Loving Myself As My Neighbor | MariletteSanchez.com

What would it take for God to humble you and get your attention? For me it was ten days at the hospital in the middle of a pandemic. Diagnosis? Bipolar disorder.

God finally got my attention, allowing me to embrace my limits. I realized I’m not superhuman. I’m not invincible. As a mom and a minister, those are hard pills to swallow.

As my therapist puts it, self-care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. There’s that old illustration of putting on your own oxygen mask on the airplane before helping others.

Prioritizing myself? That was something I was not good at.

Thankfully God sends help when we need it, even when we bring hardship upon ourselves. I’m beyond grateful for my hubby who has been my rock throughout this whole process. I’m grateful for my church and greater community who has sent practical help like meals and childcare during my recovery.

I’m especially grateful for the gift of the Bible, which has grounded me throughout this entire recovery process.

I’m done with believing the lie that it is “selfish” to take care of myself—especially to take care of my spiritual walk. Whether it is cleaning up the third spilled cup of milk of the day. Or it is tackling the pile of laundry that is silently judging me. All that can wait so I can spend time with my Savior via His Word.

(False) Martyrdom is tempting. “Look at me God! I’m suffering on behalf of others.”

In reality, God calls me to love my neighbor as myself. In other words, I am not to neglect myself. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I was bought with a price. I am valuable and worth more than silver or gold. That’s how God sees me. And that’s how I need to start seeing myself.