Focus on Yourself - It's Okay!

I am first and foremost a Daughter of a Great and Glorious Heavenly Father.

Then I am an earthly daughter, a wife, a mother and a friend.

I have so many things pulling me in all different directions.  My family, my job, my church family and my friends.  I give with all that I have to all things that I am involved in and care deeply about.

In the process, however, I slowly begin to lose focus on something equally as important.

Me.

One thing that I have been learning is that it is so easy for us, as women, to lose focus on ourselves.  We want to pour all that we have into those that we love.  We want the best for them, to encourage them, to be there for them and to guide and teach them.  With all of this outpouring we tend to put our own personal needs on the back burner.

Sometimes we look for an easy way out just so that we can feel like we are focusing on ourselves.  Call it a quick fix or simple solutions.  Whatever it is, we give ourselves credit, then, for giving ourselves some of the attention that we need.

The problem, dear friends, is that we are not pouring enough of ourselves back into our own personal well-being.  We slack when it comes to our relationship with our Heavenly Father (how many times have you caught yourself saying "I will do my devotions later.  There is just so much stuff that needs to be done in the house."), we slack when it comes to our eating habits ("I'll just grab a bite to eat on the way to my meeting."), and we slack when it comes to exercise ("I will go for that walk tomorrow.  I am just too tired today.").

We need to learn to put ourselves first too.  It is okay to say "I will take the time to go for that walk right now.  The dishes can wait."  We need to take that extra few minutes to prepare a healthy meal or snack before heading out the door.

If we continue to pour ourselves out to others and not pour enough back into ourselves we are going to reach that inevitable burn out.

It happens . . . . to ALL of us.

Now is the time to make yourself aware of it.

Maybe you are not naturally a giving person.  That is okay!  However, somewhere along the lines I am sure that you, too, have lost sight of yourself.

God calls our bodies "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6 vv 19 to 20) and he calls us to "honour [Him] with our body."  My question to you, then, is how can we honour Him with our body if we are not taking care of it?

Dear Friends, I urge you to remember to take time for yourself.  Take time to rest, take time to eat healthy and take time to encourage yourself.

Above all, take time to spend in solitude with your Heavenly Father who loves you greatly.

You will reap the rewards when you do!  And believe me, they are well worth it!