Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a special word for caregivers.
Because if you are helping an elderly parent or tending to the needs of a child with disabilities; or if your husband or wife has a long-term illness, then you need a word of encouragement. Really! I know all about the day-to-day, never-ending, 24/7 non-stop routines of caregiving that can become so wearing, so tiring. Because when you are in the trenches – cleaning soiled sheets, ordering meds, hassling with insurance claims, finding a ride to the next medical appointment, or just going through the morning get-up routines or evening get-down-in-bed ones, your focus can so quickly get shriveled up; get small and stilted, and you wonder where God is. Then again, you know where He is.
Why, God sits above the space-time continuum, scattering galaxies and exploding supernovas. He sets stars and suns spinning in motion, ladles out rivers and puckers up mountain ranges. He needs no one and does nothing to seek anyone's favor. He is lofty, absorbed in magnanimous matters of the universe. He is happy up there.
But here you are, down here drowning in the day-to-day routines. How do you know that He even thinks about you? Well, you know He does, because you know His Son. The Son "is the image of the invisible God" as it says in Colossians chapter 1, verse 15. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being. And we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the son, Jesus Christ, cares about people. The Bible says that all who knew Him “spoke well of him.” He cared about people and their hurts and pains – He went out of His way to listen to their stories and minister to their needs. He showed concern when folks felt overwhelmed and He had a special love for those who served others. He had the undying affection of blind beggars, spine-twisted women, and people who ran out of wine at weddings. Jesus cared about such needs. Nothing was too small or too incidental.
So, the Father may be invisible, omnipresent and omniscient; God the Father may fill the heavens, but He and His Son are not only aware of your weariness, they bear it, they carry it, they are in the midst of it with you. Psalm 103 reminds us that "The Lord is compassionate and gracious… abounding in love.” His love that covers the universe -- that same love covers you. So if, in the midst of caregiving you feel stretched to the limit, tired and in need of support tell Jesus all about it today. Let Him refresh your heart and let Him connect you with others who can lend a hand. And to encourage you further, please write me today at joniandfriends.org and ask for your free copy of “Help for Caregivers.” It’s an excellent little booklet that covers so many good things, like the importance of attending to your own health. After all, even Jesus in His whirlwind of ministry ate, drank, slept, and rejuvenated Himself by spending quality time with His good friends. That’s important for caregivers. This booklet will also help you to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout and what to do about it. It’ll remind you that although you are called to be your brother’s keeper, you are not called to be your brother’s Savior. Only Jesus can deal with those things that are out of your control. So please don’t forget, write me today at joniandfriends.org , go to our radio page and ask for “Help for Caregivers.”
© Joni and Friends, 2013
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376