Comments on: Taking a Personal Retreat

By: Nola

Nola — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:15:22 +0000

I did this a few months ago for an hour. Its all I could take at the time (nursing baby, husband working lots). It was very helpful to me.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:16:18 +0000

I have once! And plan to this year before we start up our next school year. I will be getting a condo for a weekend at SunPeaks Ski resort and will spend the time praying and planning. Im am really looking forward to it with my little nursling

By: Kika

Kika — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:01:36 +0000

Where do you personally go for the afternoon that allows you the solitude to pray/read/plan? I like the idea though I've never done this before. I do, however, plan time into my regular schedule for planning, thinking, goal-setting, reading material which encourages me as mom, wife, homemaker, homeschooler, etc. (but am at home for this). I don't think this sort of "me time" is selfish - but necessary for me to continue to grow and learn. It also respects my introverted personality which requires chunks of alone time on a regular basis in order for me to thrive as a person.

By: Devon

Devon — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:15:37 +0000

Oh, I SO need to do this...it's just hard with a special needs toddler. I don't know when I even could. maybe it's time I sit down and ask myself that question.

By: Erika

Erika — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:37:08 +0000

I LOVE that you addressed the focus of "taking care of ourselves" our society encourages. I've seen it trickle into the church, and while some level of that is okay, I do agree that the idea our culture supports isn't Biblical at all; that, on the contrary, we are to rely on the Lord of the Universe to supernaturally meet our needs while we focus on Him and others. Trying to do it ourselves usually makes us more tired! Thanks for mentioning that in this post!

By: gilliebean

gilliebean — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:51:44 +0000

In my family, it's still just me and my husband, but I started doing this very thing at the beginning of this year and I've done three of them so far. Very helpful! I'm glad to be starting the habit now so that once we have children, it will be easier to maintain (hopefully?).

By: Tsh

Tsh — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:18:36 +0000

Thanks for the reminder, Stephanie! We've been talking about me needing to do this for awhile now, so I think I'll bring it up to my hubby tonight so we can put one on the calendar.

A friend of mine takes a day per month to do a personal retreat. Her husband works from home that day to stay with the kids, and she leaves after breakfast and returns by dinner. It's done wonders for her heart, her spirit, and even her marriage.

By: Faith

Faith — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:08:13 +0000

A personal retreat is so important and refreshing! I wish we made them more of a priority. It seems like my husband and I have been taking turns every other year taking one. (Actually, it's just the way it has worked out). But I think we need to be more purposeful about the frequency. He surprised me the second year we'd been married by sending me to visit my aunt for a week where I would be free to spend time alone and last year a friend and I did a joint one together. This summer he talked about doing one as a couple at a cottage nearby, but I guess we forgot about it. I think I'll set the plans in motion. Thanks for this terrific reminder! Personal retreats are definitely revitalizing and renewing.

By: The Cottage Comtesse @ River Rock Cottage

The Cottage Comtesse @ River Rock Cottage — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:13:54 +0000

I have been blessed to take several little retreats over the years. Afterward, I always feel recharged and refocused. One in particular that I remember very well. A girlfriend and I agreed to take care of each other's children for an entire morning so the other could have a mini-retreat at home. It was during a time in my life that I really needed extra time to focus on God.

I like to set a goal of some kind when I have a retreat. For example: intense prayer; goals for the year; seeking God about how I'm discipling/mentoring my children; meditating on my role as a wife/helpmeet; drawing close to the face of God; etc. Finding a place is a key element; one where you are free of distractions and you feel free to pray and worship, read Scripture, laugh and cry, concentrate... all these things. I've often told my husband that a REAL retreat for me would be to go to a Convent where they don't talk all day long and there are no phones! Since then, I have found a little, quaint hotel right on the ocean that is pretty close to offering all these things, but most of the time, I use a room in my home or on my back porch (and I hide all the phones!).