As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. Luke 5:14-16 (MSG)
Today is Mother’s Day, and I’d like to speak directly to moms, although this really applies to all of us.
Do you ever feel overscheduled, overdrawn or overwhelmed? You feel badly for wanting to get away sometimes—whether that’s to hang out with friends, have a date night with your husband, or just to have an uninterrupted shower. And sometimes you get so tired that you lose your patience with the kids, and then you feel guilty.
Could it be that you’re expecting too much of yourself?
As rewarding as it is to be a parent, kids are demanding, and no one can be a giver all the time. We all need time to rejuvenate, and we need times when we’re on the receiving end of care.
Often we can feel selfish for wanting to recharge. After all, the kids always need something, the house always needs cleaning, and then there’s the challenge of taking care of other relationships and work.
Whenever you feel as if you can’t afford to take a break, think of Jesus. During his ministry, people flocked to him by the thousands—people with real, desperate needs who had nowhere else to turn. If Jesus ministered to people 24/7, 365 days a year, he still would have had a line-up of people waiting to see him. And yet, Jesus often withdrew to recharge. He spent time with close friends. He laughed, and he also cried when he needed to. Jesus took care of himself.
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s a gift to those around you. What recharges you? What gives you energy? What do you love to do? Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need today.