If you have ever flown on an airplane, you have heard the flight attendant instruct passengers to put on their own oxygen masks before helping others, even their own children. At first, that seems a little selfish, doesn’t it? But the reasoning is simple. If you lose consciousness because you failed to take care of yourself, you won’t be much help to anyone else. I believe there is a valuable life lesson in that simple instruction. Sometimes we become so busy trying to take care of everyone around us that we forget to take care of ourselves.

Most of us spend our lives trying to be all things to all people. We want to be dependable spouses, parents, grandparents, friends, and coworkers. We say yes when we should occasionally say no, take on responsibilities that aren’t necessarily ours, and sometimes feel guilty for taking a little time for ourselves. Even Jesus understood the importance of stepping away from the demands of others. Luke 5:16 tells us, “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” If Jesus made time to withdraw from the crowds and renew His spirit, shouldn’t we recognize that same need in our own lives?

There is a big difference between being selfish and taking care of yourself. We cannot continually give our time, energy, and encouragement to others without occasionally replenishing what we have given away. Sometimes we need to slow down, spend time with God, take care of our health, and simply recharge our batteries. The people who love us don’t necessarily need us to do everything; they need us to be healthy, present, and available when it really matters. Remember, sometimes the best thing you can do for the people you love is to put the oxygen mask on yourself first. KT