Self-care is a hot topic and one that my mind often holds debates about. On the one hand, I know that if I am to help others and really improve myself, I know that I need to take care of myself, but on the other hand, I worry that I am being too selfish by taking time for myself. Recently, I had the realization that the mantra "What would Jesus do?" can be applied, even to something as simple as self-care. What did Jesus's self-care routine look like?
Jesus's self-care routine was actually pretty similar to the routine that most of us follow nowadays (or strive to follow). He split it up into the five categories that we split it into: mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and social. For his mental self-care, Jesus spent time alone, away from others in order to better work through his issues. I love this scripture that provides some evidence of Jesus escaping the pressures of life to be alone: "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." - John 6:15This occurred after Jesus had fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, and in verse fourteen, we read: "those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." - John 6:14 From this, I infer that the men had seen Jesus perform one miracle and might have been pressuring him to do more for them or for the people at that time. This could be likened unto the pressures that many of us feel daily when we accomplish something that others see as a great thing and then immediately feel the pressure to perform even better or to produce something similar soon. I take great solace in the face that Jesus "departed again into a mountain himself alone". Not only did Jesus know that it was time for him to take a mental break from things and recenter himself, but he also reveals that this was not his first time doing so. For his emotional self-care, we know that there are two times recorded in the scriptures where Jesus allowed himself to cry. As far as I know, not very many people enjoy crying and it is typically seen as a sign of weakness. That being said, crying is often a bodily reaction in response to someone experiencing true and raw emotion, which is part of a good self-care routine as it allows us to better understand why we feel a certain way and to deal with those emotions in a healthy way, rather than turning to the unhealthy coping mechanisms that many individuals employ (e.g. overeating, undereating, pornography, excessive cleaning, self-harm, etc.). We turn first to John 11:35-36: "Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" - John 11:35-36 This is a super important verse to me because it first and foremost shows how much that Jesus cared for and loved his friend Lazarus, as well as that he was willing to mourn with Lazarus's family in his death. Jesus knew that it was possible to raise Lazarus from the dead, and yet he still dealt with those emotions. I like to think that maybe as he processed those emotions, Heavenly Father communicated to him that it was still possible to raise Lazarus from the dead. Thus, it also teaches us that as we process our emotions, we are better able to deal with them. While not all of our issues will be dealt with in the same way, it is okay to allow yourself to feel those raw emotions in order to move forward. For his spiritual self-care, we know that Jesus prayed often to Heavenly Father in order to maintain a relationship with him, as well as that he preached the word of God often to those around us. This practice in listening to the Spirit and interpreting it's whisperings is an important part of spiritual connection and personal revelation. In Matthew we read: "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." - Matthew 26:36 This is important because Jesus picks a specific place to go and pray to the Father. He obviously has an intimate relationship with his father and has dedicated spaces, times and even being alone to talking with him. That act shows how important he feels his spiritual self-care is and that he is willing to put the rest of the world on silent in order to take time for his spiritual mental health. For his physical self-care, we don't have it recorded that Jesus did a lot of exercise, but we know that he and his disciples traveled from place to place and due to his life as a nomad for some time, it is assumed that he walked quite a bit. We also know that Jesus wore sandals, which were made to give men more stamina in walking long distances, and that washing feet upon entering a home and at other occasions was a traditional ritual practiced. "After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded." - John 13:5 According to this source, Jesus walked over 3000 miles during his 3-year ministry: "Total Miles Jesus walked during His 3-year public ministry is: 3,125! (5,029 km) Grand total of miles Jesus walked in His 33 years on earth while traveling on trips: 21,525 Miles (34,640 km) The distance around the world at the equator is 24,901.55 miles (40074 km). This means the Jesus ‘walked’ ‘Almost’ the distance around the world!" - Arthur and Denise Blessitt from https://blessitt.com/miles-jesus-and-mary-walked/ All that math to say that Jesus likely averaged just over 5,700 steps a day during his ministry, which means he led a fairly active life and that he needed to maintain his physical health in order to go on each of his ministering trips! For his social self care, we know that Jesus spent a lot of time with his disciples, whom he loved. That right there would be a pretty heavy indication that he took time to care for himself socially, but some other aspects that I like about his life is the time he took to serve others, also. Here we read that right after healing the centurion's servant, Jesus went out and raised the widow's son from the dead: "11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother." - Luke 7: 11-15 We also know that after performing great miracles like these, Jesus took time for himself, which is another form of social self care, especially when we find that being around people, even people that we love and enjoy being with, drains us. "33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." - Mark 1:33-35 While this specific example also would lie under taking time for mental self-care and spiritual self-care, I think that it goes to show that at times we can do one thing that stems from various forms of self-care to achieve renewal. All this to say that the next time you feel like you shouldn't be "selfish" and take time for yourself, remember that Jesus himself had a self-care routine and so can you! If you want some ideas for self-care, feel free to check out this page on my website, that has ideas which are being added on the daily! Until next time, Bre
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