When is it OK to take time for ourselves?

A good mom and devoted wife, named Andrea, and has chosen to look at her young family as a "gift". She said, "Yesterday we all went to lunch as a family & after we got home I didn't do anything except stuff with the kids. Whether that meant jumping on the trampoline or taking a nap with them. It was very nice. Today we were invited to the park. We all had a blast. And I'm going to truly strive to spend more time at the library & just reading & playing games w/ the kids. I found a couple of great sites that I can't wait to read more on about being the woman God wants me to be."

With all the demands on us and focusing on our husband and family, Andrea asked,"When is it OK to take time for ourselves?

That is a great question. You absolutely need to take time for yourself. Another question that may be of more help to you is, "How should I use my time to myself in a way that really rejuvenates me?" Each of us gets recharged in a different way. We need to figure out what kinds of things we need in light of our particular circumstances and personality. It is easy to feel so “ready” for a break, that when we finally get one, we just waste it, and when we re-engage, we are just as tired and in need of a break as we were before. Our natural reaction is to disconnect from our world and watch TV or get on the computer. Though this allows us to escape, it does not rejuvenate us. Before we take time for ourself, we need to evaluate what it is we really need.

Sometimes, we need a nap, because we have been up all night with sick kids. Sometimes we just need to have an adult conversation with a friend because we have only had words spoken in 3 word sentences. Many times we really need to connect with our Lord and Savior so that we can be relating and working in his power and strength rather than trying to keep our sanity and calm in our own strength. Maybe its a walk at the park so we can be alone and pray or an escape to a coffee shop to read our Bible. Using our free time this way, will affect so many areas of our life in positive ways. Somehow, if we choose to spend it with Him, we get more done, and our patience level with our family is greatly increased. We can discern priorities clearly and we can live in a place of peace that only He can provide in our hectic lives.

As you take time for yourself, stop for a moment and pray and ask how the Lord wants you to use your time. He’ll let you know what you need and what will really rejuvenate you. Then watch what happens when you return to your family, how you respond to situations and how you feel. You will be pleasantly surprised!