Category Archives: Hope

Finding Balance and Counting Blessings

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Although tiring and often challenging, most days of caregiving are filled with rewards and blessings. There are times, however, when the stress and routine of the job seem to win.

Can you relate? The most menial tasks have suddenly become overwhelming. It has been a major struggle to care for yourself let alone others. Grumbling and complaining have taken your music and robbed you of your joy.

The concerns you are dealing with may be serious with no clear answers in sight. Faithful helpers have suddenly dropped out of circulation and you are left alone.

Adding to the stress, your long-awaited one-day outing has just been canceled due to an unexpected storm in the forecast.

Perhaps you are trying to make better menu choices for yourself, family and all in your care. However, today you are starving and there is no relief in sight! 

Now what? How do you pull out of such a deep pit and back into circulation? How do we escape?  

When I have times like that, all my helpers could show up at one time and I’d still be in the pit. I could eat the refrigerator and all its contents and still be starving. I know food is not the answer to my dilemma.

Recently I have found the Serenity Prayer to be a welcome reminder – I am not alone.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.  Are there things in my life right now I need to accept, deal with, and move on? The Lord will give the strength and peace I need if I ask.

… courage to change the things I can. What actions could I take to make my work run smoother? Do I need to accept help from others? Are there changes in the way I do things that would help? Could I use my time more wisely?

… wisdom to know the difference. God in heaven knows what is best for me. If I am to go through trials, He is there to comfort and to guide. If He desires change in my life, He will provide it as I yield to His will.

 This thought from Colossians helps put my day in perspective:  “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.”

As you serve others, I pray for you days of health, sunshine, and love.

Hugs,

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter and do let me know how things are in your world today. I care.

Making Resolutions that Count

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Making Resolutions that Count

my deer

A new year’s arrival means time for our family to evaluate and plan. We make resolutions, and often fail in the first week to keep them. We look back and wonder where time went and what we did worthwhile. Seems if we can’t list grand things accomplished, we  feel we failed altogether.

I received a note from today reminding me it’s not the big “important” things that are significant, it’s the day-to-day tasks we do for others that are priceless. A caring daughter wrote:

“Mother is 90 and definitely a trooper. I felt so helpless in helping her with her leg cramps from low potassium. I massaged and covered them with warmed blankets. I know you can relate to sitting up all night in a hospital room chair!”

Yes, I can relate to those seemingly endless days and nights. And so can some of you. Many of my readers are caring for at least one person now. I want you to know, caring for and loving others is the most important thing you can ever do.

Today I learned a former classmate died last night, that makes four in the past two years, and we are not that old! I planned to visit through the years, at least correspond more, but there seemed never enough time.

I am resolved to care more this year; to listen more earnestly; to pray more faithfully for others; and to regularly call or send notes to those who need encouragement.

A lady in her 90’s calls each month to let me know she gets our latest ministry newsletter and that she read it all and prayed for each need. When we miss her call,  she leaves a sweet message. I’m calling her tomorrow, just to let her know what a blessing she is to us.

Do you have people in your life that have been a blessing to you? Do you know others who could use a blessing about now? It’s near zero here today and will be tomorrow; I wonder how many people living alone could use a call from me just to cheer them and help shorten their day by giving them some encouragement?

Today I put my note cards, pens, stamps, and address book on my desk and plan to use them every week. How about you?

Hugs,

Be sure you are signed up for my newsletter (pretty box in the top right hand corner) as I have exciting, encouraging things to share in the weeks to come. Let me hear from you soon. Thanks.

P.S. Did you find the two beautiful deer in the photo? They were enjoying the brush we left for them this year. Photo taken from my kitchen window. I thank God for His blessings everyday!

Family Weather and Best Laid Plans

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Breaking away from my caregiver tips and ideas today to share with you an exciting celebration in our home today, Saturday, November 23.

We were married in a blizzard in Joplin, Missouri, on January 13, 1979. Knowing the near certainty of bad weather in January, we reasoned it would be more practical to have an early celebration while the weather was still warm. Beautiful fall colors adorned the sunny hillsides as I sent out formal invitations decorated with snowmen. We cleaned the house, from the carpets to the porches and beyond. We anticipated the green hillside filled with romping wee ones and a campfire going for hot dogs and s’mores.

Carrying out the winter snowman theme, we purchased a variety of large snowmen to adorn the property. Some we attached to the utility shed, propped them on the front fence and near our big trees by the road.  Cans of fake snow were ready to mix for a touch of reality on the walkways and around the snowmen. (Did you know you could buy cans of snow? God found these for us but then that’s another story!)

Inside the house we unpacked my dozens of cute snowmen and decked the halls.  We were giddy as the little kids as we enthusiastically decorated and planned. Snowmen adorned the fireplace mantel, every shelf and table in sight. Large snowmen had  messages of encouragement and hope  on their scarves.

Are you ready for this?  It turned bitter cold here in SW Missouri, windy and frigid; one forecaster suggested a possibility of snow. All of the leaves turned brown and fell to the ground. Hoping to make the best of a bad situation, hubby made some big piles of leaves for the kids to play in. However, the cold was followed by rain, a day and a half of rain and wind.  The high for the day was to be 37 degrees.

It was still a blast for us to prepare for our family as we reminisced and rejoice over 35 miraculous years together.

We were concerned about making Jesus more personal to our family and friends without sounding preachy. We designed a short skit revealing how God was personally at work in each of our lives through the years. These are the truths we hoped to convey to our family:

1. Although we did not always follow Him in our lives, Jesus never left us.

2. After we each lost our first mates, God clearly drew us together to form a  family.

3. Jesus wants a real, personal relationship with everyone.

4. Church is not our “job”. We do what we do because of the love of Jesus. We love the church because Jesus loved it.

The little skit opened up some real, serious communication between us and our children. It was amazing to sense God at work in such a simple, non-threatening way of talking about our faith.

Whatever your situation, my earnest prayer for each of you is that you will recognize from this article how personal God wants to be in your life. I’m thankful for my family and friends and each of you who have taken time to allow me into your world for a few minutes each week.

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