Prisms Caregiving: Inspirations and Resources: encouragement for Caregivers

Showing posts with label encouragement for Caregivers. Show all posts

Sunday, March 24, 2024

When God Split History in Two: Pioneer Files

And He was saying to them all,
“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself,

take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

- Luke 9:23

Most of us know the story of Easter.

Though its name is derived from a pagan ritual not remotely associated with Christianity, Easter is the yearly celebration of Christ's resurrection, swooping in each spring with a bonanza of chocolate bunnies, daffodils, dyed eggs, and budget-crushing baskets. The week is crowned by the traditional Sunday morning church service and Easter egg hunt. It's generally tinged with guilt over which family group to join for The Big Dinner and follows weeks of cantata practice after work.

Slathered in the usual rounds of the holiday flu, it's still one big, happy celebration, more or less.

Oh, yes, don't forget the empty tomb. Jesus rose from the dead. Can we eat our chocolate bunnies now?

Have we heard the story too many times?

Though the plot tends to get lost in the hype, I really LOVE Easter.

When winter's cold yields to the call of the light, from the barren soil springs the miracle of new life. Each year the resurrection is shouted in glorious defiance of death's seeming finality:

Spring always comes.

Spring always comes.

Perhaps we've seen the Jesus movies, bathed in Hollywood God rays and special effects, one too many times. Perhaps we've heard the Biblical account in isolation from the rest of God's Word to the point it has become just that... a story.

The ministry, sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is no fable, though. The bloody and supernatural reality of His first coming sent shockwaves throughout the world and split history itself into Before and After.

Jesus is a man like no other, because He is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God. The second person of the Trinity, He is described like this in the book of John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

- John 1:1-3;14

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.

- Matthew 10:24 KJV

Perfect man. Holy God. Did He really need to die?

He didn't have to come to save fallen humanity. He could have left mankind to its own devices after the fall in Eden. He is, after all, God. Father, Word, and Holy Spirit would have been totally justified to have walked away from this wayward planet and the creation that rejected Him.

The perfect Creator loved his debased creation too much to abandon it. He knew the only way to destroy the works of the devil and redeem us from an eternity of separation from Him was by taking on the form of a man and offering the sacrifice for our sins.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.

- Philippians 2:5-8

He paid a hellish cost, the one we earned, for the redemption He planned from the foundation of the world.

...knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
- 1 Peter 1:18-20

The empty tomb is our story, too!

The moment Christ rose from the dead, He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Scriptures. All who believe in Him must follow the same path He trod. We are not meant to stand at the foot of the cross and mourn over His sacrifice. We are called to be "crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20).

We are commanded to die to our own desires and be made new in Him.

Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and other believers in positions of trust especially hold a sacred duty to follow in the Master's footsteps. When the lives of the vulnerable and afflicted depend upon us, the precious and fearful mantle of the Savior falls upon our shoulders to die to self.

All who desire to serve God must follow this path. The Apostle Paul declared:

...I die daily.
- 1 Corinthians 15:31

It was only his old, soulish man who died, though. The new and regenerate man was already reborn into eternal life. With Paul we, too, dwell in bodies that are decaying.

But that won't last.

One day, Jesus will return for His church, the Bride. The dead in Christ shall arise from their graves. The living believers will be translated to join Christ. Tombs around the world will be empty.

As we await His return, we rejoice in Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day. Every day of the year, though, we can shout the victory as we live out both the cross and the resurrection in our bodies.

Jesus is alive! He lives forever more! He will come back for us very soon.

He is risen. He is risen, indeed.

Can I hear an amen?

Break out the chocolate bunnies.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Three Things People Say that Make a Caregiver Cringe

What do I need? Where do I start?

During our twenty-one years of dealing with disability, people have taken really good care of our family. So I have hesitated to share today's post, thinking that it may make us appear ungrateful.

Believe me, we appreciate every good thought, prayer, and action taken on our behalf over the years. We are truly thankful for the caring people who surround us.

It is written, however, not to complain but to encourage others who might want to help their caregiver friends but don't know how to reach out effectively. Here's a few ideas of what caregivers need -and don't need- to hear from their concerned friends and loved ones. I've included some ideas that my friends have concocted for us that saved our sanity and made us feel truly loved.

1. "Let me know if there's anything you need."

