--- title: Taking the Time to Heal description: Claire McGarry encourages her son to take the necessary time to heal physically from an injury, as we should do when we’ve been hurt emotionally.  image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20230316%20CMcGarry%202.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/taking-the-time-to-heal#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # Taking the Time to Heal Mar 16, 2023 10:00:00 AM  |  by [Claire McGarry](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/claire-mcgarry) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20230316%20CMcGarry%202.png) *Claire McGarry encourages her son to take the necessary time to heal physically from an injury, as we should do when we’ve been hurt emotionally. * --- My oldest son, Zack, is a freshman in college in northern New Hampshire. His school has an annual tradition of canceling classes one day each winter so everyone can go skiing—students and professors together. Last week was ski day for Zack!  He chose to snowboard because he took a handful of lessons to learn how. But those lessons were six years ago! You don’t necessarily pick up where you left off, like riding a bike. That being said, he had a great day—until the very last run. He took a fall and landed all of his body weight on his wrist. The pain and discomfort had him going to the nurse the next day.  She diagnosed it as a sprain and gave him a splint. The problem is: Zack’s absolute favorite thing to do is to lift weights. Some days, he spends as much as three hours at the gym curling dumbbells and doing whatever else weight-lifters do.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20230316%20CMcGarry%201.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20230316%20CMcGarry%201.png)  I predict this isn’t going to go well. The Zack I know is impatient. He’ll be tossing out that splint too soon and over-extending his wrist with heavy weights before it’s properly healed.  We all have phases in our lives that are similar. Our circumstances knock us down, bruising our hearts and souls. We know enough to go to the Divine Healer, letting him wrap us up in His grace, letting His comfort and care support us where we’ve been bent too far.   But are we like Zack—too impatient to stay in His protective grip? Too independent to allow Him to continue to nurture us while our wounds heal?    > [Click to tweet: > It’s not selfish to take time to recuperate. It’s how we pour out love from a heart that’s fully healed and whole. #CatholicMom](https://ctt.ac/4j9d_)   I explained to Zack that if he doesn’t follow the nurse’s orders, his wrist won’t heal fully and properly. It will hamper his weight-lifting abilities for a long time to come.  The same holds true for us. If we don’t spend the time we need with God to fully and properly work through our setbacks, the bruises and cuts will remain, and our families will feel the repercussions.  What they need most is for us to be healthy and healed so we can be the best mothers possible. It’s not selfish to take the time we need to recuperate. It’s actually the best gift we can give them so we’re able to pour out love from a heart that’s fully healed and whole.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20230316%20CMcGarry%203.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20230316%20CMcGarry%203.png) --- Copyright 2023 Claire McGarry Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ftaking-the-time-to-heal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ftaking-the-time-to-heal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ftaking-the-time-to-heal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Taking%20the%20Time%20to%20Heal) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ftaking-the-time-to-heal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ftaking-the-time-to-heal%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Claire McGarry](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Claire%20McGarry.jpg) ### [Claire McGarry](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/claire-mcgarry) Claire McGarry is the author of [Grace in Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary](https://amzn.to/3w2ZEgR), and the Lenten family devotionals [With Our Savior](https://www.creativecommunications.com/Products/FM3TV/with-our-savior-family-devotions-for-lent.aspx) and [Abundant Mercy](https://catholic.creativecommunications.com/Products/AM5TV/abundant-mercy-family-devotions-for-lent.aspx). Claire is a regular contributor to *Living Faith*, and her freelance work has appeared in several books, magazines, and devotionals. She blogs weekly at [Shifting My Perspective](https://shiftingmyperspective.com/), and lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children. Follow her on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMcGarryAuthor), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clairemcgarrywrites/), and [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Claire-McGarry/e/B07NCB7ZKL). [**](https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMcGarryAuthor) [**](https://twitter.com/clairemcgarry2) ## Related Blog Articles [ Clever Help Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/clever-help) [ Why Do We Condemn Ourselves? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/07/05/why-do-we-condemn-ourselves) [ I've Been There Too Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/ive-been-there-too) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.