By Nancy Virden (c)2024

The five-year-old in my house sings, “Cleanup, cleanup, everybody everywhere. Cleanup, cleanup, everybody do your share!”

After every Christmas gathering comes the cleanup. If you were last week’s host or will be hosting other holiday events in the near future, allow yourself to rest. Your body may need it, but your mind definitely does. For the sake of my readers who tend to anguish over plans and details, I want you to know that putting cleanup off is not the end of the world.

If you have bought into the misunderstanding that rest equals laziness, begin relearning what is true. Rest is healthy, breaking cleanup into manageable bits is wise. If food garbage is thrown out, no one cares if you vacuum a few days after the party. Likely, your only real deadlines are garbage disposal and trash day.

The effects of cramming too much hosting into only a few weeks include: deep tiredness, sapped mental energy, loss of focus on other parts of life, disconnection with others, and more. Write a reminder note to not over-extend yourself again. Maybe your busyness has kept you from spending time with God.

We tend to think we handle stress well because we can still go through the motions. That is not handling stress, it is denying or dismissing it. Take care and rest. Reconnect with the Savior Jesus, and begin the new year fresh.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Genesis 2:2

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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