Grateful Caregiver

Finding Joy in the mist of Caregiving  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” Galatians 5 : 22 ESV It seems odd that you can find joy in the mist of the darkness moments of your life.  Imagine every day not knowing what the day will bring with the care of your loved one. The first conversation of the day, are you in pain? Sitting with your loved one and wondering how they ar e feeling moment after moment. When those days are rough you feel it. Some days you smile but inside you want to cry. I have learned not to deny what Im feeling. I often take time and have good cry moments. Then I pray and cast it to God. In 1 Peter 5:7, as belivers, we are encouraged to cast all of our anxie ties on him, because he cares.   Once I pray and give my cares to God, it feels like a heavy weight has been lifted for that moment . The weight comes back from time to time, and I just continue to pray and cast it all to God.  I bel...

“ One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Preparing your Heart for Caregiving  Picture yourself as married with two young children, balancing a challenging job. Suddenly, your mother receives a terminal diagnosis and is unable to care for herself. She requires constant support, and as her only child, you are her closest relative. What is your first course of action?  You may begin to ask yourself a series of questions.  Am I equipped to handle this new responsibility?  Do I want to become a caregiver?   Would it be better to hire a caregiver?   If I say yes to becoming the caregiver, what  support will I have?   How will I juggle this new responsibility along with my life?   What do I need to do in order to get prepared?  This is my story. Im married with adult ...

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Have you ever had personal goals and need help from others to accomplish those goals but struggle with asking your loved ones for their support?  Have you prayed about it?   Think about your caregiver role, are you receiving support from members of your family in support of your loved one.  I am grateful for the support of my family in the care of my mom. I do pray daily for God’s strength and guidance during the journey. I have also learned to trust him during the process.  I  quoted  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ because this scripture provides me with comfort, knowing that God has given me strength in my caregiver role.  I am beyond grateful.  It's unfo rtunate that some of my family and friends, despite having family, are left alone to look after their loved ones. Why ...

“Search me or God, know my heart, try me and know my thoughts” Psalm 139:23 Its ok to not be ok  People just don't know what I'm about They haven't seen what's there behind my smile There's so much more of me I'm showing now (These are the pieces of me) When it looks like I'm up sometimes I'm down I'm alone even with people all around But that don't change the happiness I found (Theses are the pieces of me) So when you look at my face You gotta know that I'm made Of everything love and pain These are the pieces of me This excerpt is from the song "Pieces of Me" by R&B artist Ledisi. It resonates deeply with me as a caregiver. The lyrics reflect the challenges I face, especially as my mother, who is also my best friend, battles illness, affecting our bond. We used to take trips together, and my daughters and I shared a tight-knit routine of spending time together. Shopping, taking walks, going out, and family trips were ...