Devotions

There are times as a family caregiver that we feel stuck. We don’t know which way is forward, we feel cornered by impossible situations, and we wonder when the pressure will be alleviated. Then fear makes us wonder if God is still working in our lives.

Caregiving can be an isolating experience. Moments of doubt creep in when we have no one around to encourage us to stay rooted in the Word of God or to pray. Add in a dash of frustration, a pinch of exhaustion, and it is a recipe to wonder if we are beyond the compassionate care of God.

Caregiving brings out the best in us. It can also bring out the worst, if we are being honest. Fatigue, frustration, guilt and impatience can start to take over for compassion, love, and kindness. You may even find yourself thinking, “I shouldn’t behave this way…I should be stronger…I should be more patient.”

I have a journal amongst my daughter’s belongings. Actually, I have several journals for her that are filled with daily stats such as oxygen saturations, fluid intake, etc., but the one I’m writing about has a special purpose. This one, with its scratched blue cover that makes it look ready for the trashcan, holds the most precious information of all. Inside are the dates when I could see God providing for our family in our darkest moments.

I believe we miss the implications of salt’s value in a world where everyone has at least three varieties of salt in their kitchen cabinet. Do you understand the important role salt played in the time of Christ? First of all, it is a flavoring. We all know how bland food is without a little dash of the white stuff in there. Secondly, salt was used for preservation of food before refrigeration. You can imagine how valuable that was in a desert climate.

Caregiving often places us in quiet distress. It is not dramatic or even visible, but it is persistent and it is heavy. Days blur together and we find ourselves weary beyond words.