Thursday 25 April 2019

Who cares for you?


Around 3 years ago, I went for a routine visit to my GP so I can have my annual check up. My GP asked me how I was feeling so we had a discussion and then he said this - “You care for so many people but who cares for you”

At first, I didn’t really want to answer the question but after I left, I had time ponder on it and I really struggled at answering the question until I came to this conclusion which was If I don’t care for and look after myself, no one else will. It sounds selfish but in reality, it is the truth.
When I was studying and also teaching at the same time, I only had like one day to myself and even then I was always on call, I rarely had time for myself. When I did have time for myself, I always found myself looking after other people before myself. When my body broke down in August last year, that was when I learnt the harsh reality that I really need to be caring for myself more.

There will be times where you will need to be there for other people and if caring is your nature then it will be something that you do naturally however you can’t do care for other people if you are not in the best of conditions. Don’t wait until your body breaks down in order to start looking after yourself, Don’t wait until you become ill in order to start looking after yourself.
I have’t been the best in looking after myself because I had wanted to care for everybody else but 3 years later, I’ve taken a huge leap in finally caring for myself.

Recently, I saw a post via social media and there was a carer who devoted himself to care for other people but eventually it got too much and he took his own life. He cared for so many people but who was caring for him?

Below are a few tips at which you can care for and look after yourself
- Have regular check ups
- Eat healthily / have a healthy diet
- Have time for yourself
- Regular exercise (this could be going for walks or even going to the gym)
- Have a regular sleep pattern
- Set Boundaries

There are more tips I could provide but maybe you could write yourself a list and put them into practice......

Now i’m On the road to recovery, i’ll Be sharing a lot more of story with you all. Be intentional about yourself, be intentional about how you care and look after yourself.

See you all soon.

Thursday 18 April 2019

Being Strong when I am Weak

Hey everyone, it’s been a long while since i’ve Updated the blog. I’ve been recovering and regaining my strength. Over this time, I have had some personal revelations and I have one to share with you all.

Before I was struck down my leg infection, I was of the impression that I was strong in all areas and that nothing could bring me down, it was like I was an immovable force. Oh how wrong was I, when I had the infection, my life came to a halt, for the first time I was down, I was weak. I had to admit to myself that yes indeed, I was weak and I needed help from the people around me whether that was through prayer or through physical support.

During that time, I devoted my time to studying and I looked at a particular passage which I had looked at before but this time it had added importance. Isaiah 38:2-8 tells us of King Hezekiah, he was told by the Prophet, Isaiah, that he was going to die and he should put his house in order. Just imagine and what he was thinking at that point, it must have been shocking to hear this but nevertheless, King Hezekiah showed his strength when he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. It was then that he broke down and the bible tells us that he ‘wept bitterly’

In the midst, God came through and strengthen him by adding 15 more years to his life. After taking encouragement from it, it was then I realised that in order for me to become strong again, I must first admit my weakness. Admitting you have a weakness and that you need help takes a lot of strength and courage

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am now reminded that in my weakness is when I am at my strongest. I pray that you can take encouragement from this. Remember that when you are weak, that is when you become strong......... 

Be blessed always