One Step At A Time

In my running blog I talked about just staying in the race and doing the best we can with what we have each day. Boy, is that just as true for us care givers. We never know what a day will bring. All we can do is the best we can with what we are given.

There are decisions to be made, some easy and some difficult. There are many things that may have to be fought through. Medical personnel, medicaid resources, rehab and so many things that are incorporated in a day. For me, most of these areas really are a fight many (most) days. WE have to try to get supplies (that are supposed to be sent anyway), make money to buy lacking supplies, beg doctors for prescriptions and just try to make ends meet - physically and emotionally! How do we run this race? One step at a time!

If I anticipate tomorrow - today can get me down. All I can do is the best I can with each day as it is given to me. Jesus said something along these lines, He said:

So do not worry about tomorrow;

for tomorrow will care for itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So today I propose to myself to just live today the best I can and not worry about tomorrow! Today has enough to deal with and as He carries me through today - He will prepare the way for tomorrow!

Whose Gonna Carry Me?

Sometimes caregiving can just simply be overwhelming. Nothing in particular has to be happening, the tired just comes. We don't get a "weekend" away from our job. While the rest of the world celebrates and enjoys paid vacation days and holidays our days all look the same. Then comes the tired.

The caregiver can't put in for a day off, who would they ask? And taking a day to at least relax the schedule a bit can bring a fear that you're not caregiving enough. Sometimes there's just no break! Sometimes we need to be carried.

Sometimes it can see very far away, however, God is the caregiver's caregiver! On days when I need to be carried through (for no reason in particular) He will take care of me! Isaiah 40:11 says it this way:

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,

In His arm He will gather lambs

and carry them in His bosom;

He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Maybe you don't need to be carried today, if not stick this verse on your fridge so you'll have it on the days you will need to be reminded that He carries us! Make this your resting spot today - He is your caregiver; He will carry you through.

Quiet Trust

Isaiah 30:15 has been a longtime favorite verse. The prophet is addressing Judah and is trying to encourage their return to the Lord. In this verse Isaiah says: In returning (to the Lord) and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength. The next part of the verse states that Judah was not willing to do so but ran from God instead.

In the most intense pain you would think it would be easier to run to Him, but it's not always the way it works. For me at times I wanted Him to ride in on a white horse and rescue me from the situation and make my son whole...obviously that's not going to happen. But when I can quiet my soul and turn it back to Him (returning) and allow Him to help me deal with the pain and the chores of everyday care giving, then I can find that rest in Him.

And as I begin to trust Him with all the "no-matter-whats" I find a rest that cannot be explained. Yes, there is still the bathing, feeding, transferring that interrupt the "normal" parts of my life...but there is rest and peace in the midst of the storm.

Today let us turn to Him, quiet our souls...and find rest.

Perfect Peace

I must admit that I do not always walk in perfect peace! The strains of being a caregiver can be enormous. But then on top of that are still the demands of every day life. I still have to cook, do laundry and clean house. Add to that finding adequate work on line and I can be a stressed out mess before you know it! Sometimes just simple every day (I call them "normal") events can trigger major emotional upheaval.

But when we can take ourselves back to the Lord, meditate on Him and wait for His direction there is always peace. My own level of contention determines how long it takes me to get back to it!

In Psalm 139, David asked the Lord to try my anxious thoughts. That can be our prayer today as we go about the loved-filled work of care giving. And when we keep our minds on Him (Isaiah 26:3) He will give us His perfect peace.

It is my intention to stay in that peace today. Will you join me?

A Refuge From the Storm

I have often wondered what people do who do not know Him. Where do they run when trouble comes? How do you go through things without running to Him? Today may not be a rough day in care giving, but I still love to refresh my mind with the truth that He is there when it does get tough.

The thing about care giving is the morning can go calm as planned and then from out of nowhere some sort of trouble can hit. It could be as simple as a worker not fulfilling their responsibility to turn in paperwork. But those things can weigh so much more when you are running on overload.

So before anything happens today I want to remind myself that He is my shelter. Especially since all the aspects of life do not stop just because we became full time caregivers.

Isaiah 25:4 is my scripture for today:

For You have been a defense for the helpless

A defense for the needy in his distress

A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat

When I think of all He has walked through with me - sometimes literally carrying me - it's easy to give thanks today!

Wearing Many Hats

As a caregiver I find I must wear many hats. Some of them are more comfortable, or natural, than others. Since the one I am taking care of is my son, I am also a parent. But I also have another child so I must continue to wear the parent hat! I also have a grandson so I gratefully wear that hat as well! Then of course there are the sibling, daughter, niece and aunt hats.

Some hats are not as natural to me, for instance I have never had any desire to do anything in the nursing field so that hat is very uncomfortable for me. I also must now be a therapist. These are very uncommon arenas for me. These are where I really have to rely on God to give me ideas that work best for my son, since there is no help from man available.

I am sure if we each think a few minutes we can find several hats that we each must wear daily. But no matter what hat we must don He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. (Psalm 139:3) He knows every area that I am strong in and the ones I feel totally inadequate to fill. I am so thankful that He knows me inside out!

Today let our meditation be on how He is aware of our entire situations. He knows and He strengthens us for this day to live in Him. Let Him know you today...

The Lord is My Song

I used to sing a lot and I believe there are some healing qualities in music. But a song is hard to come by when times get too stressful. While sitting in ICU waiting to see if my son would live or die I'm sorry but I just didn't have an appropriate song to sing.

As the months and years have gone on slowly the music has returned. Yesterday we even listened to "oldies" for a little while! Slowly my song has been restored. Of course I really believe that praise and worship music brings some healing qualities to our spirits. But even just singing some fun songs yesterday was somewhat refreshing.

This morning during my devotions I came across Isaiah 12:2 it says:

Behold God is my salvation

I will trust and not be afraid

For the Lord is my strength and my song

and He has become my salvation.

This will be my meditation today, that the Lord is my song. I will fix my heart and mind on Him and sing. As I care for my son today I will even sing to him! That might wake him up! Take some time today to sing, sing anything, childhood nursery rhymes your favorite oldies, hymns or choruses. But as you take some time to sing today your heart will be lightened by it. Make sure to take some time to sing to Him - the giver of music.