The Baser Things of Life
Caregiving is not very glamorous. It can be even less glamorous depending on the level of care your loved one needs. My son is total care, so I have to literally do everything for him. He can't even push up his glasses or choose a shirt to wear. There are lots of unmentionables that have to be taken care of each day.
Of course, I post all his progress and the good stuff in his Facebook group. But we do not mention other things. (I'm sure you get my drift!) It seems like the more personal needs are the most troubling to my heart. They are unpleasant, but it's part of taking care of the whole person. We can't just skip the stuff we don't like. Honestly, some days I don't like any of it. I wish I had my son back!
The other day, I was taking care of some of his more personal needs, and I thought that it was just gross. Of course, we're not really supposed to say that, right? I would never say it to him! lol. I was like ugh! But it must be done. I told him I loved him and would take care of him the best I could.
As I was tending to the task, I thought about how my heart has some pretty deep, dark, scary spaces, too. Places no one wants to go and things no one wants to see. Then, it hit me - God takes care of life's nitty gritty for me, too. Caregivers have to go where no man has dared go before - lol - and so does God on behalf of those same caregivers!
I was thinking about this as I stumbled into Psalm 143 this morning. Sometimes, life is just ugly and smelly. David wasn't afraid to tell God all about it either! He says in verse 4 - I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. Boy, have I felt that way on this caregiving journey. But David says out loud what religion tells us we're not allowed to even think. And God let him put it in the Bible!
David is open, honest, real, and raw with his emotions before God - and God met him there. I love verse 6, after he's poured it all out - I reach for You! That's the key that keeps us moving. We just keep reaching for God over and over again. No matter what the day brings - or doesn't bring - we just keep reaching for God and He keeps meeting us right where we are. He's not afraid of our mess. The darkness won't keep Him away. He won't tell us that He can't tend to the baser things of life. No. He meets us in our here, and He does it every single time.
Today, I will remind myself that God's not afraid to walk right into the things I consider dirty and messy. I'll think about how many times He's already picked me up and dusted me off and set me back on the light and right path. My meditations will be on how He can do this over and over and never lose patience with me, never give up on me. My heart will rest in Him, knowing He's got me, and He's got one more day covered for me today. I think I will just trust Him with it - will you join me?
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21 Days
Nobody understands total care better than I do. It’s the part it’s hard to ask for help with. God Bless us and our helpless loved ones!
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing that makes it hard to find someone to sit so we can get out even for a little bit. Not that anyone is available... lol. Yes - definitely one of the most difficult parts of caregiving!
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