Healing. | A Weekly Word 2022
Healing is an ongoing journey that takes us from injury to recovery. It moves us from turmoil to peace, and from negativity to joy. Along any journey, we will find guideposts to help direct us. This Weekly Word outlines 12 steps that serve as guideposts along our journey to healing through hospitality.
Hospitality, which is the friendly and generous reception of – and goodwill toward – others, can also be practiced with ourselves. Those twelve guiding practices are:
Just start. Sometimes called procrastination or perfectionism, overcoming the fear-based delay of what is good for us is the first step toward healing.
Make space. Tidying up our space – physically, mentally, and emotionally – creates room for relationship with God, self love, and connection with others.
Get grounded. Being intentional about staying in the present moment through mindful breathing, and other exercises, helps us to stay focused on our healing and avoid detrimental thinking.
Name your fears. Just like the monster under the bed, our fears can sometimes grow in our minds. Acknowledging and learning about those fears, helps to keep them in check.
Practice gratitude. A daily practice focused on gratitude improves mood, satisfaction, and overall health. It helps to put our problems into perspective and encourages us to view our lives through a more positive lens.
Break bread. There is something spiritual that happens when we connect over food. Unlock a deeper level of connection with your support persons through communion over a shared meal.
Show love. Compassion for God, ourselves, and others creates a stronger sense of appreciation and motivation, both of which influence the way we manage life's challenges.
Set boundaries. Setting and communicating appropriate boundaries helps to protect our peace.
Rest & reset. Creating boundaries around our greatest human assets – our time and our energy – helps us to be more committed to our healing journey. It also affirms that our worth is not just tied to what we can produce, but simply because of who we are.
Have hope. Learning and consistently coming back to our “why” motivates us to stay on our healing journey, and to look forward with hopeful expectation for what lies ahead.
Do good. Part of our healing journey is connected to the symbiotic relationship with those around us. Whether it be loved ones or strangers, it is important that we give cheerfully and generously to others from a place of overflow and not depletion or obligation.
Offer grace. Healing happens over time and the journey isn’t linear. It’s not just okay – but expected – to make mistakes, move slowly or stall at times, or even regress in some situations along the way! Show yourself, and others, grace.
Passage
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
Jeremiah 33:6
Prayer
God, thank you for the healing that we can find in You. Thank you, also, for the capacity to learn from our lived experiences and to do better. Thank you for the opportunity to recover from things that may have injured us in the past. Help me to commit (or recommit) my life to You. Direct me on my path, and allow me to find and align with those who will support me along my journey. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Practice
This week, I will take the first step of healing through hospitality and “Just start.” I will commit to my healing journey by moving through the twelve practices in the weeks ahead.