3 Areas That Need Examining if You Are Returning to Work

If you have been caring for a sick loved one or was a stay at home mother who now is finding that they have to go to work or back to work, there are some things you might want to get in order first. You see I am writing this on the perspective of a wife who works full-time outside of the home who was off for 5 weeks due to my husband being in a motorcycle accident, so I found myself having to have to “get myself” together so to speak before returning to work.

I needed to use my own advice, because the 1^st few days were hellish. I have an office job and usually I am sitting most of the time, but I had to make sure to stand up at my desk and work to help keep me awake. I was totally off schedule and out of the habit of doing “that type of work.”

How the 3 Areas work:

1. Spirit tells your mind what to do
2. Mind tells your body what to do
3. Body just follows what it is told

This is not etched in stone because for the most part it depends on the person, but for the most success I have found that if we do things God’s way you will prosper and have good success.

Spirit: It can bring us life, John 6:63, NIV, The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you–they are full of the Spirit and life.

The Big Dog/Head One in Charge: as a Christian, the one who should tell the mind and body what to do unless one is operating with a carnal nature (meaning that they are ruled by the senses). For me it pushes me/drives me and if I allow it to rule then the others 2 areas will do what they are meant to do.

The Spirit can tell the mind to be all that it can be, be one with good moral character, Philippians 4:8, NLT, And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

The Spirit can speak and it can make the body respond the way it was made to respond instead of it telling you what it is going to do. You tell it.
It has been said that it takes 21 days to undo a bad habit or 21 to learn a new habit, well take this time to unlearn all the negative things you have learned, which is what I have experienced and some of them are below:

1. Staying up late
2. Lack of preparation
3. Performing/Working like you have no one to answer to (slack)
4. Being discontent

Now even before you go back to work make a decision and stick with it and if you do not accomplish what you set out to do be merciful to yourself (do not be so hard on yourself, but do not purposely slack up either) and try again. As long as God gives you breathe keep going.

No half doing a job, you are always being watched so work as unto the Lord, Colossians 3:23, NLT, Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

So when I went back to work did I miss being off all day not doing much just relaxing for a majority of the day especially when my loved one started to recover. Yes, I missed it (being home with him and taking care of him). Are you kidding me? I am not going to act like I didn’t enjoy it at times, but we have bills to pay and things we want to accomplish and we kind of need money for that, so we had to suck it up. It is part of growing up and being responsibleJ

One tends to never ever be content (when I was off, I wanted to go to work and when I was at work and the stress and pressure of all the demands came a knocking I wanted to be off. Within a couple of days of being at work my body said, “Um, what are we doing here? Aren’t we supposed to be sleeping in or watching television?” If you let the Spirit lead you then you can learn to be content, Philippians 4:11, New American Standard, Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Learning to be grateful in whatever situation I find myself in, whether I am at work or at home it is important to remember that God has not nor will He ever fall off the throne. No matter what I am facing He promised to never leave me nor forsake me, Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Back to returning to or going to work:

Take time to get your Spirit (compass) lead and direct the way you conduct yourself. You might need to start a week before you go back to work because I sure wish I did. Thinking back, it would have been smart to do so, because my body was worn out because it was not trained to go to bed at a certain hour and get enough rest. It was out of the habit of being prepared ahead of time. You might get a knudge/inkling that says I need to take a couple of practice runs to work (during the time you think you should leave to get to work on time) just to see how much time I need; get yourself back on schedule or on a schedule; seek the Lord as to what He thinks you should do to prepare.

You might have to get up 30 minutes to an hour earlier to seek him daily and then go on with your day. Seeking Him in the morning, Psalms 63:1, KJV, A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is….

Possibly start getting on a regular meal schedule so your body will get used to eating at certain times of the day. Start giving the kids a schedule if they do not have one. You get the idea. Just examine what you are doing now and see if you need to do some things differently and when you try something and see that it is not working change it. Manage your time wisely, because you cannot get it back. (Ephesians 5:15-17, ESV, Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.)

God Bless!!!

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