Becky Crenshaw

I didn’t mean to end up in such a sad state.  Broken down and tearful at my friend, Tara’s house.

I had  to call her. It was a necessity.  Tara is my friend who teaches Yoga, loves Jesus and lives her life at a delightful Type B speed.  She smells the roses and enjoys the birds and snuggles with her kids at every given opportunity.

She also is a massage therapist.  Let me just tell you…  If you don’t have a good friend who loves Jesus AND gives massage, you must find one.  The Lord has allowed me two of these friends.  I guess He knows me well enough to know that I need reinforcement.

I just called and asked out right, “Can I come over and let you fix me?”

I was a mess. An overwhelmed, stressful, my-plate-is-too-full-mess.

So there I lay, face down with my face through a donut shaped pillow, begging her to give me some of her wisdom.  I needed practical advice on how to not live my life on the edge of my seat and form these monstrous knots in my back.

“Breathe, Becky. The breath is so important.  When I feel stress creeping into my body, I stop and, simply, take a deep breath. And then I hold it for a split second.  The split second is important because it is in that moment I remember that the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life, lives in me.  And whatever it is that stresses me pales in comparison to that Truth.”

I could stop the post right here.

Amen. Hallelujah. Go take a deep breath, people.

But I won’t, because the Lord spoke so deeply into all of the tight knots in my heart that I must write more!

The Holy Spirit… the Pneuma. The BREATH OF GOD.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

Spirit {Pneuma}: the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ

And she was so right. I forget to breathe.

I am not just a Type A, I am a Type A+++. I try to fit more in my day that should be humanly possible or even allowed.  I get a lot done.  Moms!  We must!!  We all function at high-capacity and it is ok…  IF WE ARE BREATHING AND WELL-BALANCED.

And there within lies my problem.

Balance.

And I am not talking about Tree-Pose balance, I am talking Jesus-Take-The-Wheel balance.

I fill my day to the brim, say yes to this and that and saying NO to rest and peace and (for the love) breathing.

This morning, the Lord mine as well sat down in the flesh and poured Himself a cup of Joe.  He flipped the tender pages of Scripture to 1 Peter 5:8 and boy was it ever Amplified…

Be well-balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 

I don’t know which I love better.  That the Amplified Bible instructs me to be “well-balanced” or the part that sounds like my Mamaw… “that enemy of yours”!!!  Can’t you hear your mamaw, too?!  And see her wagging her finger.

Think it NO coincidence my friend, that Peter ‘s warning RIGHT AFTER his “be well-balanced” command IS the FACT that “that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion IN FIERCE HUNGER.”  He isn’t just angry, he’s HANGRY.  And worn out people are simple prey.

If I am not well-balanced, vigilant and cautious with my health, my time, my rest, my everything…. I am a no-brainer target.

Hence me lying face down in a donut pillow at Tara’s.

So.  What now?

After Tara reminded me to remember to breath and to rest in the presence of the Holy Spirit within me, I have taken some very practical steps towards being well-balanced.  I need to share.  And you need to hold be accountable.  

Here are a few tips from my calm friend:

1. Enjoy our kids.   Yes, they drive us bonkers most days.  And I hear the word “toot” followed by belly laughs more than any mama wants to admit, but instead of stopping them mid-laugh… watch them giggle.  Admire their innocence and the pure joy in their smile.  Yes she said that.  Isn’t she sweet?

2.  Breathe.  I said it already. I am saying it again.  We need to breathe.  And remember that in Christ ‘we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28

3. Stretch.  Confession: I don’t do this.  Like ever.  Even after I exercise.  Horrible, I know.  Again – I am too busy to stretch!  I must be on to the next thing! But no more!  After talking to my Yoga friend and reading several articles, I am committed to this discipline.  Hello, my name is Becky and I am a stretcher.

4. SLEEP.  This one has been my biggest noticeable life change since the donut pillow.  I have consistently MADE MYSELF go to bed in time to get at LEAST seven hours of sleep.  Before this, I would MAYBE get six.  Or five.  I can not tell you how much better I feel.  Go figure.  This morning, for example, I woke up at 4:30.  Wide awake.  In the past I would have just gotten up and started my quiet time.  But this time I literally told my body to go back to sleep.  Yes, I am weird like that.  And it did. The end.

5.  Celebrate restful things.  I have made a point to purchase a few spa-like luxuries for my home.  Lavender Vanilla lotions and Eucalyptus Spearmint candles and bath salts and tea and all things relaxing.  I have made intentional efforts in these areas and hopeful that my boys will fill the effects of the candle, too.  No evidence as of yet. Still hopeful.

Rest isn’t a suggestion.  It isn’t just a good idea.  It is a commandment in Scripture.  Jesus knew us all too well when he said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I’m a-comin’ Jesus… and I am bringing my yoga mat with me.

Does this resonate with you?  Are you like me, tightly wound and full of knots?  Then let us take heed to the words of Peter, “Be well-balanced… for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.”  Today it will not be me.

In the comments, share a restful tip you practice OR share one that you need implement in your own life.  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Be blessed today!   {And well-balanced, too.}