Handle With Care

We need to start taking better care of ourselves.

When you read that, did your mind go to the same place mine did?

Did the Should Soundtrack start playing?

I know, I know, I should eat better, work out more, drink more water, and do more of this or less of that.

But that's not what I mean. I'm talking about handling ourselves with care.

It's interesting. I was looking at some of the definitions of care, and the first ones that popped up were: "suffering of mind" or "a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility."

Jeez, that's depressing.

Caring for ourselves and others should feel good, but more often than not, it feels more like we are carrying (see what I did there) worry and fear.

Be careful.

I better take better care of myself so I don't get sick.

I better care for them so nothing bad happens.

It feels like some preventive disaster planning.

Caring gets pretty heavy sometimes, that's for sure.

I'd like to offer a different perspective today.

I like this definition of care: "regard coming from desire or esteem."

Caring means we are thinking the best for and of ourselves or others.

Caring means we feel that we are all worthy of goodness.

Caring offers love and hope.

That feels lighter.  

I'm going to imagine today that we are all wrapped in tape that says "Handle with Care."

In fact, I'm going to imagine God Himself wrapped that tape around us.

God loves us so much, and Jesus cared and carried a lot for us and still offers to do the same today.

Let's picture that tape around us as we handle ourselves and each other with care today.

Be gentle and kind.

Let's hold ourselves and those we encounter with the highest esteem and be caring - not carrying - so we do not pick up what is not ours to hold.

How about less worry or fear and more hopeful desire, help, love, and care wrapped around us from Jesus?

I think I'm going to keep this tape on forever.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

1 Peter 5: 6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.