On any given day, I pretty much need everything: rest, hope, money, respite, the weeds pulled in my flower garden. But I'm not likely to call you anytime soon. Our situation has taken so much of our dignity over the years, I just can't ask anyone for more. It's hard to always be the ones in need, so I will probably politely thank you and leave it at that.

I also know that most of our friends and family would gladly help out if they knew what to do. A great way to really assist your caregiver friend is to not wait for that phone call.

Just do something.

Don't worry if it's the right thing. They'll love you for trying, even if it's not really what they needed. Instead of a vague offer of help, pick out something specific and do it. For example, you can ask, "What is your favorite pizza and would Thursday night be a good time to drop it off for you? Or, "I'm thinking of weed eating a few weeds this weekend. Could you use an hour of weed whacking around your yard, too?" Drop off a deli tray or a plate of brownies. Stick a prepaid card in the mail for a meal at a restaurant that does takeout or curbside pickup.

Once when our son was being released from the hospital after suffering a particularly bad infection, a friend dropped off a gallon of milk, toilet paper, and a take-and-bake pizza. She didn't stay long, because she knew we were exhausted. And the pizza could be refrigerated until we were ready to cook it. What an awesome and thoughtful thing to do.

Recently, I had out-patient surgery. Two of my dear friends, who know that I can't ask for help, took charge. Because my husband had to keep up the caregiving at home, one friend drove me to the hospital, waited while I had the procedure, and drove me home. She also brought food for the frig. After I returned home, another friend babysat me for the afternoon while I rested. She brought food, too. I can't begin to tell you how much these two did to ease my recovery and restore my soul.

Helping out a caregiver doesn't have to be expensive, involved, or time-consuming. Just the fact that you took the time to reach out is healing to a family scoured out by overwork and sorrow. Sometimes that can be achieved by simply sending a card in the mail to let them know you're thinking of them or a Facebook message of encouragement.

2. "Be sure to take care of yourself."

Um, okay. I'm trying. But who will do my job for me while I get that pedicure?

Believe me, caregivers know that they need to take care of themselves. But most day, theys are too busy just keeping their heads above water as they are swept down Urgent River. It's like telling a drowning person to take time for himself. He can't do that. He's busy drowning. What he needs is to be pulled to safety, not a haircut.

A great alternative would be, once again, to put feet to your concern. See number one for ideas. Anything you can do to relieve some of the caregivers' burdens can give them a chance to find time for themselves.

You can also ensure that a caregiver is pampered by pampering her yourself. Soon after our disabled son returned home after his accident, a group of my friends threw me a shower at a friend's house. We ate together, they washed my feet, and they showered me with gifts. After all the weeks of standing beside our son as he fought for his life, I had almost forgotten how to do anything but exist in pain. The gift of an afternoon with my precious friends reminded me how wonderful it is to be alive.

3. "You should get out more"

This one is right up there with the previous comment. Obviously, if we could get out more, we would. Caregivers are not only too busy, they are often too tired to keep up much of a social life. This is part of the sacrifice they willingly make to serve their loved one. They understand what they are giving up, and they are willing to do it, which may seem incomprehensible to others.

Caregiving often leads to a sense of isolation and loneliness. Instead of shaming them for not being able to make the extra effort to socialize, consider how you can draw the circle that brings them in.

Use some creativity if you can't figure out how to get them away for a respite. Why not give them a "shower" in their own home, so they don't have to find an alternate caregiver? You could gather a few friends, replenish their kitchen or bathroom necessities, and have some fun in the process. Or host an evening of bunco or a"movie night" in their living room. Have a barbecue in their back yard and give it a Caribbean theme. Take your life group to their place for a Bible study. Fill their house with laughter and love for a couple of hours and let them be refreshed. Just be sure to ask about any special considerations for their loved one.

Once an acquaintance who loves to cook insisted on preparing a multi-course dinner for us at our house. He even wore a chef's uniform and served us as we sat around the table and took in the wonder of it all. The meal rivaled anything we could have ordered at a restaurant.

What most people who care for others need is, really, just to be remembered on some level.

