Coach Maggie
Greetings!

This is week 3 of my personal time-out – a mini-sabbatical in my motor home in my back yard. Only yards from the house, I’ve stepped away from the day-to-day for a number of reasons. With my busy schedule, I just did not have the time to go off to a more secluded spot. I thought to myself, “How hard can this be? After all, it will be fun – just like camping.” As you may have read in Attitude + Discipline + Fly Swatter... What?, I’ve had some challenges.

Unexpected… When I shared about my time-out with a group of friends, one of them was surprised and said, “ What! You’re not sleeping with your husband?” Days later another asked, “ Is Paul ok with that?” Yes, to both questions. All I can add is, well I guess it’s not for everyone. As a writer, I absolutely need this space. As a woman who has come close to burn out, I need this time to refuel. More importantly as a daughter of the King, my God calls me to step away to spend time with Him, to listen for His direction.

Self-Care is my word for this year. Based on the last three weeks it qualifies more as a quest – an adventurous expedition. I didn’t realize how much I needed this time until I was faced with a decision… Do I stay in the RV and battle the unexpected insect challenges or give up and return to life as usual? I chose to stay and deal with the challenges as they presented themselves. With a smile I say, “I’m on a mission from God.” Obedience keeps me here. I’ve also been asked, “How long will you be out there?” My answer : As long as it takes.

Without question the autoimmune challenges that I face daily are a result of pushing myself beyond the limits of self-care for long periods of time in my past. Here’s the deal. I would rather put myself in a restorative time-out than have my body demand it due to declining health. That’s experience-based wisdom.

Restoration is a mindset. It took at least a week for me to finally settle down and receive the benefits from being still. It’s amazing how even when we are at rest – our mind battles to keep going.

What about you?
There are a number of ways to step away from the day-to-day – a motor home in your back yard is not required. Are you paying attention to your body, mind and spirit to know whether you need a refueling? It’s biblical you know. Take a moment now and drink in these words:

  • Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” –Matt 11:28-30

  • And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while…” –Mark 6:31

  •  And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. –Gen 2:2

  • You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. –Isaiah 26:3-4


Humbling and beyond my understanding is the fact that the Lord wants to spend time with me – with you. He invites us to “ Come away with me…” –Song of Solomon 2:10

My life runway is shorter these days. After all I’m a senior. I get it. All the more reason for me to press in – to make sure that I give Him everything I’ve got as I walk in His purposes. I close with this season’s call to action for me from the Lord:

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. – Acts 20:24