is the reason for self-care.

Jesus needed it and He is God!

How much more do you need it?

Talk with the Lord about your self-care, today.

How will you care for yourself during this Christmas season? Please share in the comments. Let’s learn from each other.

*This is her recommended reading list: The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton Porter (excellent), the Hawk and the Dove trilogy by Penelope Wilcox (the first book was transformational, I’ve yet to read the rest), and the J.G. Reeder mysteries by Edgar Wallace, originally published between the world wars (haven’t checked these out yet).

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All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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