Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts

Walking Alongside

 Once a year my daughter and I escape for a mother-daughter weekend away. We started the tradition 5 years ago on her birthday weekend. This year was our 6th trip and it was more of a caregiver's getaway since we now share caregiving responsibilities under one roof. It' always a great time and I learned so much on this trip.

On Saturday, we walked the 5k together. The first year we did it was a bit difficult for me because I usually run races. But every year she's done this one I have let her set the pace. This year's race was awesome! We visit, laugh, cut up and just relax, so it's a great time.

I thought about how much I enjoy just walking it with her - it's more than just getting the race done - it's the doing it together that makes it memorable. There really is something special about walking alongside someone else on their journey. Maybe it's just more rewarding when you make it about someone else's journey instead of your own.  Your journey is better.

I thought of what Jesus said in John about sending the Holy Spirit. He'll not only live in us, but He'll walk alongside too. Walking alongside is an important role. You still have to do the walking - but there's someone right there if you need anything like encouragement, a drink of water, a hand up, or a shoulder to lean on even though they don't walk it for you.

To further demonstrate - there were several amputees on this race. They all had someone there with them, but not one companion was walking it for them. God won't walk the caregiving journey for us - but He does walk alongside as a constant companion - just in case we need anything along the way.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm missing something as a caregiver, and maybe I walk like with a limp. But I can rest easy knowing that each unstable step is taken with Him by my side - to guide, comfort, instruct, and help. That's all I need to just keep taking one more step.

Today, I'm going to meditate on His ever-abiding presence. I'll turn my thoughts to how Holy Spirit is sent to us to indwell us - and to walk alongside. I'm not taking one step alone  - I like that. I'll think about how He accompanies me with each and every tottering step and I'll trust Him for one more day. will you join me?




God of Hope

Yesterday I participated in (and finished) a half marathon. After about 9 miles my body was hurting and by 11 miles my feet and toes and back and...pretty much everything was hurting so badly I really wanted to quit. Since it was raining I didn't wear my mp3 player so I had lots of time to think.

The pain was pretty intense and I wanted to stop because of it. This made me think of the caregiver quite a lot. Our entire situation can be filled with intense emotional pain. We have pretty much lost the life we knew to take care of a person we love. Emotions run in many directions from being saddened by our loved one's condition, to the loss of their mobility and independence and the loss of our own to all sorts of painful decisions that must be made almost daily. But like the marathon runner we just cannot stop for the pain.

I think the difference is that there is no finish line  to run towards. It's never really settled, it just goes on. But we keep running anyway. Every day we get up and take care of our loved ones while many (or most) times not meeting our own needs...it's just part of the caregiving race. It can feel hopeless... but it's not.

God is the God of hope. We can gain peace from the truth that He has not left us to run this race alone, He is running it with us. I've always told my son I can't walk it for you but I can walk it with you.  And somehow I feel God does the same for and with us.

This God of peace, comfort and joy is our God and He is traveling this painful road along with us. Romans 15:13 says May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  That's my prayer for the caregiver today - that He will fill us with hope to continue the race life has set before us...and I know He will! Rejoice in His hope today!

The Stare

  Do you ever just find yourself sitting and staring at the wall? It doesn't really happen too often because, quite frankly, who has tim...