Your caregiving story is a part of the greater story God is writing for the world.  As you spend time with the loved one you’re caring for, see if you can find points of connection between your two stories.   Your lives connect in shared compassion, intimacy, and revelation. As you care for your loved one, remember that God has the power to redeem yours AND your loved one’s story – changing it for the better in ways that will matter for eternity.

Recognize the significance of the times you share with your loved one. When you both enter each other’s stories, you can make connections that will matter forever. Even your most mundane work (like changing your loved one’s diapers or driving him or her to the doctor) isn’t just physical.  Rather, it can be a spiritual experience, if we allow it.

However, we are human.  We get overwhelmed, discouraged, and tired.  In our exhaustion, it’s hard to remember these important and faith strengthening ideals.   That’s when we need to rely on prayer.  Sometimes the prayer is a memorized “Lord’s Prayer”, other times it is a more intimate conversation with God.  Either way, God knows what is in your heart.  If you’re too tired to get “real” with your prayers, it’s okay.  He knows. He understands.  That’s why He gave the Lord’s prayer.  It covers the bases:

• Our Holy Father
• Thy will be done
• Give us this day our daily bread ( many interpret this as strength)
• Forgive us and help us forgive
• Keep us from temptation and evil

And remember, God has a plan for all of this.  We might not see it.  But it’s there.  Pray for Him to reveal His purpose and shower you with His grace.  He often reveals himself during our trials as it is when we are hurting that we are more open to Him.

 

Jeremiah 29:11

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.