“I’m not going to be like my mom, ” is a statement I have been making since my teen years. As a teen and young adult, it was because she seemed so out of touch with the modern life. As I grew older, that changed. I found myself wanting be like mom with her heart and compassion for others. However, I began to see her self-care as frustrating. She will wait until she is absolutely miserable before taking care of herself. Often this procrastination makes the condition worse.
The problem is, as I have aged, I have become more and more like Mom in my self-care sometimes to great frustration for my husband. Recently, I gracefully fell down the stairs. Actually, I’m sure it was quite the sight watching me bounce down several stairs into the kitchen. Initially, I bounced up and felt fine. Several days later my neck and shoulder started to lock up. I assumed it would eventually start to get better. When Saturday came, I went to reach for my shoes and something grabbed in my low back that was shocking and incredibly painful. Every step I took hurt, and I considered a chiropractor. Being it was Saturday I was going to have to wait. Sunday was tough but better and began to think that I could tough it out. Maybe the chiropractor wouldn’t be needed. Self-care really isn’t one of my strengths.
Scripture tells us to be continually transforming our mind.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
I really wanted to conform to the pattern I had learned from my mom. Something inside kept nudging me, reminding me of people who had chronic issues with their back. The truth is we need to take care our ourselves. There is nothing selfish about it. We are told in scripture that our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit. That temple needs to be cared for physically, emotionally and spiritually. Yet, self-care is often at the bottom of my list.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV).
I did go to the chiropractor, however I still have some prioritizing to do. My current order is a little skewed. It is easy to think everything will be fine and focus on what seems to be more pressing. The bottom line is we need to be physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy to do all that God is calling us to. Frankly, I don’t want to miss out on any of it.
How is your self-care? Is it at the top or bottom of your list? What change is God nudging you toward? Maybe it is emotional or spiritual rather than physical.
Are you rockin’ it at self-care? Share your story here and breathe life and bring hope to others.