Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)
The definition of self-care, according to the Merriam-Weber dictionary, is “care for oneself; specifically: health care provided by oneself often without the consultation of a medical professional” (http://www.merriam-wbester.com/dictionary/self-care). At the height of the COVID pandemic, when so many of us were working from home and schooling our children from home, I began to realize that not only was I struggling with life balance and stress, but people around me were struggling as well.
Many mental health counselors have been recommending self-care. To one person that may look like a day at the spa, to another a long hike in the woods, meeting friends for dinner, or just a quiet night and a movie. (When we lived in Washington state, my husband liked to kiteboard and windsurf on the water of Puget Sound!) It looks different for everyone. The important part of self-care is taking time to take care of ourselves—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually—so that we can take care of others.
Self-care is important for all parents, but even more so for parents of children with disabilities. We look to the Scripture for help. There the Lord through his Word offers us Jesus as the ultimate form of self-care.
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
By hoping in the Lord, we rely on him for the physical, emotional, and spiritual strength we need to serve in our God-given roles as parents. We are not alone. Many times at appointments with my young daughter in a cardiology office, I wondered how God could renew my strength for the day. It was at times like that I needed to give up control and look to God in his Word to lift me up and give me the strength to face another day.
Over the years, I have also learned that the Lord is patient with us and waits for us to give up that control and enjoy the life-building and strengthening gifts from his Word, which is an important part of self-care. Often this time for self-care doesn’t look as we might imagine. God may provide us with a more flexible schedule or maybe help from family or friends to allow us time to pray and study his Word, even if just for a few minutes.
I also find it helpful to combine these times of Bible study with a relaxing and calm environment. For me that includes burning a beeswax candle after completing my bedtime routine and closing my bedroom door for some time with the Lord. Again, it’s not the quantity of time, but the quality. The more time you spend with him, the stronger you will become. God delights in your spending time with him. Pray for that time, confident that God will make it possible.
Dear Lord, you are my awesome Creator, and you know what I need when it comes to self-care. Help me be consistent with my study of your Word. Protect me from feeling guilty when I cannot devote a lot of time to studying, but instead help me use my time to deepen my connection to you. Please continue to bless my service to my children. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
by Pam Schleg