Nobody Puts Baby In a Corner

My parents enrolled me in Tri-City Christian School for kindergarten and Cedar View Christian School for first and second grades. While everyone was learning ABCs and 123s, I was learning that PLUS Bible verses, catechism, special prayers and hymns. Ray and Kristen did not go to Christian school, just me. I accepted Christ in my life at age 4 because I knew I was bad and Jesus could help me to be good. That was my overall understanding…well that and I didn’t want to go to HELL.  It was fire insurance. My parents tried to keep me from bad things and to raise me up as a good Christian kid. They couldn’t keep me from EVERYTHING.  They weren’t with me 24/7.

SO...

I remember my first “grown up” movie. I went to my neighbor’s house to watch it. She said she had seen it a million times before and it wasn’t a big deal. Well, she was from the Netherlands and her parents spoke Dutch. They were a little more relaxed than my parents were because I think they sunbathed with out tops on in the back yard…

We got our popcorn and went to her basement. She put in the VHS tape of “Dirty Dancing”.  I fell in LOVE. Dancing, scandal, and romance all in one movie!!! Did I mention I was around 9 years old? There were feelings in my body that I did not even know about! Things that could go on between a man and a woman…

One of my favorite scenes in the movie was when Patrick Swayze came in and got Jennifer Grey from that corner at the table. Y’all know the scene. The famous line came about, “ Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Come on”. Wow! Panty dropper!!! (excuse me).  Patrick Swayze leads her up to the stage and interrupts the show. He always danced the final dance. 

How in the world does this relate to caregiving?

I’ve been putting myself in the corner…the back burner…the closet…in the last possible spot on Earth.

I have not made myself a priority. 

When you are a caregiver, you have to take time out for yourself. You cannot give what you do not have.

At one point I gave up my exercise time every time the nurse couldn’t show up to take care of my dad. I gained weight. I stopped eating healthy. I became busy and did not allow myself to mourn the death of my mother in a manner that I saw fit to do so. I placed myself in a corner…one so deep that I was getting used to being there. It was getting to be a comfortable, familiar place.

What does God say about self-care?

I know I said panty dropper earlier and now I’m quoting the WORD. Y’all know He ain’t through with me yet.

We need to take care of our bodies because it is the temple of God.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I am not honoring Him when I am not taking care of myself.

Some people think of themselves as being martyrs when they give to everyone and not to themselves. God does not want us to be this way.

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church– for we are members of his body. 

Ephesians 5:29-30

God Commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We have to first love ourselves before we can love others.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

Matthew 22:37-39

So guess what? It’s time for me to come out of the corner and start to shine again. I'm taking back my life. 

My dad has lived his. He cannot have mine. He is well taken care of.  I know that my mom wanted me to live a GOOD life. 

Christ died so that I may have life and live it abundantly. 

Diana Ross says it so eloquently in her song with some of the following lyrics.

I'm coming out
I'm coming
I'm coming out

[Chorus]
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show

There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I want to give
I'm completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Oh, I'll make it through

The time has come for me
To break out of the shell
I have to shout
That I'm coming out

I've got to show the world
All that I want to be
And all my abilities
There's so much more to me
Somehow, I have to make them
Just understand
I got it well in hand
And, oh, how I've planned
I'm spreadin' love
There's no need to fear
And I just feel so glad
Every time I hear

Watch out world! Here I come!!!