Over the past couple weeks, I was asked “Who is going to take care of you?” More times than I thought possible. After pondering extensively, I admit I honestly didn’t understand the question.
What does taking care of me really mean?
I took it to mean the very basic – recovery … All the do’s and dont’s the doctor gave me for after surgery – yes the timelines and checklist. My organized self loves them, and my soul knows there is so much more!
My friends this week reminded my soul to honor me through self care beyond a physical checklist. It’s my physical needs as well as the emotional, mental and spiritual parts of me too. It’s the full experience of rest!
- The reminder that this, that or the other thing can wait.
- Allowing my brain to turn off the to-do list to focus on healing.
- Taking naps.
- Pleasure reading.
- Quiet time with Jesus.
- Hanging out on the couch with all my boys.
- Saying no to someone else’s agenda for now.
- Recognizing that my need to heal is my top priority.
Years of therapy, followed by coaching and digging into the truth of who God is and what that belief means for me – and I can still hear the lies of an adult child of an alcoholic: everyone else first – my needs don’t count.
I am so grateful to friends and the support and reminders they offered me this week. When I started down that path – they spoke truth. When I struggled with the truth – they showed up and stayed with me. They listened and loved me well. I took care of me and accepted help to make sure Thad was covered too. Progress is the new perfection – and today I’m celebrating the progress made in the battle of the mind this week!
The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 MSG
