That is the question I had to answer yesterday. Sadly, my honest answer was "Yes." As a very busy wife and mother of four, a new business owner, writer, speaker, volunteer, friend . . . the list goes on, I spend large quantities of my day investing in others.
Now, don't get me wrong. It's what I've been created to do. I LOVE talking to a friend on the phone for an hour just to help her get a sense of peace. I LOVE pouring into the lives of the young moms I work with in my local MOPS group. I LOVE kissing my kids' cheeks and watching them play with wild abandon. I LOVE massaging my husband's back because he's been working all day, and I LOVE when a new story line or chapter presses me so that I have to run to my computer to type it out.
Giving is what we were created to do. Give love. Give joy. Give our time. Give, give, give. Unfortunately, in this getting, we sometimes neglect ourselves. Humans are complex beings. We are made up of body, soul and spirit. I love reading people's posts on Facebook about how they're running miles and miles in the early hours of the morning, or having "gym time." I enjoy reading how they've discovered a new, inspiring website or book. But what I don't see a lot of is a well-balanced approach in taking care of all three parts of ourselves.
For years, all I focused on was the spiritual. I was at every church event and prayer meeting and yelled at my kids when they would "interrupt my devotions . . ." I didn't exercise, had no career goals and didn't have much time for my friends. Now, I see how out of balance I was!
Today, I am making a concentrated effort to begin and end each day with God, but also in between to make sure I'm taking care of my physical, emotional, and yes vocational sides as well. If you're a household manager (because I hate the term "stay-at-home mom"), don't just run around chasing kids all day; contend to take care of your entire self. You owe it to yourself, and you'll be much happier for it.
So as you go throughout your day today, I pray you will, with me, focus on being a more balanced, peaceful you!
LOL! (at yelling at your kids that you were doing devotions!) I remember once trying to spend time "soaking" in God's presence to some worship music. It was so peaceful - till the kids came in the room and I found "someone" hollering back at them "HEY! I'm trying to SOAK here! Go out!" :( Hmmm . . . . I think I needed more than just a slight soaking to help me not respond like that. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to be busy with taking care of kids and family and neglect ourselves. I remember though, when one of my sons was in preschool - on a Mother's Day card he had filled in the blank - "My mom's favorite thing to do is _____" . . . "BE ALONE!" :) His teacher just laughed as she knew I had 4 little kids running around the house!
Blessings!