I greatly appreciate Pastor Kelli sitting down with me and wanted to make sure her time was well spent. To honor that, I decided to split her interview into three posts, this being the second. I hope everyone enjoyed the first half last week, and is looking forward to this week’s. Thanks again to Pastor Kelli for this opportunity!
I referenced her comment about “realize the crispiness.”, and asked what she was realizing. I also asked what are some things that people should be watching out for. She explained that self medicating, even with Pepto-Bismol, isn’t a good thing. She went on to reference sleeping habits, the general and consistent feeling of carrying the weight of the world around with you, and even working seven days a week.
Pastor Kelli said people should watch for physical sicknesses, and then elaborated on her personal experience:
“I was getting sick right before and right after Christmas and Easter, as we burn the candle at both ends. Unfortunately, leading up to and then the following days of those seasons I would get sick. It was hard to preach Christmas with a sore throat and nonexistent voice. You try to put the microphone inside your mouth just so they might hear you. Before those seasons, realizing that they were coming, I could feel my body slow down. Whether it was a bacterial infection or throat pain, or flem, or sinus issue, are all things that seem to come when I burn the candle at both ends.”
When asking Pastor Kelli what she did about her crispiness, she discussed eating right, and taking extra vitamin C, along with sleep and cutting back the work. She also gave me this reply:
“So obviously I’ve made it past 30. I was talking with some more seasoned pastors that I trust and listening to myself mentioning some of those health things. Hearing some of the advice they would give me, I realized that’s not a sustainable pattern. Particularly later on when I get married and have a family, taking home work and working day and night would not be healthy. So I’ve created healthy patterns, behaviors now which will serve me 1.) Now, because I still have many years until mandatory retirement, and 2.) For future family and friends.”
I again want to thank Pastor Kelli for her openness and insight to stress. This is a great reminder of how many of us feel when seasons come and go. I hope we all follow her example and be aware or our bodies during stressful times and seasons. Next week, we will conclude Pastor Kelli’s interview with a discussion on this importance of others in our lives. If anyone would like to join in the conversations, Please feel free to do so, and as always – To GOD Be The Glory!