My thoughts for August: Taking care of yourself

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My thoughts for the coming month: 

Its August and its cold. Those living outside of Australia probably don't realise we get snow—quite a lot in a good year. Whilst the city I live in rarely gets a direct hit, our mountain rangers are often covered in snow, such as in this photo.

This month I wanted to focus on YOU.

Yes, you because you are important

You are a busy woman—you probably care for a husband, children, maybe older parents and some of you go off to work to help your husbands. You give so much of yourself to others and I sure you forget to look after you. If  you don't take care of yourself, in time you will get so worn out and weary your ability to care for others will be affected.

Taking time out for yourself is not selfish  — its all about revitailising your mind and body so you can care for others the very best you can. A car doesn't keep on running, it needs petrol (gas), the tyres will need replacing, it will need trips to the mechanics so it runs smoothly, you are not different! Yes, I am taking about "me time", but not in the worldy sense of the word, but the importances of taking care of yourself so you can help others.

Taking time out can be hard with small children, but not impossible. Even a bubble bath with candles and quiet music playing whilst hubby takes the children to the park is 30 minutes well spent. Why not come up with an agreement with your husband that allows you quiet time each week, it might involve meeting girlfriends once a month to give you a break from home and children or it might mean time for a long walk or run. Please remember that this doesn't mean you don't love your children, it means you are human and need a break and are not super women!

Looking after you will bring back the joy that perhaps has slipped in your life, it will bring back the bounce that has left you, it will re-charge your emotional bank and make  you stronger. Just remember, women (like men) are not machines and do need time away from "stuff".

Even Jesus needed time away from noise and busyness for prayer and meditation — He sort out a place of solitude to pray. We also need to do this, even mums with young noisy children. Lying in that bubble bath, perhaps with hymns playing quiet is a time to pray and think. Do make the time this month to look after you because you are so important to others. 


Bible verses for the coming month

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 

(Mark 1:35)


Quote of month

Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for an relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling.”  — Marjorie Pay Hinchley (Small and Simple things)



Robert Schuller


Comments

  1. Love the quote above, especially - Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling. Great encouragement for me in the season of life I am in.

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    1. I have only recently discovered Marjorie Pay Hinchley and I love many of her quotes, this one particularly :) So glad you enjoyed it like I did :)

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  2. A good reminder, Jo. I liked the point particularly that Jesus needed to take time away from the kerfuffle of life. If the Son of God experienced this weakness and need of the flesh, how can we imagine that we don't need it, or that we are selfish or sinful for taking time apart?

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    1. None of us are machines and all need time away from life's "stuff" and its certainly not sinful or being idle (unless we do it all the time!!).

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  3. Yes. We all need time apart - especially for prayer, and study/meditation on the Scriptures and to think on God Himself or worship Him. The biggest danger is when a person thinks they need this "me time" all the time or they start having an entitled attitude about it... Particularly in busy seasons when we just need to be on the "go" for whatever reason and are tempted to pout when we don't get the time we think we're entitled to have on our own. Seasons of life come and they go... It's important to remember that our time is God's and He allows (or prevents) the circumstances we find ourselves in (or not in). :)

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