I’ve been on a bit of a writing hiatus lately. Maybe you’ve noticed . . . or not. If I can take a minute and just be brutally honest, there are a couple of reasons for this lapse.
First off, I’ve got a bit of writer’s block going on. I’d be worried but it’s happened before and I know I’ll get my groove on again any day now. Don’t give up on me.
The other reason I’ve missed a blog or two is I’m trying to make it a point to take better care of myself. I’m really not very good at that. Are you? I tend to say yes way too often which ends up leaving me stressed, crabby and tired (and oh so fun to live with). So, I’m trying to make prayerful decisions about how I spend my time and what I commit to. Maybe you’re thinking, “Didn’t Nancy just write about this in October? What can I say? I’m clearly not a fast learner.
I’ve also, and this will shock most all of my friends, been trying to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a morning person. In fact, if you ever read here that I’m getting up at 5:30 AM every day to exercise you’ll know my website has been hijacked and someone should call the police. (Because I’m sure they’ll care.) Suffice it to say if I’m up by 7:30 AM, I’m quite impressed with myself. And yes, I do know every morning person reading this has just rolled their eyes. I can live with that.
What does all this have to do with the lack of timely blog posts, you wonder? (Maybe you’re not wondering but I’m going to tell you anyway.) If I don’t have my blog written before the weekend I have a habit of staying up way too late on Sunday night to get it finished. When I do that, however, I don’t feel as though I’m taking good care of myself. So, I’ve just started saying no to late night writing.
At the risk of sounding incredibly self-serving, the reason I do this is because I think self-care is important. This world could easily run a person ragged. If you’re a volunteer, people will ask you to volunteer more. If you have a 9 – 5 job, someone will ask you to stay late time and again until suddenly you’re working 9 – 6 every night of the week. The people that ask more of you aren’t mean people they are just clueless about the rest of your life. They probably don’t know about your Bible Study every Tuesday night, or your kid who wakes up five times a night screaming with night terrors. Those people don’t know you are simply exhausted.
You and God are the only ones who know what your life looks like on a daily basis, which means you and God are the only ones who can best decide how to take care of you. This is important stuff. God has not called you to a frenetic pace. Will there be frenzied days? Of course, but if you run from morning to night 24/7 it might be time to say no to something – even something good.
Please friend, take care of you. You are precious and loved, not for what you do but just for being you. And thanks for giving me grace when I step back and take care of me.
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Ps. 127:2 I offer this as a new “life verse”–I love it because I tend to be a Martha! Always busy doing and sometimes I forget that God doesn’t need my help to accomplish His will.
That’s the verse I should have included in my blog, Jeneane! It’s a perfect life verse! :)
I love you, Nancy, Dear. Now go to bed! :)