Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord,
my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Give: to liberate and dignify bodies
Throughout the week, as you’ve registered how your body feels while reading the daily devotions, maybe you’ve been especially aware of a very simple fact: your body takes up space. It has a presence! We need space to survive, and we need others to recognize, dignify, and make room for our bodies. Yet our bodies are often sites of chronic pain, shame, self-consciousness, or embarrassment. We can feel self-conscious about our bodies. We might wish they took up less space or attracted less attention.
Pause for a moment and notice how your body feels as you read this.
We can experience joy in our hearts and mouths, our limbs and breath, but embodied joy isn’t automatically available. At times, we need to practice embodied joy ourselves and make space for others to do the same. Today, give your time, talent, or treasure to a charity that seeks to dignify human bodies. Perhaps this will look like donating to a nonprofit that strives to provide healthcare to vulnerable populations, volunteering for a local hunger relief ministry, or learning more about the organizations in your community that address hunger, chronic illnesses, eating disorders, medical debt, and so on. When you give, notice how your own body feels.