"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Hello weary one,
Yes, we have been busy, so busy being the Good Samaritan, with our jobs, endless house work, caring for children and/or aging parents, that we might have missed an important part of the above scripture: “Care for your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus demonstrated the need for self-care. When He was tired from a day of healing the sick, He went to the mountain by himself. When He was thirsty, He stopped by a well for a drink. When He needed companionship, He visited friends in Bethany. He told Martha to stop her fussing in the kitchen and come sit down with Him. You, and me too, need to get comfortable making our needs a priority. We can’t give tender care to others while we ourselves are overwhelmed.
Years ago, I used to sing beautiful lyrics to an old crooner’s ballad, “She may be weary, women do get weary, wearing the same shabby dress, so when she’s weary, try a little tenderness.” Friend, give yourself what you most need right now. Some tenderness. Sit with pen in hand and write what you most long for. Do you need a day away? Can you manage a relaxing bubble bath? Or a walk on the beach with a buddy?
Sometimes, our most pressing need is for spiritual refreshment. Jesus understands how you feel. He knows that life can be difficult and sometimes downright unmanageable. He said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” Same verse, different translation: “Come to me if you are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28) Christ’s simple answer to our complex burdens, “Come.” Linda
Hello weary one,
Yes, we have been busy, so busy being the Good Samaritan, with our jobs, endless house work, caring for children and/or aging parents, that we might have missed an important part of the above scripture: “Care for your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus demonstrated the need for self-care. When He was tired from a day of healing the sick, He went to the mountain by himself. When He was thirsty, He stopped by a well for a drink. When He needed companionship, He visited friends in Bethany. He told Martha to stop her fussing in the kitchen and come sit down with Him. You, and me too, need to get comfortable making our needs a priority. We can’t give tender care to others while we ourselves are overwhelmed.
Years ago, I used to sing beautiful lyrics to an old crooner’s ballad, “She may be weary, women do get weary, wearing the same shabby dress, so when she’s weary, try a little tenderness.” Friend, give yourself what you most need right now. Some tenderness. Sit with pen in hand and write what you most long for. Do you need a day away? Can you manage a relaxing bubble bath? Or a walk on the beach with a buddy?
Sometimes, our most pressing need is for spiritual refreshment. Jesus understands how you feel. He knows that life can be difficult and sometimes downright unmanageable. He said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” Same verse, different translation: “Come to me if you are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28) Christ’s simple answer to our complex burdens, “Come.” Linda
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