Do You Love Yourself as Much as Jesus Loves You?

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

As Catholics we believe the Eucharist is the actual body of Christ. We take him into ourselves as we take and consume the host. This means we become the tabernacle holding Jesus. He actually lives within us. We are as the bible says. Our body is a temple. How do we treat that temple?

How many of us are guilty of rolling out of bed, quickly grabbing the first thing we see to eat, if we even remember to do that at all? Then we put in a full day's work, sometimes not taking a break, not even for lunch. We leave late from work, deal with a traffic filled commute, and rush the kids to and from their activities. Then once we get home, it's time to make dinner, do a few chores around the house, and fall into bed exhausted. Only to do it all again the next day. The weekends are just as full with house work, activities, events and charitable works.

Then, we're also bombarded with the messages and guilt that comes with those messages from society of all the things we 'should' be doing. We should get 8 hours of sleep a night. We should drink 8 glasses of water a day. We should eat a balanced breakfast. We should walk 10,000 steps a day. We should work out at least a half hour each day. We should make the bed. We should sweep the floors everyday. We should wear make-up every time we leave the house. We should...We should.... On and on it goes.

If you are a caregiver for another person, it is even harder. Because you love them, you do the best you can in your care. You help them with the things they are unable to do. Perhaps, it's make their meals, giving them a shower and helping them get dressed. Perhaps it's a bit more intensive, such as giving them their medicine on time, changing them and their bedsheets while they are still in the bed, because they can no longer get out of the bed. You want them to be comfortable and happy, no matter what.

But when do you remember to take a moment for yourself?

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

We are all called to do God's good works. We are called to do charity and help others. We are asked to 'give back' in our daily lives. But when our to do list is a mile long, and we are constantly giving, when are we taking time to recharge our own batteries? We can't give of ourselves when we have nothing more to give. When we are so burned out we can no longer see straight, what then?

Then, it's time to push pause, and take a moment to just breathe. Maybe say a little prayer thanking God for giving you the ability to do everything that you are able to do. Then, try and remember when the last time you did something for yourself. If you have to think for more than a few seconds, then it's been too long.

Self-care is the secular term for learning to take a break and do something nice for yourself. This can take many forms, depending on what we like to do, what relaxes us, and our financial situation. For some, it may mean a spa day. For others, maybe it's getting someone to watch the kids for a little while so you can go out to a nice dinner, or just have some quiet at home for a bit. For some it's getting a hot drink and settling down under a blanket to read a good book. For others it's going on a hike or long walk outside. For others it's painting or gardening. For others, it's getting in a good workout and letting your muscles feel a bit like jelly.

This also means, learning to banish the feelings of guilt for taking some time for yourself every once in a while. It can also mean doing the difficult thing of asking for help. You don't have to be the strong, dependable one all the time. Letting others help you with your burdens, can also be a show of strength. Remember, God took the 7th day to rest. Even God knew to recharge his batteries and take some time for himself. By refusing to take a break and running yourself into the ground, you are actually making yourself weaker, and acting like you know better than God. That's a no-no. Trust in Him, to keep things from falling to pieces while you get a bit of rest and take care of yourself. The more you give of yourself, the more important it is to take the time for some self-care. Then you can jump back into the swing of things with a refreshed spirit, and continue to give of yourself again.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Proverbs 17:22 ESV