Mixed Bag

 In life, in general, there are always lots of things going on at the same time, and it's no different for caregivers. Maybe it takes it all to a whole new level when you're caring for another whole person, though. There are tons more elements that have to be juggled. But there are still a lot of good things happening (even if we can't feel it right now), and a lot of more difficult things happening, too. Each day is a mixed bag of events that we can rate and categorize into good and bad. Navigating all the day-to-days emotionally is sometimes one of our biggest struggles.

After my son's wreck and my caregiving journey began, it was years before I felt like it was "okay" to laugh again. This is the case after such an emotional trauma. Eventually, my emotions healed to the point that I could enjoy a funny movie, even if the movie didn't match where my life was and where it was heading. Finally, I got to the point where my emotions were not stretched quite as thin, and I could feel again - both sadness and joy, even if it was intermittent. 

Of course, emotions still run thin because caregiving has a way of making it that way. We may cry at the drop of a hat or become mad because of the smallest thing.  It's the nature of the beast. I think it's safe to say that we are carrying around this mixed bag of emotions and it can erupt irrationally at any time. Even if it is to strange triggers. And those are so different for all of us depending on the specifics of our caregiving journeys.

This morning, my emotions were all over the place and I was looking for a scripture to help my thoughts all make sense. I landed in Philippians 4 and discovered a pathway to peace all laid out before me. I was trying to get to verse 13 to encourage my soul in the truth that I can indeed do or deal with all things because Christ gives me His strength. But I landed in verse 6. It seems like a formula for dealing with tough circumstances, and the writer, Paul, was living in a difficult circumstance when he wrote it, so he must know a little bit about it.

Paul says, Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need. Thank Him for all He has done. It sounds simple enough for a caregiver to do! :-) There are tons of things to worry about, but each of those as they come up can be turned into prayers as we hand them over to Him - like tagging Him in a tag team fight! Your turn for the ring, God - I'm tired. Lol.

This is simple - just tell Him what you need. Period. And then thank Him for what He has done. Nothing is as encouraging to the weary heart as acknowledging what you know He has done for you in the past. Thanking Him for what He has done reminds us that He can still do for us even today.

So, today, I'll remind myself of those times He has stepped in when I thought all hope was lost. I'll thank Him for giving me HIS strength each day. I'll be sure to thank Him for carrying me along this journey on the days I didn't have the strength to stand. My meditation will be on how He is always present (thank You, God, for that!), always faithful, and always in my today. I believe I can trust Him for one more day - will you join me?

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Grab a copy of Peace Out! It's a fun, engaging devotional that encourages us all to just peace out and trust God in the middle of the mess. In the middle of the struggle. In the middle of the storm. It's only available on Amazon for Kindle or in print.