Take Care!
I have many friends and relatives who are caring for elderly parents or sick spouses. That kind of caregiving is very draining, both physically and emotionally. It requires the best of us when we're exhausted, which is tough. I am not at my best when I'm tired. Self-care is the key – taking care of our body, mind, and soul so that we can care for those we love when the demand is great.
Slow Down!
Rushing is a normal response to time pressures, even though it's not very effective. I know that from experience, yet I often find that I, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, am hurrying in mind and body. Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down and breathe.
Grace Abounds
I have been thinking about grace, and how the unlimited grace God makes available to each person. These days I can recognize grace in my life. I have the grace of a long marriage, the grace of motherhood, the grace to serve in different ways in my church, and the grace to do this podcast and write books. It's crazy the amount of grace in my life – like an explosion of grace.
What's On Your Plate?
I often invite people to join a group at church or attend a retreat or event, and sometimes the response I get is – My plate is too full. I know that feeling. There have been many times in my life that my plate has been overflowing and I'm feeling a lot of stress. I want the world to stop for just a bit so I can get caught up. Unfortunately, I have never been able to make that happen, so I have to find another way to deal with the load.
Spent
I told a friend that I was doing a retreat near her home and she suggested we meet afterwards. Then she asked – Do you think you'll be too tired? That would make sense. It takes energy to lead a retreat. When I was in the training business, I led corporate workshops and was usually exhausted at the end of the day. But when I finish a retreat at church, the opposite happens. I am energized. It takes a while for me to settle down afterward. It's not until much later that I feel spent.