The Best Self-Care is Selfless

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Balancing the spinning plates of ministry, marriage, motherhood, and money-making is an act that leaves, even the highly seasoned mompruhnur, dizzy and staggering to the refuge of a hot bath.

Too exhausted to thoroughly wash the day away, you sink to the bottom of the tub like poor ol’ Jack sinking to the bottom of that frigid ocean in Titanic. As the waters rise, so do the number of items on your to-do list for the following day; you’ve managed to escape them physically in this bubbling oasis, but not mentally, no, your mind is fixed on the continual motion to prevent the plates from crashing down.

You’ve got to stop Momma. You’ve got to pause long enough to allow your mind, body, and spirit rest. Have you ever heard the saying, “If the Devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”? The idea is simple, and Satan’s tricks are nothing new; a worn-out shoe can only walk so far. Fatigue leads to frustration, frustration to fear, fear to faithlessness, and faithlessness to failure. Satan wants you to fail; if he can get you to stumble, all those spinning plates will be in shambles, and he will have won.

I’m going to share some ways of self-care so we can avert the enemy and thwart his attacks.

Meditation is where spiritual strength is restored and enhanced; a place of refreshing the thirsty spirit and unloading the burdened mind. Even Jesus meditated; how much more so should we?

I usually do this after my morning Bible time, but before the kiddos awake, so I can pull one of the verses I’ve read and ponder on it, dissecting and drawing out all the spiritual nourishment possible. Prayer and praise effortlessly flow, driving out all the worldly concerns that clouded my mind’s eye; the shining rays of God’s grace and mercies pierce even the darkest storms.

Exercise releases feel-good endorphins, builds muscles, and increases stamina. If high-intensity workouts aren’t your thing, the wonders a thirty-minute walk can do! Don’t have thirty minutes? Select a marker, ex: mailbox or tree, and walk to and from.

Guard. Your. Calendar.

It’s so tempting to do all the things all the time, but if you don’t run your schedule, it’ll run you; ragged. Sometimes self-care is merely saying “no.” or “not this time.” Pencil in an off day at least once a month, not including the Sabbath, where nothing gets done. No house chores, order some take-out or cook the meal the day prior, and just be lazy (this usually includes a podcast or book; I’m not a fan of T.V.).

If guilt starts to creep in on you, remember Psalms 23: 1-3, God wants you to rest, and He will make you lie down, either gently or by force.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:1-3 NIV

Lastly, but not due to lack of importance, but because it’s highly unlikely unless preceded by the tips above; the best self-care is selfless. I feel more rejuvenated, and revival surges through my veins after ministering to someone in need, whether it be a woman seeking Godly counsel through my blog or encouraging a scared, uncertain new momma at the local crisis pregnancy center.

Oh, the joy and peace that overflows my soul when I’ve served humbly in love! (Galatians 5:13)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:14 NIV

Unsure of where to serve? Pray about it and seek out local needs; get plugged in! Supernatural strength granted after submission to selflessness outweighs the fleeting energy earned by superficial self-care routines.

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A Little More about Stephanie

Hey! I’m Stephanie, just a small-town girl raising her 4 littles with her high school sweetheart who she falls in and out of like, but never love, with. I prefer outside to inside, sweets to meats, and dogs to cats. You can find me outside connecting with God through nature or cuddled up with my babes and pug while reading one of the MANY books on my yearly reading list. I want to be the comforting shoulder and encouraging smile to fellow women and what better way to do that than by scribbling down my perils and victories?! You aren’t alone! We’ll do it together!

You can find out more at Rough Girl Turned Redeemed