Just the fact that you reached out and let them know they are not alone is priceless. Your expression of concern can be as individual as you are. Make it simple, or make it a multi-course dinner. What will matter is the knowledge that someone cared.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Thankful For Caregivers: A Poem

Thankful For Caregivers
by Grace Thorson

I'm thankful for your ears that listen to my everyday plight,
I'm thankful for your perseverance throughout each night,
I'm thankful for your early-morning rising at dawn's first light,
With remembrance, I thank my caregiver for their day-to-day fight.

I'm thankful for your humble attitude against the daily grind,
I'm thankful for your encouraging words that always free my mind,
I'm thankful for your nursing skills that keep us intertwined,
With gratitude, I thank my caregiver for they are one-of-a-kind.

I'm thankful for your gentle prodding that forces me into motion,
I'm thankful for your honest soul in showing sincere emotion,
I'm thankful for your big heart because it's as deep as the ocean,
With love, I thank my caregiver for their ceaseless devotion.

In honor of all caregivers to their family members and patients,
thank you for all that you do! You are such a blessing!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

You CAN Thrive

"That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." -Ephesians 3:17-19

Rooted in Love: You CAN Thrive

Practical Tips for Successful Caregiving

When our son was paralyzed in a fall back in 1997, we were told it would be “impossible” to care for him at home. We were determined that he wasn't going to a nursing facility, though. He came home with us after his discharge from the hospital, and he has been at home ever since. We are thankful for the support of family, friends, and the medical community which have helped make the “impossible” a reality. Every day we are thankful to a faithful God who has taught us this:

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” – Luke 1:37 NKJV

“Possible,” however, doesn’t mean “easy.” Caregiving is a marathon, an ongoing investment in the life of another human being. Since our son’s medical needs require twenty-four-hour supervision, it has been imperative that we develop strategies to cope with the pressure.

Over the years, I’ve learned some vital practical tips for keeping sane. Today I want to share one tip that has helped me.

Simplify your home.

I know that's lots easier to say than to do. Especially if you're a new caregiver, you may feel like you have the energy for anything else. But life beyond caregiving does go on. Along with caring for your loved one, there are bills to pay, birthdays to remember, and appointments to make. I recently had to spend hours digging through twenty years of non-digital photos for a memorial service for a relative. Nothing was in the right place. Nothing was dated. What a mess! It was my reminder that a couple of simple changes could have kept this from happening.

Hopefully, I learned my lesson.

Trust me. Life is easier if you get organized.

1. Use what’s on hand.

Get shoe boxes (or plastic tubs if you want to invest in them). Label them “Pics,” “2015 Receipts,” etc. Set them in a place where they will be easily accessible. When you run across a receipt, photo, or anything else you need to save, throw it in the right box right then and there.

2. Label photos immediately.

Take the extra 30 seconds to write a date and any other pertinent info on the back of non-digital photos before you toss them into the abyss of a box. Believe me, there will come a time someone will thank you for that.

3. File, file, file.

Place important papers and medical information in file folders and 3-ring binders. Don’t turn this into a project. Just grab some folders at the store, label them, and put them in a drawer or box that you can keep handy. The important thing is to get into the habit of tossing things in the right place right away, before they get lost in a pile or, God forbid, thrown away.

If you’re tech savvy, you can take screenshots or digital pics of bills and papers and file them digitally. Be sure to back them up on a system like the cloud, external hard drive, or flash drive.

The important thing is to know yourself. Don’t set up a system that you’re not going to use. I’m old-school, and that’s why I love using file folders and boxes. It’s so easy to just pitch them in their proper place. But do what works for you.

4. Communicate.

Keep a large calendar in the kitchen with a pen and sticky notes nearby. This way, family members post their appointments and events on the calendar so everybody knows what’s going on for a particular day.

Let's get started!

Just doing these things should help relieve the mental burden of trying to coordinate a home and caregiving duties. We'll be sharing more as we explore how to survive - and even thrive - as caregivers.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

10 Words That Describe A Caregiver

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Guest Writer: Linda Brendle

Bearing the pain of others | by Linda Brendle

My goal in life was not to become a caregiver. However, when my loved ones had a need, I stepped in to help.

Whether by small increments as the need progresses, or suddenly because of a catastrophic event, many of us become caregivers regardless of our intentions. Those of us who have been drafted into such a role, in searching for some meaning, often lean on Romans 8:28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

There is comfort in Paul’s words, but when you find yourself in the middle of hardship, it’s difficult to see how even God can find any good in your circumstances. As I watched Mom and Dad slip away into the abyss of dementia, I knew there was nothing good about Alzheimer’s. Still, through my experiences, God worked for my good and His purposes.

