Despite all of his dramatic and action-packed examples, living like Jesus does not mean you are available to serve others all of the time. There are stretches in which you say “no” to activity, you create space that is separate from those you love and concentrate on your own personhood. This looks different for all of us because our Maker is endlessly creative in the way we are shaped and molded.
No matter how we tend to our renewal, doing so gives us energy to offer our love and service back to the world. These moments spent caring for ourselves may not be as thrilling as performing everyday miracles for others. But it’s in these moments of caring for yourself that are filled with focus and fortified for your purpose.
In times of retreat, we remember who we are, what we’re for and to whom we belong. You are a child of God, and you’re worthy of love and tenderness.
This message is excerpted from “Love yourself, love the world” by Leslie Klipsch in the March 2017 Gather magazine.
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