Anyone who has a child or spouse with a disability has experienced days/weeks/months which are hard. Many times there is no option but to gut through it.
Other times, by forfeiting the most basic of self-care – sleep, eat, breathe I may make some unwise or unhealthy decisions. The biblical story of Esau and Jacob found in Genesis 25:29-34 brought this point home to me.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
Esau spent the day hunting. He returned home and was famished. I’ve been there, have you? I spend the day running errands, managing appointments, taking care of the house and everyone else except me And I become hangry. Watch out!
By allowing himself to get past the point of hunger, Esau made a rash decision. He traded
Photo by Thiébaud Faix on Unsplash
his birthright (his role as the eldest brother and future inheritance) for a bowl of stew. At the time it seemed reasonable to him. He was convinced he would die without food. In hindsight, that decision adversely affected the rest of his life. It could not be undone. The effects of his decision overflowed to others in his family and community.
This story is a good caution for me. When I lack margin, am hungry, overtired, or cranky it is a clue I may have neglected self-care. It’s time to backtrack and take care of me and avoid making decisions. Life and those around me may look different after a satisfied tummy, rested body, or a walk around the block.