One good thing God did was to teach me the real meaning of Proverbs 3:5-6 which says:

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

For most of my life, I found security in control. The need for control increased as I cared for Mom and Dad. I developed what I believe is a common, if often subconscious and always misguided, belief among caregivers that, if I did everything just right, my parents would get well. While this might be the case with some illnesses or injuries, it is not the case with Alzheimer’s. I soon learned that I had no control over anything. For a co-dependent like me, letting go of the reins, even if they were connected to nothing, was a terrifying thing. However, God understood, and He worked for my good and His purposes in all things in my life – even in caregiving and Alzheimer’s.

Another good thing that came out of my caregiving experience is that I have a story to share. “Story” is the modern word for what we used to call testimony, but whatever you call it, God can use your story when you share it.

Becoming an author was not one of my life goals either, but after I became a caregiver, I often sought advice from Aunt Fay. She had cared for both her mother and her husband, and one thing she advised was to keep a journal, because one day my experiences might be of help to someone else. I wrote sporadically, mainly after a particularly trying day, but when we planned an epic RV trip, I decided to keep a daily journal. That journal eventually became my book which is titled A Long and Winding Road: A Caregiver’s Tale of Life, Love, and Chaos. Here’s a brief look at what the book is about.

“Sometimes, reality really bites. Alzheimer’s has wrapped Mom’s brain into knots; vascular dementia has attacked Dad, and instead of carefree retirees, we have become caregivers. Regardless, dreams die hard, and we somehow stumbled into the purchase of a forty-foot motor home. That’s when all four of us set out on this seven-week trek across sixteen U.S. states. Now, Dad stopped up the toilet again, Mom wet her last pair of clean jeans, and David just announced he was hungry. My head is beginning to pound, and I know this isn’t going to be the easygoing retirement we imagined for ourselves.”

Linda Brendle takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotional and spiritual challenges that many families are facing right now. Co-dependency, mental breakdowns, and finding love after divorce are just a few of the issues weaved into this journey of caregiving.

At its simplest level, my book is an entertaining story. My somewhat skewed perspective on life sometimes makes people laugh, so I intentionally included as much humor as possible. When going through the valleys, you have to laugh whenever you can. Solomon said, A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Generally speaking, dry bones don’t make very good caregivers.

At a deeper level my book offers caregivers the comfort of knowing they’re not alone. It also gives them the permission to share their own story and to admit that caregiving is hard. Even Moses couldn’t carry the burden of the children of Israel alone. During the battle against Amalek, Moses’ arms grew tired, so Aaron and Hur stood on either side of him and supported his arms. Without their help, the Israelites would have lost the battle. In Galatians 6:2, Paul tells us to Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. People can’t help you bear your burdens if you don’t share them, and someone who is watching you may be reluctant to share her burdens if she thinks you have none.

At a third level my book encourages caregivers to take care of themselves and to continue to have a life of their own. It also offers the hope that, with God’s help, life can go on in spite of whatever trial you are facing.

In Joel 2:25 God makes this promise to the Israelites: I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. While this was a specific promise to a specific group of people, I believe we can apply the principal to our lives today. That principal gave me hope that there would be life after caregiving, but in order for there to be life after caregiving, you have to live through it. You have to put your own oxygen mask on first, and you have to maintain a life of your own.

When we are in the middle of hardship, it’s difficult to see what possible good even God can bring out of our situation. Paul gives us clues as to what a couple of those purposes might be.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Ephesians 2:10

Ravi Zacharias once asked a group of church leaders this question: What portion of the world’s pain has God called you to bear? I don’t believe that God gave Mom Alzheimer’s, but I believe, in His sovereignty, He prepared me to care for her and to help bear her pain. He also prepared me to share my story and to help bear the pain of other caregivers.

When God shows you what work he has prepared for you to do and what portion of the world’s pain He has called you to bear, remember to lean on God rather than your own understanding. Then, share your story and help comfort someone with the comfort you have received from God.

