(The
following post is from a blog post that I published in 2013. May the
Lord bless your Christmas, dear caregiver.)
December
is the month that we think of Christmas and hope. Dear Christian caregiver, is your life weighed down with care and worry this
Christmas season; or is it filled with hope? I remember my
care-giving years during which I saw my husband continue to decline
in his health step by step. 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 appeared to Mary and told her that she was 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 openhearted 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 care-giving can feel overwhelming. But like Mary in the Bible we too can have hope no matter what our circumstances. Dear Christian caregiver, rest your care-giving 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.
( I will be taking the next week off, because I will have family visiting in my home. I will be back with a new blog post on January 4 or 5. Use this time to read some of my old blog posts, and have a blessed Christmas, dear caregiver.)
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 appeared to Mary and told her that she was 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 openhearted 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 care-giving can feel overwhelming. But like Mary in the Bible we too can have hope no matter what our circumstances. Dear Christian caregiver, rest your care-giving 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.
( I will be taking the next week off, because I will have family visiting in my home. I will be back with a new blog post on January 4 or 5. Use this time to read some of my old blog posts, and have a blessed Christmas, dear caregiver.)
Merry Christmas Sharon! Just wanted you to know I am still reading and even though now widowed I am encouraged and blessed! Thank you for giving to The Lord!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan, for your kind comments. I am glad you continue to be encouraged by my blog. I want to wish you a blessed Christmas as well!
ReplyDeleteI first read your blog post last week and have many times thought of your advice to be kind to ourselves. It came at just the perfect time, because I was at wit's end when my dad lost even more weight. God provides what we need in so many different ways. Thanks so much! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteDebra, I am glad you found my words in my blog encouraging. Care-giving can be very emotionally draining. I hope you have a blessed Christmas, Debra.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a joy filled Christmas! Thank you for your encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, Georgene. May you also have a blessed Christmas!
ReplyDelete