Being A Good Steward Of You

More often than not when we think of stewardship our minds turn toward taking care of the environment and, if we are practicing our faith, supporting our church community. But what about us as persons and individual creations? Are we caring for our physical, spiritual and emotional well-being as well as the gifts, talents and abilities that have been entrusted to us?

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in his homily during his installation as pope said:

"We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary."

Yes, each of us is necessary! Even in those moments when we are down, discouraged and wallowing in a recent failure or heartbreak (we all do it), even then, we are willed, loved and necessary! Even then!!!

Most of us spend much of our time working for others and caring for others. These are both important and necessary things, but in the busy-ness of life it’s easy to overlook ourselves. Take a moment and ask yourself:

Physical well-being – Am I taking care of my health to the best of my abilities? Making good eating decisions? Exercising? Keeping up with important checkups and exams?

Spiritual well-being – Am I making it to Mass on Sundays? Going to Confession? Reading Sacred Scripture? Praying regularly and making time for quiet, peaceful reflection?

Emotional well-being – While this one is strongly influenced by the first two, it does have some unique considerations of its own. Do I work to remain positive and surround myself with positive people? Do I set clear parameters and/or the needed distance with individuals who have harmed me (physically or emotionally), violated my trust and/or habitually take me for granted? Do I forgive others? Do I forgive myself? Do I say “No” when my plate is too full or I am uncomfortable with the situation? (Note: Forgiveness is integral to your overall well-being, but it’s important to remember that forgiveness may not result in a restoration of the previous relationship. Some people may never fit back into your life in the same way again and your well-being may depend on that.)

Now for the even less considered part – What about the gifts, talents and abilities unique to you and given to you by God Himself? Are you cultivating them? Growing them? Nurturing them? Are you using them?

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen, (1 Peter 4: 10-11).

The fact of the matter is that we all have something to offer, but, as is often the case, it hasn’t been honed and so we see it as rough and as such useless, unwanted and embarrassing. Furthermore, many of us who have spent some time honing our unique gifts often find ourselves in the position of setting them aside in pursuit of… not money necessarily, but a living. We do, after all, have basic needs, crazy stuff like food and shelter. What happens to them, though, these gifts of ours? Do we let them fade away? No! We are still responsible, morally responsible for growing, using, honing and, most importantly, SHARING our unique gifts, talents and abilities!

The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly to do it because it is his will. ~St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Of course, I’m not writing this to encourage you to suddenly shirk your duties and obligations, but rather to remind you that you have an obligation to yourself as well as others, a truth that is easy to forget.

So, maybe you’re not going to be painting the next version of the Sistine Chapel or chiseling out a modern day Thinker. There is something inside of you, though, you’ve felt it. Perhaps you’ve even considered taking some lessons or making a little time to practice and then, life got in the way… again. Whatever the case, now’s the time! Maybe you are meant for the choir? Or, if numbers are your thing, maybe your parish or a local soup kitchen needs your help to get their books in order? Perhaps you love to paint and can help with an after school program? The fact of the matter is that only you know and in the end there are many places and moments that are awaiting you and you alone. Don’t leave them blank in the annuals of this amazing gift and blessing we call life.