About Linda:

After fifteen years as a family caregiver, Linda began writing to encourage, inspire and amuse other caregivers. She loves to travel and since retiring has traveled mostly by motorcycle and RV. She and her husband live in a small East Texas town where she gardens, writes, and works as part-time secretary for her church.

Find Linda at:

Website: http://www.LifeAfterCaregiving.WordPress.com

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/LindaBrendle/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/linda.brendle

Google+: http://goo.gl/5Ov8qo

Goodreads: http://goo.gl/SeqyBz

Links:

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQU4LNJ5scY

Author Video (Tour of RV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zUCl59eFA4

Read an Excerpt: http://anaiahpress.com/WindingRoad.html

Buy the Book (In paperback or Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Long-Winding-Road-Caregivers-Chaos/dp/0990908577/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20983741-a-long-and-winding-road

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

30 Thoughts of Thankfulness To Caregivers

Trying to think of an article for this Thanksgiving, I was inspired to create this "30 Thoughts of Thankfulness To Caregivers." Why? I wrote it to thank the Caregivers in my own life, but also included it in ways to speak to you. I felt the need to offer this encouragement to you today. You deserve every thank you mentioned here - all 30 of them! Of course, I could never thank a Caregiver enough. Their work is without borders, but I pray this article praises them in a humble sense.

I dedicate this post of thankfulness to my parents, my grandma, and to my friends who find themselves wearing this honorable title. Without further ado, here are my 30 Thoughts of Thankfulness To Caregivers:

1. Thank you for the energy you take to care for the needs of someone else - which is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Your job is full-time, and I thank you for every minute of it.

2. Thank you for managing to cook meals every day for your family. Your vigor to keep us fed is one of your top to-do's on your list, and my stomach internally thanks you, as well!

3. Thank you for remembering fellow Caregivers everywhere and for offering support and encouragement to them. The help you give them is appreciated and much needed.

4. Thank you for standing up for life and for waving the banner of truth. This will never change, because the battle of life and death will forever be waged, but I say, fight on soldier!

5. Thank you for writing books to draw Caregivers and families closer to God. I've been inspired by your stories of triumph, and am encouraged to pen my own story on Caregivers.

6. Thank you for being strong among the storms of trial and heartache. You're my superheroes!

7. Thank you for juggling the mundane chores and activities that come your way. They may not seem important, but God sees your every move. One by one, all service counts in His eyes.

8. Thank you for making birthdays, and the holidays so special. You don't forget our day of birth, and you're always able to assemble a mighty celebration. Memories are our best gifts!

9. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing your stories with us. Each tale from your life is a piece of treasure to dig up and carefully analyze. I promise, I will forever cherish them.

10. Thank you for your compassionate spirit in assisting the needy within your community. If we had more servant-minded folks like you, this world would be a better place for all of us.

11. Thank you for lending a shoulder to cry on - which all tears flow.

12. Thank you for instilling the Bible into the lives of your family members, especially your children. Standing up for God's Word is first and foremost in my faith, and your teachings on it are precious.

13. Thank you for the precise and loving care that you give to the disabled in your home. They wholly depend on your life to see them through theirs. Your sacrifice is utmost!

14. Thank you for the wisdom you carry in the area of health and medicine. Your brain is like a walking medical encyclopedia, which I am allowed to search through for assistance.

15. Thank you for your constant vigil - whether it's early in the morning or late at night. Most would describe you as being both an early bird and a night owl, because your guard duty never ends.

16. Thank you for smiling through the extreme hardships and for also keeping an optimistic view on them. The hope you carry in your heart touches the lives of everyone who yearns for it.

17. Thank you for your tireless prayers to God for healing and peace. Your Father hears every tear-streaked word in the middle of the night, and quiet utterance during the day.

18. Thank you for doing your best every single day of the year - which is giving your all. Mind, body, spirit - you fully provide these three to the one you care for. May your heart be refreshed!

19. Thank you for your humble attitude and unwavering soul. Most don't know what you do at home, and you'd like to keep it that way. Your solid determination and humility is invigorating.

20. Thank you for trying to keep the house clean. I know this is no easy feat!

21. Thank you for accomplishing the chores around the house, and for not forgetting one, single, solitary detail. Where would we be without you? Your memory is like an elephant.

