Daily Devotions - Wednesday, July 16

Live Your Feelings

“Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage;
his anger mounted against Israel because
they did not trust in God’s saving power.”
--From one of songs
Psalm 78: 21

Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. One of the more challenging parts of self-care is taking time to “live your feelings.” Take anger, for example. Healthy self-care when you are angry means that you will allow yourself to feel the anger. Having felt it, you can then decide what you want to do: maybe you will just feel it, maybe you will express it, and maybe you will take some action. Today’s verse from the sacred writings demonstrates what “living your feelings” is all about.

Take the feeling of hurt. If you keep it inside, the hurt will grow, but when you talk to the person who hurt you, you move toward resolution. If you feel tears, cry your tears. Living your feelings is the healthy thing to do.

We cannot be anything for anyone else unless we learn to take care of ourselves. By demonstrating the importance of self-care we can and will become the caregivers that we have the potential to be. Have a good day living your feelings, another part of being good to you.

A prayer: God who was full of rage, help me to live my feelings. Amen.

Ben Keckler
07.16.08