By Tiffany Day
Do you have so many irons in the fire that you are unable to focus on yourself let alone your child(ren)? Are you stretching yourself to the limit with daily tasks to the point you have nothing emotionally to give to yourself or your kids at the end of the day? Are you so spent physically that you have no energy for yourself-let alone your kids? Are you so drained that you cannot even pick up the bible to read or even pray? THEN, I’M TALKING TO YOU MOM!!
Self-care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Taking the time to work on you allows you to more be more efficient and effective. Self-care is simply including yourself in the mix of things. You’re not saying, “Me first.” You are simply saying, “Me too.” Remember, you are not good to anyone if you are not good to yourself. Self-care is defined as the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health. When it says health it’s speaking of emotional, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I pose this question to you: how are you demonstrating self-care in those areas, as it relates to being mom?
It is important that you learn yourself as you explore what self care means to you on a continual basis, in order to determine what will work for you. Self care could be going to the gym, setting aside 20 minutes a day to exhale, or even waking up early and meeting God somewhere in your home. It may be going to bed early or going on a weekly date night with yourself or your significant other. What is your self-care prescription?
The Bible shares in Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
This means that in order to exercise self-control, we must take care of our physical body, take care of ourselves emotionally and mentally. We must hold it together spiritually by choosing to take everything to our Father, who is the only One who can help us sometimes. You are stewards over yourself as well as those God has entrusted to you.
Let’s learn it and apply it, not only for ourselves but for our child(ren)! Let’s pray:
Father God, I come to you humbly lifting up these mothers. God, I ask you to first forgive us for stretching ourselves so thin, for over exerting ourselves to the point that we are not as effective or efficient with our babies, to the point that we cannot hear from you Lord. We are here, God, because we want to do better. Give us the tools and the wisdom to exercise self-care, not only for ourselves but for our children and whomever else depend on us. Help us to understand that it’s not selfish to take care of ourselves but that it’s a necessity. Help us to understand that we have limits. We will be so careful to give you the honor and the praise, in Jesus Name, Amen!!!
If you need support walking through these areas, I’d like to invite you to one of our Mama Meet Ups. The next one will be this months so join the newsletter so that you can live life in a community among other moms who get it.