April Yamasaki - Four Gifts: Seeking Self-Care for Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength

As my sprint for justice has shifted to a marathon for justice, I have learned that soul care is not an indulgent luxury or a distraction. Rather, it is simultaneously the work of justice and the sustenance that fuels the work. In my souls journey I have looked to April Yamasaki as a trusted guide. I read everything she writes! In the Four Gifts , her powerful insights are on brilliant display. With an integrative mind-body-spirit approach and the rich wisdom of a woman of colors life well spent, Yamasaki leads us on a journey that is worth following.

CHRISTENA CLEVELAND, associate professor at Duke Divinity School and author of Disunity in Christ

April Yamasakis Four Gifts was just what I needed just when I needed it. Her honest confessions felt like they were coming from a close friend who was teaching me how to rest in this hurried world, to find peace in the now, and to embrace God in each moment. Step aside. Open these pages. In your hurry, seek self-care and let the four gifts become your friends.

CHRIS MAXWELL, pastor and author of Pause with Jesus and Underwater

Four Gifts is the most thorough and thoughtful exploration of self-care I have ever come across. With wisdom and sensitivity, April Yamasaki lays out the spiritual case for self-care and how to pursue it in harmony with lifes other treasures, including vocation, community, and justice. This wonderful book will show you how proper self-care is not selfish but a healthy component of a mature, humble, and generous life.

DORCAS CHENG-TOZUN, author of Start, Love, Repeat

Amid the busyness of life, we look for ways to connect with God. Four Gifts creates the bridge to ease the journey. April Yamasakis experience as a pastor and author forges a book that is eminently practical. Four Gifts enables conscious choices to simplify the journey, allowing for significant encounters with God.

SHARON R. HOOVER, author of Mapping Church Missions

April Yamasaki lives what she writes about in Four Gifts . The book is full-of-Scripture inspirational, conversation-over-a-cup-of-tea personal, and down-to-earth practical. Any book on self-care that includes a chapter on lament as self-care has a unique contribution to make to the genre.

GARETH BRANDT, author of Under Construction

We all need to feed our souls, and April Yamasaki uses the two great commandments as a frame to help us do that. When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, our growth becomes collateral benefit. No self-help here, but spiritual nourishment.

CHARLES AARON, associate professor at Perkins School of Theology

I am touched by April Yamasakis intimacy with Scripture, her perceptive self-understanding, and her keen ability to draw practical illustrations and suggestions for self-care from nearly every aspect of life. Many weary pastors, homemakers, and public servants will find abundant practical help through this book.

PALMER BECKER, author of Anabaptist Essentials

A delight to read. April Yamasaki blends scriptural insights with honest stories. She explores the tension of self-care and self-sacrifice, discipline and flexibility, self-awareness and self-indulgence. She gives practical suggestions for living a compassionate life that includes even ourselves. Reading this book is like having a deep conversation with a faithful friend.

CAROL PENNER, assistant professor at Conrad Grebel University College

Four Gifts is a virtual clinic for self-care. April Yamasaki opens the door and gently invites us in to a life of caring for our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. She reminds us that this clinic is not a destination in itself but a place for renewal that enables us to continue to serve God and our neighbors. I found myself wanting to revisit this clinic often, both for the encouragement to take the time for self-care and for the valuable tools she has provided.

SHARLA FRITZ, author of Waiting and Soul Spa

Herald Press

PO Box 866, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803

www.HeraldPress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Yamasaki, April , author.

Title: Four gifts : seeking self-care for heart, soul, mind, and strength /

April Yamasaki.

Description: Harrisonburg : Herald Press , 2018.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018014729| ISBN 9781513803340 (pbk. : alk. paper) |

ISBN 9781513803357 (hardcover : alk . paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Spiritual life--Christianity. | Christian life.

Classification: LCC BV4501.3 .Y345 2018 | DDC 248.4--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018014729

FOUR GIFTS

2018 by April Yamasaki. Released by Herald Press, Harrisonburg, VA 22803. 800-245-7894. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018014729

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-5138-0334-0 (paperback);

978-1-5138-0335-7 (hardcover); 978-1-5138-0336-4 (ebook)

Printed in United States of America

Cover and interior design by Reuben Graham

All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright owners.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture text is quoted, with permission, from the New Revised Standard Version , 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

22 21 20 19 18 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Gary,

who dreamed this book along with me

and heard every word first

Foreword

S everal years ago a counselor suggested I do some self-care. After years of pushing to prove myself, to do and be more, and to live up to my own perfectionistic standards, this was something I sorely needed.

So my husband set up a deck chair, put a book in my hand, and sent me out the back door. I agreed to five minutes of relaxation and reading just for fun. At first it was so hard that I had to set a timer so I would stop watching the clock. But it only took five minutes for me to discover the appeal. When the timer went off, I set it for ten minutes more. A couple of times.

The exercise itself was valuable, but I probably learned even more from recognizing how challenging it was for me. I had become so disconnected from my own needs and natural rhythms that they didnt even register with me anymore. And I needed permission from myself to care for myself. I started intentionally incorporating self-care into my life. This has meant wrestling with questions about what makes my life matter; what it means to follow Christ; and what it means to honor God through rest.

Im not alone in my challenge around self-care, nor in the lack of permission I gave myself. On any given day, the majority of North American workers are living with a high level of stress. Most workers dont takeor dont stop working onthe vacation days they earn. And when we do relax, most of us do so by watching televisiona habit that can lower our stress levels but isnt the best way to care for overtaxed minds and bodies. Those who are not in the workforcestudents, full-time parents, retirees, and othersoften live highly demanding lives or may fill their days with activity while neglecting to care for themselves.