Daily Devotions for Caregivers

 John was exiled to the Island of Patmos for preaching the Word. They had tried to kill John three times and he had survived all three. Since they weren't sure how to get rid of him, he was bannished to the deserted island to live out his days. Talk about social isolation!  He had lost everything. He was separated from his physical and spiritual family. Life had taken a hard turn away from anything "normal." John was alone, as far as we know. There may have been a few other "crazies" bannished there with him. If so, they were likely what we would consider hardened criminals. John could have curled up in the fetal position in the back of a cave. We really have no clue as to how he may have processed these major, traumatic, life changes.  What we do know is that on the Lord's Day, John was worshipping in the Spirit. (Revelation 1:10)  A quick look back at the previous nine verses reveal a lot about John. Firstly, he had an outward view. In verse 4, he says he ...

  Today, my son had a great day at The 34 Project. They focus on mobility and movement for survivors of SCI and TBI. The lady who works with Chris most of the time is a brain integration therapist. His progress has been slow, but it's very noticeable. Today, as we were driving home, I thought of how much progress he is making and how everyone is noticing it. He's regaining control and building strength, and it's beautiful to watch. So, I had this thought about how it all builds on the former progress. It all eventually starts working together. That thought led me straight to Romans 8:28, where Paul reminds us that God causes all things to work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Like my son's physical progress, God's work is a process. He doesn't push a magic button and suddenly make all right in our little worlds. But over time... He causes things to work  together... And work? Work takes time. God continues wor...

 I'll admit it. Lately, I've been standing a bit too close to the worry line. Okay. So, it's more accurate to say I crawled over it and collapsed on the wrong side of worry. Lol. I can talk about it now, though. It got really tough. The company I work for didn't pay me for nearly a month, and saying we "got behind" just doesn't do it justice. But God is faithful even when I worry. This morning I found myself reading Ephesians 3:14-16 over and over. Here's how the New Living Translation (1996) worded them:  When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan,  I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the C reator of everything in heaven and earth . I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources ,  He will give you inner strength through His Holy Spirit. Firstly, let's talk about the scope of God's plan . He didn't watch us wake up this morning and worry if He'd have enough grace to carry us through today or not. Creation was car...

 This morning, I read and reread the passage about Jesus' first visit to Martha's house. He and His disciples were on the way to Jerusalem, and they passed by the village where the two sisters lived. Martha invited Jesus and the disciples into her home. (Luke 10:38-42) Martha got busy making this group of grown men a large meal. I can't imagine having 13 men show up at my house and having to get dinner ready for them! Talk about stress! SMH. It was Martha's responsibility  to feed them. She invited them over, after all.  But as she was working to get this huge meal ready, she noticed Mary out of the corner of her eye. I'm sure she thought something like, What does Mary think she's doing? I'm in here slaving to make this meal and she's just sitting there doing nothing!  So Martha presents her frustrations to Jesus. She prayed like many of us pray - Do something! She literally tells Jesus to make Mary come help her! I'm guilty as charged. It's so e...

  One of my favorite Bible characters is David. He was quite the "character" at times, too. David was not perfect, didn't do everything right, and made lots of mistakes. Boy, do I relate! But he was also quick to repent. I find his psalms to be open, honest, real, and raw. In fact, it was Psalm 13 that helped me on my caregiving journey.  Caregiving has its own mix of emotional roller coasters. Not to brag, but I can go from mountaintop to deep, dark valley and back to the mountaintop in less than 3 seconds. And, still not bragging, but I can do it hundreds of times a day...or an hour. David's open honesty helped me realize I really could  share my emotional crazies with God. It's not like He doesn't know anyway. Today, in Psalm 119, I found a small emotional crazy of David's, I think. I love verse 24, which says Your decrees please me: they give me good advice. David sounds content. He seems to have found a moment of peace and realized that it is God'...

 Everything is complicated. Caregivers don't get to enjoy a "normal" life. When we do get to do "normal" things, it takes so much more effort than most give us credit for. It's okay. They really don't get it. Most don't understand the extra effort we put into daily things that others take for granted. Simple things like buying groceries, cooking, and running to the bank can be complicated at best. Impossible at worst. If we are fortunate, we have some people who can help us get all those done. Thank God for Instacart! :-) The struggle is real. But so is hope. Sometimes it seems like these two things are mutually exclusive. But this morning, as I was searching for answers myself, I discovered something I hadn't seen before in a familiar psalm. I know we talk about Psalm 13 a lot, but my Bible fell open to it, and I read it one more time.  David starts Psalm 13 with gut-level honesty about how he feels. He is asking God where He is. David is wonder...