Put Your Face Mask On FIRST

I’m writing this on the 3rd day of April 2020, a day in history where face masks are scarce on the planet due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing global impacts. The Governor of the State of Maryland has just declared a State of Emergency imposing an Executive Order to Shut-in and Stay. I’m personally on my first full week in the house with only having left the house to retrieve groceries for the family before the Stay-In order was enacted.

Yesterday, I was doing some spiritual studying and discovered (newly) how much I haven’t put an oxygen mask on myself - at all. As I recount, I don’t truly know if I’ve ever put myself first. In a few weeks, my first born child will be 23 and she’s a mother to an incredible 3 month old. To this day I still worry about her well being. I run a business that focuses on serving the needs of others in transacting the transfer, marketing and purchase of real estate. In the past 3 weeks, I’ve been on calls and in conversations on how to take care of people, clients, business and communities during this global crisis and still I hadn’t connected the dots that I was doing it all without an oxygen mask on.

I mean seriously… Who do I think I am? Superwomen? Well perhaps I do. It’s an identity I built for myself to survive the world. An identity I created to thrive and plow through unbelievably difficult circumstances I faced throughout life. And I must say that this identity has served me well. I've produced innumerable results. However, yes the dreadful however, it’s lied to me - I’ve lied to me. I’ve said "yes." When I should have said "no." I’ve said, "yes" when I should have said, “Give me a minute to think about it first" - and then said “Thank you for the offer but this won’t work for me." I’ve destroyed my physical body that sends me messages by way of pain signals - everyday. That hey - you're not okay maybe you should slow down and take some time for you. I’ve hit the snooze button on this warning and overrode it. So much so I’ve grown numb to the signals and I push thru enormous pain daily.

If this is my internal experience then how am I showing up to others? Wait, I’m married. I have a partner. No wonder that’s not going so well. Who can handle an oxygen deprived superhero? I’m no one’s victim. I am victorious through Christ who strengthens me! (Phil 4:13) But, wait a minute, am I really letting Him strengthen me? When I pray and run or better yet pray-on-the-run. Have I made God my curb-side pick up - order to go? Don’t get me wrong I’m devout, faithful, hard-working, loving, dedicated, loyal. I’m a ride or die friend to the end. I’d give you the shirt off my back and keep my undergarments to sustain myself. And today I recognized that there is something wrong with that picture. I’m no good to anyone if I don’t take care of myself - FIRST.

So today April 3, 2020, I’m putting my mask on, preserving my life, so I can live to serve another day.

With self-love,

Kelly

P.S. I know I’m not alone, as strong women, mothers, wives, business owners, employees, friends we pride ourselves on being able to get it done - by any means necessary! And we do. But at what cost? Perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate how much we're doing without putting the oxygen mask on ourselves - First.