View from a Pew: Put Your Mask on First

Put Your Mask On First

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On every flight, before the plane even leaves the ground, the attendants walk us through the safety instructions. We’ve all heard them a hundred times, but there’s one piece of advice that always feels a little strange: “In the event of an emergency, secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others—even your children.”

At first, that feels unnatural. A parent’s first instinct is to reach for their child. A caregiver’s instinct is to protect those around them. But the airlines know something we often forget in life: if you go down, you can’t help anyone else get up.

That same principle speaks volumes to the way many of us live our lives. We run ourselves ragged, making sure everyone else is okay—our children, our spouse, our church family, our job, our neighbors—while quietly ignoring the state of our own health, mind, and spirit. We’re quick to give, but slow to refill. Quick to run, but slow to rest. Quick to care for others, but hesitant to care for ourselves.

But here’s the truth: self-care is not selfish. Self-care is survival.

Think about this: if your body is breaking down, if you are so stressed you can’t sleep, if you are so weary that you can’t think straight—then who are you really helping? You may be present in body, but absent in spirit. You may be “there,” but you’re not truly there. And when your cup is empty, all you can do is hand people the dust at the bottom.

God never asked us to run ourselves into the ground. In fact, He commanded us to rest. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). That wasn’t just a ritual, it was a rhythm of life. Even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray, recharge, and reconnect with His Father. If the Son of God Himself had to pause and fill up, what makes us think we can keep running on empty?

Here’s the danger: when we ignore self-care, it doesn’t just affect us. It spills over into every part of our lives. Without rest, we become short-tempered. Without balance, we lose perspective. Without peace, we operate in survival mode, reacting instead of responding. And before we know it, our health suffers, our relationships strain, and our purpose feels heavy instead of joyful.

But when we take time to care for ourselves—physically, mentally, and spiritually—we show up differently. We have patience for our children. We have energy for our work. We have compassion for our neighbor. We have clarity to make wise decisions.

So hear this clearly: put your mask on first. Take time to eat well, to move your body, to rest your mind, to feed your spirit. Guard your joy. Protect your peace. And don’t feel guilty for it—because when you are well, you are better for everyone around you.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). We quote the “love your neighbor” part often, but forget the “as yourself.” That means you have permission—even responsibility—to love and care for you.

So the next time life feels like turbulence, remember this: you can’t save anyone else if you can’t breathe. Secure your mask. Breathe deeply. Then, and only then, can you be the help God designed you to be.