Save Some for Yourself...

So often we give it all away and have nothing left for ourselves, our dreams, and our goals.

We are taught to be nurturers. We are taught to be kind. We are taught to put others before ourselves. This is what kindness looks like. This is what love feels like. This is what makes you a good person. But is it really? 

Whereas it is absolutely a blessing to be kind, nurturing and able to prioritize the needs of others, we must never forget to show ourselves that same degree of kindness. We must nurture our own dreams and ignite our own passions, and we must also prioritize our own wellness and well-being.

God does not expect you to solve everyone’s problems. That’s His job. God does not expect you to have unlimited capacity to carry the burdens of those around you. Again, that’s His job. Protecting your peace, protecting your personal space, creating boundaries and honoring your limitations will protect you from burnout.

There. I said it. Burnout.

You cannot pour from an empty vessel. Sometimes, the more you give, the more they take. The more you enable them, the less likely they are to kneel before God in humble prayer and submission. Instead of seeking His guidance, His provision, and His wisdom they will drain you of your ability to maintain your own joy and your own peace, which in the long run, will rob you of the strength you need to fulfill your own assignment.

God never intends for you to feel empty and utterly depleted. He does not want you so bogged down and overwhelmed by other people’s problems that you cannot move forward and birth the dream inside of you. Becoming someone else’s crutch will only weaken you. Constantly trying to build someone else’s self-esteem will undoubtedly cause you to doubt your own.

Just as you have to pray and walk in the truth of God’s Word for your life, so do they. The five wise virgins teach an important lesson for us all. The only way to keep your own lamp burning is to not give away all your oil. Your oil is precious. Your oil reservoir must remain full. The foolish virgins, for whatever reason, failed to maintain their oil and expected the wise virgins to sacrifice their own.

You cannot change people. You cannot help people who refuse to be helped. You cannot care more about people than they care about themselves. You cannot set yourself on fire to keep everyone else warm. Be kind. Be loving. Show compassion. Lend a helping hand.

Just be sure to save some for yourself…