Hello, dear church family and friends,
As we finish our Love Boldly series, I want to share a few ideas I learned in my previous nursing role that have stayed with me.
First, taking care of yourself includes establishing intentional downtime. Set aside a specific time each day to step away from screens and unnecessary stimulation. Even five to ten minutes of quiet, mindfulness, prayer, meditation, or simply focusing on God’s creation can help your nervous system reset.
Second, ask yourself, What are the things in my life that are truly meaningful to me? Identify two or three activities that bring you deep joy, then intentionally make time for them.
Finally, reconnect with hobbies, interests, and relationships that have brought you joy in the past. These recommendations are adapted from an article titled Exiting Survival Mode, published on the Texas Health Resources intranet.
As we begin our new series, Serve Courageously, I hope you’ll spend a little time thinking about this: service to others is work, but it is also fuel for your soul. I’ll have much more to share with you on Sunday morning.
I am so grateful to be doing this work with you. By the grace of God and through the power of God’s love, we are building something new at Saint Matthew. I am excited to be walking this path together.
I also ask for your prayers as you read this, especially if you’re reading on Wednesday. Today marks my final day serving as the Palliative Care and Hospice Program Coordinator at Texas Health Resources. I returned for one day to help with the program’s re-certification inspection and, if all goes as expected, I will officially hand off this role to my successor at the end of the day.
Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your prayers during this transition. I look forward to devoting my full attention to the ministry we share here at Saint Matthew.
Love to all,
Mary
