“Please take care of yourself.”
These words from a loved one landed in my spirit like a balm when they popped up on my phone. This week, I have been moving, grieving, serving,being served, flying, comforting, being comforted, navigating delayed flights, hours in airports, early mornings, and late nights—offering myself to others while my own body whispered, “Pause.”
On the day I’m writing this blog, several amazing events are taking place—gatherings I was excited to attend. But my body has spoken, and she said, It’s okay to say “no” today—even to beautiful things. Your body is working hard to reset, and that’s sacred work too.
So, I’m listening. I sit here on my couch, wrapped in a weighted blanket, with tea in one hand and soft music playing in the background. Ironically, this moment mirrors an image I created for my calendar last year.
The August page features the words: “Practice self-compassion. Be kind to yourself, especially during challenging times.”
It amazes me that something I created a year ago is now ministering to me so deeply.
A Sacred Text Message
This was the full message from my loved one:
“Please take time and rest your body. You have been traveling a lot… sharing and comforting family, and that takes a lot out of you…
Delayed flights, drama on planes, delays and service to others.
Please take care of yourself.”
This message served as both a reminder and a permission slip.
Rest is not laziness. It is obedience. It is sacred. It is healing.
And sometimes, it means saying no to even the most beautiful things
Even when there are celebrations, opportunities, and invitations—we are allowed to say, “Not today.” Especially when the body speaks.
As I recover from a cold, from grief, and from jetlag, I’ve returned to a set of practices—gentle but intentional, physical yet deeply spiritual. And I’ve begun to realize that each light activity that supports healing is also an act of soul nourishment when done with sacred awareness.
Healing with Intention: Sacred Practices for Body and Soul
This is how I have been tending to myself this week —not only for physical healing, but as a way to honor the Spirit within me:
✨ Hydration & Nourishment
Sacred Invitation: “My cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)
Warm teas like ginger, peppermint, and chamomile, along with broths and soups, remind me that God nourishes me from the inside out. Drinking water becomes a prayer—one sip at a time.
🌬️ Steam + Breathe
Sacred Invitation: “Ruach”—the breath of God.
Taking time to breathe deeply with steam or essential oils reconnects me to divine breath. Inhaling slowly reminds me that Spirit is near, even when energy is low.
Gentle Movement
Sacred Invitation: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
Simple stretches or a slow walk around the house are a reminder that movement can be sacred—not hurried, but healing.
🍯 Cough Management (Honey + Cinnamon, Lozenges, Vocal Rest)
Sacred Invitation: “A gentle tongue is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 15:4)
Even the act of soothing a cough is a way to honor this temple that God created. Resting my voice allows space for stillness and listening.
Stillness is not emptiness—it’s where I meet God most deeply. Breath prayer grounds me in the present and reminds me: Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
Closing Reflection
Even beautiful things can wait.
And in the waiting, there is healing.
There is no shame in rest—it is sacred.
So today, I listen to my body and Spirit, both speaking in harmony, inviting me to trust that being still is also a form of worship.
Note to my Sisters:
Please take
care of
your temples.