Women’s Ministry Minute

June 25, 2020

With Avalon Negrette

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Whenever you hear someone talking about self care, what do you envision?

Essential oils?

Face masks?

A glass of wine? (Am I right?)

Bath bombs?

Reading a book with a comfy blanket with no distractions?

All of these examples are super nice and maybe you want to be doing one of these things right now. And don’t get me wrong; I enjoy spending time by myself and opening up Avalon’s Beauty Shop on a Saturday afternoon, but it’s got me thinking about this whole idea of self care. Self.

Singular.

Just me, myself, and I.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Do I seek to fulfill my own comfort? My own peace? Is my definition of “self care” really just me escaping and avoiding going to God? Am I casting all my anxieties onto the Lord or am I casting them into my essential oil diffuser? Or my bathtub? Or my current summer romance novel?

Where do I go first?

I truly believe that bath bombs are a gift from the heavens, but I think that we could maybe do with changing the way we do self care in our culture. We need to be aware of what really fills us up.

Praying

Meditating

Yoga

Reading scripture

Singing hymns etc...

All of these fill our soul so much more than a Christmas scented candle ever will. Let’s go to our Lord first when we feel the need to kick up our feet and binge watch our favorite tv show. Let’s cast our anxieties onto Him who gives us peace that transcends all understanding. The Lord loves us and cares for us so much more and better than we care for ourselves. We need to let Him.