Sunrise, Sunset, Always Behind!

Chris' first time to walk on the rise and walk

 I hate being late. I'll leave 2 hours early to sit and wait an hour to get into an event before I'm 5 minutes late! But caregiving has changed that a little bit. Too many potential bumps in the road that have forced me to come to grips with running late. 

Even at home, I always feel I'm behind. I get up in the morning to stuff I just didn't get to yesterday. Then, in the evening, I go to bed with a whole list of things I didn't get done. It's exhausting to just never be caught up. It doesn't matter how I plan, how diligently I manage time, or how big my want-to, sigh. I'm always behind.

You'd think I'd get used to it, but no! I still let it eat my lunch from time to time. One thing I have done is to curb the negative self-talk and speak more kindly to myself.

Do you do that?

I remind myself of the load I'm carrying. Caregiving is no joke! And it's not an easy job, no matter what. No matter how hard I've tried or how much I've negotiated with God, I can't squeeze more than 24 hours out of a day. lol.

I remind myself of the verse in Isaiah 40 that tells us God never gets tired. But He doesn't do dishes either. LOL.

What's my point? There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. (Romans 8:1) God never shakes His head in disgust at the things we don't do - or the things we do to survive! He sees how caregiving wears on the soul. He has enough compassion, mercy, and grace for our caregiving journeys. 

Today, when things get hectic, I'll remind myself that He doesn't leave when I get upset. Or angry. Or frustrated. Or run out of steam. He doesn't shake his head in disgust when I let the dishes sit in the sink overnight. He just assures me that He has given me grace for the day, no matter what it brings. He continues to have my back, no matter how far I back up. He's got me and continues to carry me on so many levels, I'm convinced to trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?






Cover of my book 31 Days in Psalm 31

Check out one of my best-selling books - 31 Days in Psalm 31. It's a devotional taken from Psalm 31 (obviously!) - a time when David was hiding in a cave from Saul - even though he'd been anointed the next king. The social isolation of caregiving can certainly make it feel like we live in a cave, but God is there with us. And that's what this 31-day devotional is all about, exploring and discovering God in the caves of life. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.



Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 20, 2025 at 7:16 AM

    Many, many nights, there are dishes in the sink, clothes that need put in the dryer, trash that should be taken out, etc etc. I do have a helper who comes every morning for an hour. It’s a HUGE help. She gets him up, fresh diaper, dresses, shaves and feeds him. I hope you have help from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanie OlingerDecember 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM

      I'm so glad you have someone to come help! I'm sure she can get quite a lot done in that hour and I know it's helpful. I don't have any help. I have a couple of people I can call if I was to have an emergency - but no help with daily stuff.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousDecember 22, 2025 at 8:03 AM

    We are so different! I am usually running late and it doesn’t bother me. But my hubby is like you! He would rather be an hour early than 5 minutes late. Too bad, cause he’s at my mercy!🤣

    ReplyDelete

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