Hey guys, hope you’re doing well!

Today I just want to talk about support. And I’m gonna bring on the idea of support in lots of different ways. We’re in a time where we need each other more than ever, whether it’s checking up on each other, calling someone and talking about what we’re feeling and needing. We need to support ourselves and to support those whom we love, emotionally, mentally, we need to be there for one another and ourselves right now.

Sometimes it’s hard to find how we can properly support other people, or properly look after ourselves and I’m just gonna give a few tips, and share what I’ve had to do.

The reason why I’m also encouraging we support ourselves is that we can only give out what we have inside of us. So if we’re not okay on the inside it can be difficult to be okay and help other people.

Supporting the ones we love

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;” ‭‭

I Peter‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Well, firstly I will say that there is so much power in listening. Sometimes it’s not what we can say to other people, but it’s actually listening to other people. I wrote a post here ” Listen.” on the importance of listening to each other, just highlighting that it’s just important to hear what they have to say and open your ears.

Being available and opening yourself for your friend or your colleague or family to open up if they need to talk. Even just dropping a message letting them know if they need you, you are there to talk or listen.

Simply asking what can I do to help? I’ll be honest there’s been times where I’ve gone to someone thinking I knew exactly what to say, or exactly what to do. When in reality I was just assuming I knew, and didn’t ask what they need. Your friend may just need to talk about something else or have someone to just watch a film with to take their minds off things. They may need advice or they may need a shoulder to cry on. Or they may just need their time and space for a while. But the only way we can know what they need is asking, what do you need? What can I do to help?

Pray for one another. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Supporting yourself

This is so important, as we may forget to look after ourselves too.

Firstly, know that it’s okay not to be okay, I reflected and shared a video on how it’s okay to just take time to look after your own mental health. I had to honest with myself and I realised that what was going on externally was affecting me internally and I was struggling to concentrate, sometimes struggling to sleep. I felt guilty because I knew I needed to take a break from social media and from the news, and just work on being okay again on the inside. But the guilt came because I felt that I was being maybe ignorant or I shouldn’t get to switch off because for others there is no off button. They can’t hide from it.

However, There’s no guilt in taking rest. You can’t help other people fight if you’ve got no fight left within you. You can’t give out what you no longer have on the inside. I had to take time to pray , read the bible, meditate on the word, and start getting better again. And then I could go on and keep fighting. We need to highlight this importance. You are important , look after you too!

Take time if you need to, go for a walk, make sure you’re eating well, make sure you make time to pray. I say make rather than find, because time is always there we just have to select how to use it. Make the time to put aside. I found that when I’m trying to do things from my own strength, I’m struggling, however knowing that I plug into God, and gain strength from God and the will to keep going, it helps. Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest”.

So, this is really what I wanted to share with you. Please look after each other and look after yourselves. ♥️.

I pray you’re staying safe and well. God bless you x

TK