Dear tired Mama,

It seems that I am constantly dealing with health issues. I have learned (usually the hard way) how important it is to take care of yourself mentally, spiritually and physically.  

​Are you feeling tired?  Overwhelmed?  At the end of your rope?

Mentally- use your brain. Your body tells you what you need, you just need to listen. My body kept telling me that it was tired and needed a break and I told my body “Shut up, I’m too busy.” And now I am paying for that. What I would give to take back the last year and a half of my life and do things differently, but since that isn’t an option I have to change my entire lifestyle to mend the damage that I have done. 

Spiritually- I don’t know about you - but I know I feel all around better about myself and life in general when I am spending time in the Word. My husband understands this as well; sometimes when I am acting irrational my husband sends me to our room and tells me to read my Bible. And just because he is telling me to do it I feel like I need to rebel, but deep down I know that is exactly what I need - I comply and my day goes a whole lot better. 

Physically- as Mom’s we tend to put ourselves at the bottom of the list. It took me months to go and see a Doctor when I knew that something wasn’t right. Our families need us and we are no good to them when we are falling apart. I am just coming to an understanding about vitamins and minerals and how our bodies need them. I have discovered that I was lacking in a lot of areas and now that I am taking my vitamins I feel so much better physically. And when I feel better physically I can use that energy to feel better mentally and connect better spiritually. 

Mamas, I am just coming to understand on a deeper level how important it is to our children that we are in a secure place. Especially our daughters. If we want what is best for our daughters -- get things together in your life. Our self-esteem and how we deal with circumstances have a direct effect on our daughters. I have been weak and in pain for months and that has definitely had a negative effect on my self-esteem. I have seen changes in my oldest daughter that I know are a direct result of my behaviour.

I have to correct my behaviour and support her as she has to deal with her own issues.  I talk to her about what I am going through and I have apologized for my behaviour and she can now visually see that I am trying to make changes. Our daughters need to see that we are not super humans that we have made mistakes in the past, we make mistakes every day and we will make mistakes in the future - we are continually growing and learning from our mistakes. 

Sometimes I wonder why God has burdened me with all these far out ideas. Why did I feel compelled to write a book? Why do I feel like I have two more books in me that need to be written? I know from mistakes that I have learned from and circumstances in my life that I am here for a purpose, that just like Esther - I was created for such a time as this. I was born to affect the lives of women of all ages at this time and place. 

Right now take time to evaluate yourself Mentally, Spiritually and Physically-- how are you doing? Not one person reading this is doing fine in all three categories. There is always room to grow and learn. What kind of role model are you being to your children? I know, pretty heavy questions, but we (as a society) need to be positive role models (light) to those around us.  I am willing to take the steps to make it happen, are you? 

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