Being Available to Help Others Means Helping Yourself First

12/12/09 2:28pm PST

"Being Available to Help Others, Means Helping Yourself First" is the focus of what's on my spiritual message, and in my heart today.

Whenever you are on an airplane, the Flight Attendant reads on the safety precautions, for Parent's to please put their air mask on theirselves first, before trying to assist their children, or others. So true, so true indeed!

When I arose this morning, I received a call from a friend, who wanted me to take her to Whole Foods, and to Safeway to do some shopping because she fractured her foot, and didn't have transportation. At first, I paused, and told her about my Biopsy procedure, so that she would understand that I wasn't really in the space to be of assistance to anyone before I said no.

She then said to me, "I should be coming over there, and picking you up, and taking you around to get the things you need." So then I said with hesitancy that I would get up, get dressed, and take her around, since I had to go to the same places to collect things that I needed for my own house, and shopping list. But after I did so, I realized I didn't really have the energy to trace around Oakland doing too many things. When I went outside, it was hailing rain, and so I called her to let her know, and she said that it was pouring rain where she was, and that she really appreciated it, so I went.


Now that I have returned, I feel good in that I did a good deed to help a friend, but I realized that the first person, and only person who I can ever really help is first,and foremost myself. When I can say no, and not feel bad about turning down a friend, who is in need,I will be realizing my boundaries to a much healthier state of being. I recognize that I have a happy-go-lucky positive attitude, and that I want to help people, but God has shown me through my recent health challenge, that I must help myself, and continue to put myself first, so I can be available.

The most simplest of tasks, where I often would make myself readily available to help my spiriutal community in tasks for our Children, The Choir,The Congregation/Clergy, and for the Outreach programs where I serviced as an Ambassador for a couple of years, now shows me that I must slow it down. So I am heeding my friend Karen's advice in going to look for more candles to illuminate my home, and more warm, and fuzzy items to keep myself warm, and bundled up, so I can make it through these long, rainy, cold winter days of darkness. December 21st is the mark of the future Winter Solstice, and known in the spiritual world, as the return of the Light. I must make my own light, and create my own warmth, by illuminating my heart, and sharing love within.

I also try to keep communication in integrity with my soul purpose,meaning that I eliminate any negative people, and conversations, whenever someone starts bringing up conversations that are not serving me, where it feels low level in consciousness, and superficial. Also, I do my best to experience laughter at a maximum during these dark nights. I hope that helps you too, wherever you roam.

Blessings, and Light.
And so it is! Amen! Ache!