"Looking for Lovely"

Now a certain religious scholar overheard them debating. When he saw how beautifully Jesus answered all their questions, he posed one of his own, and asked him, “teacher, which commandment is the greatest of all?” Jesus answered him, “The most important of all the commandments is this: ‘The Lord Yahweh, our God, is one!’ You are to love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with a passionate heart, from the depths of your soul, with your every thought, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.’ You will never find a greater commandment than these.” Mark 12:28-31, TPT

Can you believe Annie taught us such a powerful message using nail polish? This chapter was such a gift to me. It helped to solidify a message I’ve been hearing for myself over the past few years.

Ladies, we simply cannot give to others what we haven’t received for ourselves. I believe that’s what Jesus’ words in Mark explain. When we love the Lord, our Creator God, with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, I believe we learn to love and care for what He cares for….. His children. Sister, that is YOU! That is ME!

Have you noticed that The Church is in chaos? I need to be honest with you. I have been in my own chaos because of the Church’s collective crisis. Everybody seems to know what is the right way to follow Christ, but no one’s ideas are lining up. Jesus said the world would know His followers by their love for one another, but I can’t find very many examples of this kind of love. Why is everyone so angry?

This religious scholar asked Jesus for the most important commandment, and Jesus essentially said to take care of your own self and then care for others in the same way. I know that’s simplified. Yet, I can’t help but think Jesus was explaining the importance of self-care.

If you grew up with the same background as me, you may be very annoyed right now. I get it! I have spent years hating the phrase “self-care.” I couldn’t think of anything that sounded more selfish! But loving God with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength takes a lot of focus on ME. Personally, it’s required quite a bit of counseling, exercise, individual Bible study, fellowship with friends. Recently, it's required massages, identifying my own wants/needs, and giving myself permission to speak up for myself.

Maybe we are all so angry, because we’ve stopped taking care of ourselves in order to take care of the world. But y’all, God’s in complete control of the world. He has taken care of the world. It is finished! We are charged with this one life, this one body/mind/spirit. Would the world know us by our love for each other if we could just learn to really love and care for ourselves? I wonder if the first step of evangelism should be our own self-care.

What do you need to do for yourself today? Nail polish is very light-hearted and easy. Maybe that’s all you need to reset the focus of your own personal care.

However, if that seems silly and you can’t imagine that one, little act of self-care would fix the chaos swirling in your heart, soul, and mind, I want you to know that you are not alone. A couple of years ago, that is exactly where I was. I had lived a life so focused on others, and I was utterly depleted! I didn’t know how to live another way, and I needed a lot of help. It was messy, and crazy, and sometimes embarrassing to admit (as an adult woman) that I didn’t really know how to care for and love myself. On this side of the mess, though, I don’t care. Some people haven’t understood my process, but I’m finding freedom, and I’ve found God in a whole new way. Now, I get to love others in the right order…. As I’ve loved myself.

What do you need to do today? Grab a bottle of nail polish and paint your nails or find a trusted friend and ask for help? Either can be a bold move. Go for it!

God, we need wisdom and we need courage. Thankfully, You have both in abundance. Please help us to find the lovely in ourselves today. Give us plenty of reminders so that we can share with the world. Amen.