Are you worth it?

Why are new things sometimes so annoyingly painful?

Next week, I am trying a new thing.  A whole week, dedicated to the pursuit of hitting the reset button on my life.  I've never done anything like it before, and am not sure how to set goals or expectations, lest they both be dashed.  For context, let me introduce you to Joy.

I met Joy last summer when she came to town to focus on her health.  Basically, she took two months off from her life back east (with the loving and full permission of her family) to get away, and jumpstart her spiritual and physical health journey.  She joined a gym, hired a trainer, and focused solely on eating right, exercising and spending time alone with God.  I admired that intentional effort so much - she was (and is) a marvel to me!  She course-corrected her life, something that I am badly in need of.

Since Joy's time here, I always lamented the fact that I could never do that.  Not being a teacher, my work schedule would never permit two months away, summertime or otherwise.  But since the beginning of the year, this thought has been circling my brain:  "You might not be able to do two months, but how about one week?"

Now, I know myself - real well - and one week is NOT enough time to correct 45 years of wrong thinking, screwed up priorities, and being allergic to exercise.  But if not now, when?  For once in my adult life, I have decided:

I am worth it.

I am worth taking a week off.  I am worth spending time to realign my priorities and commitments.  I am worth every effort that I can spend in order to be the wife and friend God wants me to be.  A ministry leader I greatly admire once asked the question, "Which is right - to ask God to make you a better person, or to ask Him to make you a new person?"  Better is good...but I choose new.

My prayer for next week is:  Lord, show me what you want me to do and help me to rely completely on your strength to do it.

I'll keep you posted.  That is, if I have any strength left in my arms to type.  :-)