When there is turbulence on an airplane and the oxygen masks fall down- what are the instructions? Put on your own oxygen mask first SO THAT you can help others...
Keep that in the back of your mind...
So YES- to live at the Pace of Grace- you HAVE to be selfish! WHAT? Yes- I said it- BE SELFISH. Okay- so NOT in the meany-pants, I am gonna get my way and do what I want kind of selfish- no, no, no...
I mean in the:
...tonight I am gonna take an extra long shower and use pretty smelling body wash and shave and paint my toenails cuz I feel grimy and I want to feel beautiful- kind of way...
...this afternoon I am gonna read my new favorite book and lovingly ignore (yes-sometimes it really is OKAY to do this) my kids (who by the way- are better at playing by themselves than I think)-kind of way...
...before I leave work I am gonna text my babysitter and tell her I need 30 more minutes till pick up today so I can go to Starbucks, grab my Tall White Mocha and regroup before starting my evening- kind of way...
...tonight my kids will play on the crazy play structure at McDonald's after work so that I can cry to my girlfriend about my struggles at home kind of way...
...I am going to enlist my kiddos to do more chores and to help me more vs. play-time because it makes me less nutso and you know what? it is good for them too-kind of way...
...tonight I am going to leave the laundry, the dishes and the toys on the floor and cuddle up with my Man and tomorrow we will eat out (or use paper plates) and I will just use the broom to sweep enough toys out of my way for a walkway- kind of way...
Simple things, YET they make a difference in how we Christian Working Mamas THRIVE or just SURVIVE our day-to-day lives...
Tomorrow we start a new week- be sure to be selfish this week- even just 10 minutes of doing what you need, what makes you feel energized and just simple taking care of you- shows your people that sometimes you really do need to put on that oxygen mask first before helping them with their needs...
We Mama's love to give and give and being a Mama is the best GIFT in the whole world to us and some days we CAN'T put on that oxygen mask first and thankfully the Holy Spirit breathes a fresh breathe of spiritual life into our beings; however... we need to take care of ourselves because we are PRECIOUS to the Lord...
Such a great reminder. I think what I love is that you remind us how do it in a way that will, in the end, help our families by giving them a better us.
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