The Daily: Wedensday February 11, 2026

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.”
— Mark 1:35

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare” - Audre Lorde

During the recent cold snap a couple of weeks ago, my wife Trish and I were busy making sure the folks we love were going to be OK. We asked our son, at school in Savanah, living in a drafty town house, if he had everything he needed including a space heater, several times. "Are you sure?!" We made sure my dad in his apartment, without central heat, had a space heater. That night, while we were sitting on the couch, we noticed it starting to feel a little chilly. I went over to the thermostat to turn up the heat. While the thermostat was set at 73, the tmerpature had dropped to 68 (cold for a South Floridian home!). Our heat had stopped working and guess what? We didn't have a space heater. And there were none to be had near by. We slept a little closer that night and were fine, but it was a good reminder that practicing strength begins with tending to ourself.

Sometimes we need self-comfort. We ALWAYS need self-care. Self-comfort helps us feel better in the moment. Self-care helps us stay present and resilient over time.

Jesus modeled this clearly. Even when needs were urgent, he withdrew to rest and pray. He knew that tending to himself was not selfish—it was essential.

Self-care is not indulgence; it is preservation. When we fail to tend our bodies, minds, and spirits, we eventually have nothing left to give. But when we care for ourselves wisely, we create space for God’s strength to move through us.

Strength for the long way requires attention, kindness, and honesty toward ourselves.


Reflection Question

What is one practice that helps you stay present rather than burned out?


Prayer

God, teach me how to care for myself in ways that restore me for the work You’ve given me. Amen.

Practice for Practicing Strength

Today, choose one small act of care—rest, movement, nourishment, or silence—and treat it as a spiritual practice.