Stop burning yourself out trying to be a helper to everybody, a ride for all who need it, a cook for everybody whose hungry, a prayer partner for every person who asks, an encouraging word for every situation, a ‘yes I’ll go’ person all the time, ‘call me if you need me’ to everybody else circumstance or ‘yes, I’ll do it’ to every request. Baby, sometimes you need to shut up, sit down and regroup. Every once in a while you need to take some time for yourself because there’ll be a time when your body won’t get up like it used too, your feet won’t move as fast as they ought to and when pain from everywhere will make you take an unexpected time out. Keep thinking that you have to do everything, right now! Keep saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” because it may come sooner than expected, if you don’t rest! Chile, we all need it and there’s nothing wrong with taking a moment to get some.
It’s okay to put the phone on do not disturb for a little while. It’ll be alright if you don’t answer the call, this time, from that same person who needs prayer 4 times a week. It’s fine to go to sleep at a decent hour. It’ll be alright if you go visit tomorrow instead of today. It’ll be just fine if you said no, this time. Baby, you cannot attend every event, every worship service and accept every preaching opportunity because you need to rest. And I’ve found out that you can either rest on your own accord or your body will do it for you. The bible says in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” But if you’re constantly running around filling everybody else tank with oil that keeps their light shining, whose filling yours? If you’re constantly doing the feeding, when are you eating? If you’re always the one praying, who’s covering you? If you’re always the visitor when will you be the visited? In other words, when will you rest?
Lakisha, the Author 