Pouring on Empty: Self-Care in Ministry
by Jennifer Bell
Before Thrive (2013). Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bell.
Do you recall flight attendants' safety presentations before take-off, when they say, “If traveling with children, make sure that your mask is on first before helping your children?” That’s what self-care is like. Self-care is attending to your physical and mental well-being in order to be of service to others.
How can one truly be of service to others through ministry, purpose, gifts, or talents if not in good physical and mental health?
Since the age of twelve, I was always on a diet in some form. I remember being bullied in the sixth grade because I wore glasses, and I was a little (okay a lot) heavier than my classmates. My very first diet consisted of eating lettuce and yogurt, the first of many diets to come. As I got older, whatever Oprah was doing, I was trying. And, as dieters know, we lose the weight, gain the weight back (and more) and try to lose it again. I continued on the dieting roller coaster for over twenty-five years.
Finally, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was TIRED of counting points, receiving my food in the mail, and walking into weight-loss centers for weigh-ins just to feel defeated, deflated, and, just not like the woman I saw in the mirror each day. I resolved that it just was not in the cards for me to be at a healthier weight, and I refused to do ONE MORE THING. In 2014, I was so glad I did just ONE MORE THING…because it changed my life.
Before and After at Hardin Elementary (2016). Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bell.
Just as I was about to give up on EVER reaching a healthy weight, my friend shared a product with me. At the age of 48, I was an exhausted, overweight, elementary school principal who did not sleep well at night. I knew something had to change. I took a chance and chose to change what I was doing to be a healthier me. My health wasn’t about a particular size or number on a scale at this point in my life. It was about the quality of life I wanted to have for myself and my family.
As the weight came off, so did many other weights like low self-esteem, feelings of unworthiness, lack of confidence, and lack of self-love. I began to understand the meaning behind 3 John 2 (AMP),
Beloved, I pray that in every way, you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].
This scripture is rhema, a living word, that has become my purpose- helping others live a better quality of life to complete their assignment on this side of heaven. My mission is to live and help others live, #Fit4Him physically, mentally, financially, and of course, spiritually so that we can do ALL that God is calling us to do with a spirit of excellence.
I read Jawanza Kunjufu’s book, Satan, I’m Taking Back My Health! and was enlightened about how our lifestyle affects our health. For example, we know that our body is about 75-80% water, but fail to drink at least 64oz per day. Drinking very little water throughout the day affects the quality of our blood and major organs. Lack of water consumption interferes with eliminating waste from the body, which then leads to many other issues.
The book also compared life in the 1900s to our lives today. Living in the 1900s was more slow-paced and straightforward. Food was organically grown, free of pesticides, chemicals, and genetically modified organisms. People were exposed to natural vitamins and minerals from the sun and cleaner water.
Today, our world is fast-paced. We do more with less, worry about life in general, and there never seems to be enough time to get everything done. We rely on modern conveniences, like fast-food restaurants, Starbucks, and vending machines to keep up with living in a progressive world. People are more sedentary at work and home. Getting proper exercise, rest, and clean eating becomes a challenge. Therefore, prospering in health takes a back seat, and it is difficult to perform our best physically and mentally.
I found myself in the “rat race” struggling to fulfill my purpose with excellence because I was so exhausted, overweight, and lacked mental focus. I was just surviving, just like everyone else. You do what you have to do, right? And then it hit me; this is what 3 John 2 is saying: Be in good health. We only get one body, and it is our job to honor and take care of it like the gift that it is.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 (AMP) says;
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.
This is where I decided to start taking care of my body, my temple, and where my healthy journey began.
Water. Image courtesy of Manu Schwendener on Unsplash.
Nutritional Gaps
There were three steps I took that lead me to my greater purpose today. First, I invested in a product that helped me kick the dieting roller coaster to the curb and began filling in my nutritional gaps. I took the product in the first thirty minutes of my day, every day. I started to feel better and lose cravings for hot Cheetos, Snickers, and Diet Dr. Pepper. I craved more vegetables. It was amazing! Although let’s be clear, there is no magic pill, fad, or phase that will sustain a healthy life. Other changes had to be made, too. This led to the second step.
Exercise. Image courtesy of Fitsum Admasu on Unsplash.
Water Intake, Sleep and Exercise
I had to make lifestyle changes. I began to drink more water throughout the day, eat healthier meals (not dieting), get 7-8 hours of sleep, and exercise at least 3-4 times a week for about thirty minutes. When I began exercising, the only thing I could do was walk about fifteen minutes before my knees started hurting. Slowly, I progressed to thirty minutes, 45 minutes, and my body began to change for the better. I was finally taking care of my temple. In doing so, I had more clarity at work. My mood was balanced all day (meaning my family wanted to be around me when I got home from work because I wasn’t as grouchy), and I started sleeping like a baby.
Sleep. Image courtesy of Krista Mangulsone on Unsplash.
Consistency
The last step, and the most important, was consistency with the process. With consistency comes results. I never missed my simple steps in the morning, I made healthier choices, I chose some form of exercise 3-4 times a week, and I was able to shed the weight and keep it off for over five years. Going through the process of taking care of my health led me to my purpose of helping others prosper in health.
Made for more (2020). Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bell.
We have all been given a measure of faith, along with gifts and talents. Everyone has a purpose in this life that only their fingerprints were made to complete. I genuinely believe in living a purpose-filled life, and we must take care of the one temple given to us. Taking care of one’s temple is different for each person due to nutritional gaps related to living in today’s society. Not everyone needs to lose weight as I did. Following the simple 3-step system for eight weeks can help fill in nutritional gaps and help your body operate at peak levels, the way it should. When we are at our best physically and mentally, we can live and give our best in service to others.
As seasons in my life have caused me to shift what I do, my purpose has always been the same. The little twelve-year-old chubby girl who started dieting to mask what was going on inside, is now a purpose-driven 53-year-old spreading love, health, and wellness and helping others live the life God intended—encouraging you so that we accomplish what our fingerprints were designed to do- impact this earth.
Resources
We’ve created a free downloadable PDF to explore the article deeper. It contains discussion questions about the topic in general terms that will give you a jumping-off point for beginning a conversation.
The second page contains a way to see the topic from a biblical perspective.
And finally, to go deeper into the subject, we have chosen a few curated resources to explore from other authors’ and thinkers’ research or perspectives.
Read. Engage. Enjoy!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Depending on how a gem is held, light refracts differently. At B+PC we engage in Pop Culture topics to see ideas from a new angle, to bring us to a deeper understanding. And like Pastor Shane Willard notes, we want “…Jesus to get bigger, the cross to get clearer, the Resurrection to be central…” Instead of approaching a topic from “I don’t want to be wrong,“ we strive for the alternative “I want to expand my perspective.”
So, we invite you to engage with us here. What piqued your curiosity to dig deeper? What line inspired you to action? What idea made you ask, “Hmmm?” Let’s join with our community to wrestle with our thoughts in love in the Comment Section! See you there!