Dear Christian Caregiver, is your life weighed down with care and worry this Christmas; or is it filled with hope? This holiday season is a difficult season for me in many ways. It is my first Christmas season since my husband’s death on January 2, 2011. Those caregiving years before my husband’s death during which I saw my husband continue to decline before my eyes were also very difficult, however. It was tempting at such times to give up hope. Hope is something all of us can possess no matter how difficult our circumstances, however.
During this holiday season we are also reminded of the birth of Jesus Christ. Over 2,000 years ago before Jesus was born most of the people were living without very much hope. Then in Luke chapter one of the Bible an angel appears to Mary and tells her that she is being blessed by God’s grace in becoming the mother of Jesus. Jesus Christ was coming as the Savior for His people.
Mary’s response to this was open hearted acceptance. (See Luke 1:38 in the Bible.) Mary would suffer many immediate problems being the mother of Jesus. She would also experience many heartaches in her future. Because Mary now had hope, however, she was willing to accept God’s will for her life with joy. A life secure in the Lord’s hope can move with confidence through life in spite of difficulties and challenges
Life as a caregiver can be very heartbreaking and challenging. There are times when the circumstances of caregiving can feel overwhelming. But like Mary in the Bible we too can have hope no matter what our circumstances. Dear Christian caregiver, rest your caregiving heartaches with the Lord. Know that He is the source of strength and hope. His hope is not a wishful thinking type hope, but it is a hope based on His certain promises in the Bible. His hope is secure and will never leave you.
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