by Jess Connell · September 2, 2015

Hey there,

  • mom in the thick of raising your kids, or
  • mom of 3 little ones, or
  • newly postpartum mom, or
  • homeschooling mom, or
  • tired mom who has been dealing with a sick little person for far too long, or
  • mom helping your aging parent, or
  • single mom carrying the whole load yourself, or
  • nomadic missionary wife and mom, or
  • mom going through health struggles, or
  • whatever your situation is…

How are you doin?

I mean, how are you REALLY doing?

You DO realize that YOU’re a person worthy of care, right?

By using the word “care,” I suppose I should specify what kind of care I mean– because this modern world often defines that as a shopping trip where you throw caution to the wind and spend more than you can afford, or a mani/pedi, or a girls’ night out. NOT that those things don’t count, but that’s not really what I’m asking.

Self care is not a selfish activity of navel-gazing. Rather, I think self-care is an essential part of life as mom.

I’m not asking how your toes look, or if you’ve been enjoying your book club. I’m not asking if you’ve caught the latest film or splurged on the “must-have item” for this season. No- what I’m asking is:

How does your HEART look? How is your SOUL doing? How is your BODY being cared for?

SELF ASSESSMENT:

Spiritually:

Physically:

Emotionally:

  • Are you believing what God says over what your feelings are telling you?
  • Are you fierce about leaving yourself “margin”– cutting out the trimmable excess so you have extra to give when it counts?
  • Are you finding places where good enough is good enough?
  • Are you giving yourself “room” for grace at times when you are hard-pressed? (During “that” time of the month, or during the first trimester, or during chemo… or whatever… do you need to rest in the grace of your Father and not judge yourself harshly?)
  • Are you being honest in your self-expectations?

Biblical self-care as a mom is seeing yourself as one of the people God has given you to steward.

As mom, everyone depends on us. When we have life and joy and “extra,” it spreads out and everyone in our reach is blessed, strengthened, encouraged, and bolstered. When we are perpetually pushed to our limits without inward renewal, everyone in our reach is affected. In this way, when you care for you, you are not just caring for you.

When you see yourself as a person worthy of care, you can evaluate your life soberly and consider how to meet your own needs in a way that is honest and humble.

When you try to do it all without caring for you, it is actually a form of pride. When you do this, you are acting as if you can do everything that needs doing, all on your own. You are acting as if you are God. Don’t be a “mommy martyr!” It is a lie that we can “do it all”– only God can!

So, I’d like to encourage you today– take some time for self-care. Ask yourself, “How am I really doing?” 

And then, if the answer is something not-so-great, seek wisdom from the Lord, from His Word, from your husband, and from godly people close to you about how you can build the rest, refreshment, and encouragement you need, into your real life.

Here are some RELATED ARTICLES you might find helpful:

ABOUT CONTENTMENT:

ABOUT EXHAUSTION AND REST:

THINKING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD:

ABOUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH

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Tags: healthy growthpersonal growthself-careself-examinationsober estimationspiritual growth

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