My day begins with quiet. I get up early enough that I can enjoy Bible study, journaling, and praying without feeling rushed. I love this time of the day, but often it is the only time that I feel any peace. That peace begins to dissolve the moment I write my to do list. As if I’m only resting with God until that first productive step forward into my day, and then it is all on me. I’ve got to get it all done and get it all done right. The things I prioritize first is work followed by caring for our home. Connection with my girls and husband are next, and, I come last…or not at all. Do you know what fuels this unhealthy pattern: fear. My personal weight loss journey taught me so much. I couldn’t myself in last place and become healthy. As my family’s needs have changed in different seasons, I am susceptible to having my priorities out of whack and I’m in the long process of putting things back in healthy order. But, fear makes me feel like if I don’t put work first then I won’t have enough time and I will be a failure. Next, the home with it’s laundry, dishes, and dusty floor directly reflect how well I assume my housekeeping responsibilities. My husband and children need some love and eye-contact, but they usually only get it if something needs dramatic attention or if I miraculously finish my list. It feels so difficult to prioritize a run or a nap when I have loved ones I’ve been neglecting too. A couple weeks ago I was confessing all this to God, asking that He miraculously reorder my heart and head so that I have no confusion or shame about how I manage my time when He showed me something that helped me understand and draw another step closer to healing. In the wilderness, after God saved the Isrealites and brought them out of Egypt, they were worried about their food situation. So God rained down manna on them. Manna was like a kind of flake that could be gathered and used to bake bread. The rule was that they were to gather enough for their family only for that day unless it was the day before Sabbath and then they were to gather a double portion so that they could rest on that day. That manna was to be used to sustain themselves and families. It was not to be hoarded or sold to others. What if we treated time this way? Trusting God to sustain us and give us what we need? What if we trusted Him enough to use that time for ourselves and our loved ones instead of frantically using it in pursuits that rob our peace and never feel like enough. Like I said, I’m working on this. As I thought about this episode, I thought about the dozens of women I’ve coached that struggle with this, too. I realized that our life and health, AND that of our families, would improve incredibly if we could trust our time to God in the following areas:
That’s it, just six areas that if we trusted Him we would see great improvements in our health. Exercise gives me energy and clarity. Preparing good food boosts the health of myself and my family. Weekly and daily meal planning is something I often prioritize but I would love to include my older daughter in the process which would take longer but help her develop so many concepts around diet and managing a home. Connecting with others from the loved ones in my home to those that are only a phone call away helps me feel human and seen and it gets my head out of my own world and worries. Lastly, I try to bully through so many things instead of taking a moment to talk to God about it or remember what His word said, feeling like every moment is precious and slipping away. And rest is critical for our healthy emotionally, mentally, and physically. Where do you feel yourself struggling and not spending a resource in a way that is loving and kind to yourself and your family? Is it time like me or is it money? Space? Friendship? What do you hold back from trusting God with? I want to say that as we figure these out we are not only mentally healthy, but we also cultivate habits that help us maintain physical, emotional, and spiritual health. You, my dear, are complex and one hurting area affects the whole body. I’m so proud of you for taking on the challenge to keep changing and moving forward while abiding in our Heavenly Father. All my love to you! I’ll talk to you next week.
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by Lora ArmendarizYou Can Do It!Do you want to fall out of love with a destructive habit? The first 42 episodes of this podcast are a resource for anyone who wants encouragement and information as they take a six week break from a habit in order to fall out of love with it. Archives
April 2024
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