22. Thank you for listening to people with disabilities, and for treating them with respect. You see them with the heart of a parent, and you offer them the same treatment as one of your own.

23. Thank you for being a fixer - your need to make things better is contagious. The drive you exceed at in getting things done is miraculous. I hope to be so alive in spirit and fire!

24. Thank you for either doing school with us or for making sure we got to school on time. Being homeschooled, you taught me what public school couldn't: compassion, and an open mind.

25. Thank you for your healing hands. They're rough and strong from constant use, but on the other side, gentle and fragile. When we fall down, and can't get back up - your hands are what hold us up,

26. Thank you for your unbroken love and devotion - both speak of a faithful servant. In the end, you will garner a trophy for finishing an amazing race, and I will be honored to stand by you all.

27. Thank you for being a Florence Nightingale, watching over us with the expert care of a nurse. I can imagine you with an oil lamp of light, but instead of the lamp, your heart is what would shine.

28. Thank you for wearing the title of Caregiver. The word is fitting for one who is two things: a giver, and a person who cares. Yup. Caregiver couldn't be more perfect!

29. Thank you for finding a way to celebrate Thanksgiving, whether it's a large or small event. It doesn't matter what size it is, your heart is dedicated to creating a day for family and friends. This is the most important aspect of any holiday!

30. Thank you for not giving up on hope, and for this, I am especially thankful.

To close this article, I would like to say... may you all enjoy a tremendous Thanksgiving with the people you care most about! <3 Caregivers, you are forever loved and held in our arms of protection! I pray your holidays are deeply blessed!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers: Part 4

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." {Hebrews 13:5}
"The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." {Lamentations 3:24-25}
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." {Galatians 6:9-10}
"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." {Psalm 34:4-5}
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" {Psalm 34:8}

Part 1 of 20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers

Part 2 of 20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers
Part 3 of 20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers

Thursday, November 6, 2014

20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers: Part 3

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." {1 Corinthians 15:58}
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." {Romans 8:28}
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." {Romans 8:37-39}
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." {Lamentations 3:21-23}
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." {Colossians 3:16-17}

Part 1 of 20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers
Part 2 of 20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers
Part 4 of 20 Encouraging Bible Verses For Caregivers

Friday, October 17, 2014

A Physician Understands

Photo courtesy Erik Thorson 2014

It's a small article by a physician, but I had only read a few lines before tears sprung to my eyes. The 2010 New York Times article is entitled "Offering Care for the Caregiver," and it hit a chord with me.

Although you can find caregiver support groups online and books on caregiving, it remains a closet profession. In the United States alone there are millions of people who care for a loved one, usually without reimbursement of any kind. As the population ages, this group will grow.

We are an unreached people group. We work long hours, give up the large and small conveniences others take for granted. It's a hard life, lived mostly unseen and forgotten by society as a whole.

We do it for love. But it does feel good when someone remembers to ask how we are. If you're a caregiver today, I pray God's blessing on your hands, feet, and heart. May He give you strength for this day, and joy in the duties ahead of you.

You are remembered. Someone does care. God sees every tear, every sacrifice, every small kindness you do for others. What you do is important, life-giving work.

I just wanted you to know.

Below is the link to the Times article. I hope it encourages you as much as it did me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/health/21chen.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&adxnnlx=1410969612-WbmgwZo7VmIg7oVYQ6aRJg

Thursday, October 2, 2014

You're Invited to our Song in the Night E-Book Release Party! Starting this Saturday...

There's a Song in the Night E-Book Release Party this Saturday on Facebook. It's an online event celebrating the release of Pam's first book "Song in the Night" in e-book format (which is available on Amazon's Kindle). There will be a 3-hour day full of remembrance. This will include photos, quotes from her book, a video, engaging questions/answers, and giveaways. Only invited participants who are attending can enter in the giveaways. Don't forget to ask your friends and family to join! The more, the merrier!

Starting this Saturday, Pam's first book "Song in the Night" will be on sale for a limited time of $.99. This will only last a week, so be sure to grab your copy then! Click here to be directed to the Amazon page for this Kindle deal (check back on Saturday). Be sure to share this with your friends!

Here's your online invitation to join us on October 4th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Song in the Night e-book celebration! Please, R.S.V.P. with clicking the "join" button for going on Facebook. Hand in your online invitation here.