Grateful Caregiver

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;  courage to change the things I can;  and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time;  enjoying one moment at a time;  accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;  taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;  trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;  that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.  Amen. Upon returning from the rehabilitation center, I spoke with my mom about getting back into our usual activities. I was overjoyed to have her home again and eagerly shared my ideas for us to spend time together and enjoy her favorite pastimes. However, she replied, "I’ve been through this before; I don’t want to do that." In that moment, my heart sank, as it felt like she was giving up on life. After reflecting on that conversation, I began to grasp and accept the chang...

  " You have two hands,  one to help yourself and one to help others" Audrey Hebrum Do you find yourself flowing from your subconscious mind often? When chaos surrounds you, do you retreat into your subconscious mind to escape? I've realized that I had a developed a habit of functioning from my subconscious as a coping mechanism instead of being fully conscious.   Functioning from your subconscious as a coping mechanism while caregiving can be quite common, especially given the emotional and physical demands of the role. Here are some ways this might manifest: 1.  Automatic Routines : You may perform caregiving tasks like administering medication  or  preparing meals out of habit, which helps manage daily responsibilities but can lead to   emotional disengagement. 2.  Emotional Numbness : In high-stress situations, the subconscious may dull emotional   responses to provide temporary relief, but this can lead to feelings of isolat...

“If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Over the years, I’ve had a few best friends, but my longest friendship began when I was 12 years old. We experienced some difficult times and went through a period of silence. By chance, we eventually reconnected. At that point, I had rededicated my life to God, which transformed my heart, and I aimed to help my friend do the same. When she committed her life to God, I felt truly grateful to be a vessel for His purpose. Tragically, less than a decade after we reconnected, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away.  I've come to realize that every individual who crosses our path serves a specific purpose. Some people are meant to stay in our lives for a lifetime, while others are there for a season or a particular reason. Im grateful for each individual. I have learned lessons in each encounter.  Throughout my experience as a caregiver, I'...

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 ...