Mixed in amongst the comings and goings to the hospital, when my friend was having her complex spine surgery, I had a routine wellness checkup apt. for myself.
It has been about 7 years since I’ve been to the doctor for a wellness visit, so it seemed like a good thing to get done (as an aside – I’m a horrible patient when it comes to going to the doctor myself). I had no problem going with my friend to all her pre-op appointments. I had no problem being with my friend in the hospital as she recovered from her surgery.
But when it comes to having to go to the doctor myself … I just don’t want to do it.
When my lab results came back from my bloodwork, there were two numbers which had stepped across the line of being in the “green” zone to just barely being in the “yellow” zone.
Much to my own surprise I was very offended at my body. How dare it “step over the line into the yellow zone.” I’ve always been healthy. My body can’t do that to me!
With my wellness visit and bloodwork being done right at the same time as I was caring for my friend after her surgery, I couldn’t help but realize the gravity and importance of taking care of oneself if we are going to be able to care for others.
If we are going to love others well, we must first take care of ourselves.
Love puts its own “parachute” on first.
I have never parachuted before, but I have watched movies and YouTube videos where people parachute in tandem with someone else. The professional parachuter must have their parachute on first! Because the person riding tandem with them is counting on their parachute. The person riding tandem does not have a parachute at all.
So also, in the same way, if we are going to help others in their time of need, we must first take care of ourselves. We must “put our own parachute on first” (so to speak).
What does this look like? What does it look like practically to “put your own parachute on first”?
* If I am foolish when it comes to taking care of my own health, then I won’t have the health I need to be there for others in their time of need. [aka: wellness checkups are important!]
* If I do not get the sleep/rest I need, then my body won’t function correctly, and I won’t be able to be there for others when they need me.
* If I am not diligent to eat correctly and healthily, my body won’t function very well. If I eat too much sugar my body will be weak and lethargic. Not to mention driving myself towards diabetes.
* If I am not diligent to get out and exercise, my body won’t function very well. I won’t have the strength or stamina I need when the crises of life show up!
* If I am not wise about what I allow into my mind, then I won’t have the peace I need to be able to help others when chaos & crisis crash in on their world.
* If I am not wise about what I allow my mind to think on and dwell on, then I won’t have the discernment I need to help others when they come to me for advice or counsel.
* If I am not wise with my own time, then I won’t have any time left over for others when they need me.
* If I am not wise with my own finances, I won’t have anything extra to help someone else who has a need.
* If I do not make a specific point to “recharge” … then I will be “burnt out” when others need me.
* If hubby and I do not make a specific point to “stay on the same page” … then we won’t have the “strength of combined force” for when the “heavy lifting” of life suddenly shows up.
Love puts its own “parachute” on first.
If we are going to love others well, we must first make sure to take care of our own selves.
We can only lift someone to higher ground if we are there on that higher ground to start with. We can only lift someone to higher ground if we have the strength and the “muscle” to do so. So also, in the same way, we can only love someone well if we have first taken the steps to make sure we ourselves are in a good place (mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. …).
Love puts its own “parachute” on first.
