A two-way measure of refreshment is to be accepting of others—warts and all. In our topsy-turvy world, our own stress relief can often seem most important. It is not always easy to tap into the realization that a person near us may be hurting.more than we.

Given that paradigm, a good message to take to heart is this:

Always Stay Humble and Kind.

Whether it’s being humble and kind to your fellow man or to yourself, here are 3 measures of refreshment to remind you that you are on the way to stress relief. 

1. Living Expectantly Offers Stress Relief Through A Measure of Refreshment  

A healthy step toward stress relief is living expectantly, knowing that not everything we do is related to our abilities. Neither is it always wildly satisfying. Many of our efforts are quite unremarkable. Even so, daily routines are part of what develops life skills.

It’s refreshing to remember that today’s steps lead to tomorrow’s reward. Expecting and anticipating the good aspects of reality is a positive decision toward stress relief.

We may be naturally equipped for greatness. However, without training and practice, we might never realize greatness. Therefore, placing significance on our routine gives it purpose, and purposeful living douses everything we do with a refreshing challenge.

You and I succeed best while doing what we love to do. It hardly makes sense to think we are created to be miserable. So remember to always stay humble and kind to yourself in addition to others.

Why not ask God to help you find your heart’s desire? He doesn’t always call qualified people, but He always qualifies people He calls.

2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you.

Abraham was—as were many others in Biblical times—not called because he was qualified. He became qualified because God called him.

2. Growing Uprightly Is A Measure of Refreshment in a World Needing Stress Relief

It is no sign of weakness to lean on a stronger source for support and refreshment. 

At this moment I’m looking at a small tree tied to a stake outside my window. The support of the stake will cause the tree to grow straight and tall. In the same manner, the source to which we attach ourselves is the measure of refreshment we will receive.

Something or someone to keep us vertical and help us grow uprightly is a welcome refreshment. At times, we all find ourselves in need of someone stronger than we.

Are you bent and broken, blown by the strong winds of current conditions? Consider your source of refreshment. 

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be . . . blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

To the extent that we are strengthened and refreshed, we can enjoy the richest measure of life’s reward. And when we go the extra measure to strengthen and refresh others, we also receive a measure of satisfaction. So, always stay humble and kind.

3. Flourishing Perennially Is A Measure of Refreshment That Reflects Stress Relief

In and out of season—season after season—perennial refreshment for living organisms exists whether we see it or not. It is much more than drops of water for a plant in the heat of the day.    

Refreshment comes from the source of life and goes deep beneath the surface. Continuous, life-giving nourishment replenishes when burdens and stress threatens to make us die on the vine.

Tubers lie dormant in the soil as a thickened underground part of a stem or rhizome, e.g. in the potato. Inactively it has what it needs throughout  the winter. The tuber serves as a food reserve until spring when it bears buds from which new plants arise. 

Seasons that leave us lying inactive might be the perfect opportunity to draw from the source of life that is continually there to see us flourish.

John 10:10 In the words of Jesus Christ: I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly. 

Humbleness and kindness continue to be free measures of strength as do nourishment and refreshment.

A celebrity star’s significance made me sit up and take notice during the isolation most of us have found ourselves in recent weeks. I was reminded by the Academy of Country Music’s television special on April 5th by way of a song sung by Tim McGraw: “Always Stay Humble and Kind.”

Lori McKenna wrote the song “Always Stay Humble and Kind.” She must have had a measure of refreshment in mind when she penned her beautiful words.

One of the most rewarding ways to be refreshed is to help others feel refreshed.

Lavish them with a good word. Douse a supportive affirmation on the weary. Let someone else flourish because of a measure of your kindness. 

Always Stay Humble and Kind