A divine appointment Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. —Isaiah 40:31
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he call to be a caregiver is a call to sacrifice. We are expected to be totally selfless and put aside our personal priorities as we adapt to a life of caring for an ailing spouse, an aged parent, or a special needs child. We are called to give, give, and give. And if someone suggests that the experience will ultimately benefit us, we would probably be dismissive. “What is there,” we may retort, “to gain from being a caregiver?”
against those of the people we are caring for. In the process, we will discover more about ourselves, our relationship with God, and about God himself.
Consider, however, this idea: caregiving is a divine appointment with God.
Second, as we deal with the overwhelming feelings of frustration, resentment, anger, and helplessness, we will learn to turn to God for strength to keep on going. There will be moments, of course, when we will feel so burdened that even crying out to God becomes difficult. And there
How so? Two things come to mind. First, as we adapt to our role as caregivers, we will find ourselves evaluating our priorities, values, and feelings as we try to balance personal needs 10
The demands of caregiving can strip us down to the basics, such that we begin to see our true motives, passions, agendas, and priorities. At the same time, the experience can show us what it truly means to live like Jesus—selflessly and passionately pouring out our lives for others, just as He did.
