Do you remember that commercial?
In it, an attractive woman wearing a nasty fluffy pink robe is seen in a chaotic home scenario. As tension begins to arise and she begins to break, she utters her famous magic phrase “Calgon, take me away!” The next scene shows her relaxing in a warm, bubble-filled bath in a quiet room… alone.
Yes, please!
I wonder if this sounds like something you’d like, too. Sometimes, we just want to be alone. I don’t know if you are the same way, but when stress sets in… I retreat. The best case scenario is for everyone to leave momma alone.
- I don’t want to discuss or explain it.
- I don’t want to attend to anyone’s needs.
- I don’t want to help with homework.
- I don’t want to hear about anyone’s work day.
- I don’t want to pour anyone’s milk.
I just want to be left alone… and that’s okay. It’s appropriate for a time. But then we have to re-engage.
We all need those “Calgon moments.” Just a pause to collect ourselves when our internal temperature starts to rise. It’s a chance to gain perspective. An opportunity to refrain from saying what we really want to say.
Yes, it’s okay to retreat. For a bit, anyway. But then we need to rejoin life.
Jesus models this for us. You see times in scripture when He needed to take a break from crowds of strangers and even from those closest to Him. By physically removing himself, He shows us it’s acceptable to get away from people and spend time recharging.
- We may need to pray for help and strength.
- We may need to be still and close our eyes.
- We may need to listen to mood-altering music.
- We may need to take deep breaths.
- We may need to scream in our pillows and beat blankets.
Or we may need to soak in a hot tub of water and let the warmth and weightlessness “take us away” from all our worries and stresses.
And then… we walk back into our lives.
- Back into the living room filled with those we love the most and also annoy us the most.
- Back into the party where everyone is trying to one-up the other.
- Back into the office where stress has everyone on edge.
You walk back in ready to face all it brings your direction.
This holiday season, take those “Calgon moments” when you need to. It’s okay to take care of you. When you do, it benefits everyone.
Oh… I think the water is ready. Chow.
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