Posted by I remember the challenges, as I read this post again, and my heart goes out to all of you who are still caregivers. It was a hard job before COVID concerns. I don’t know what adjective to use to describe it now. I hope this message encourages you.
And if you need extra prayer today, just post your name, and I will pray for you. You can leave a specific prayer request or just know that God knows your concerns. He will give you grace to get through this. But I’d be honored to join you in prayer. God bless you!
October 10, 2013
Today Mom asked, as she always does, “Where’s Raymon?”
And I answered, as I often do, “He’s out getting you food.”
But then her answer surprised me. She smiled and looked pleased and said, “Well, bless his little heart.” I chuckled at the comment, but now I embrace it as a prayer…
As I was cleaning at their house today, I continued to overhear Mom ask, “Where’s Raymon?”…even though he was just a few feet away.
And I continued to overhear Dad patiently reply, “I’m right here.” Over. And. Over. Again.
And I had to think, bless his heart for his patience.
Later, Dad and I were in his office, and I was going through his mail with him and making appointments. Almost the whole time we could hear Mom hollering from the other room, where she sat by herself, “Don’t do that to me! Stop it! “….interspersed with very loud nonsensical noises. It made me a cringe a little and feel stressed out.
And I thought, I’m only here for a few hours at a time. Dad lives with this behavior 24/7. This has to wear on his nerves. Bless his heart.
As I did some more cleaning, Dad admitted he was feeling shaky. He has diabetes and has to watch his blood sugar. He sat back in his chair and I brought him a banana and some milk. And I thought, “Oh God, please take care of him. And bless his heart.”
When we sat and talked he told me how he has to be so careful now where he puts things, because Mom is curious and likes to pick up things and then puts them in strange places. He had recently bought some plumbing parts and was missing a pipe. He looked for it for days. (And when I say looked, I mean he feels around and searches for it, because he is basically blind.)
He finally found it in Mom’s bedside wastebasket. He told me he goes regularly through her wastebasket by hand, piece by piece, because she’s always throwing out something.
Oh Lord, please bless my Daddy’s heart. Bless him big time!
While I was there today, I also saw a picture I hadn’t noticed before, stuck in the china hutch. A picture of my daddy, when he was a teenager. I remembered he had told me about the day he was in the town parade, riding his bike with his beloved dog.. He got second place.
And the photo reminded me of his childhood stories and of the younger healthier daddy he was to me…when everything was bright and cheerful and life was so much easier for him.
And yet somehow, with God’s grace and strength, he carries on with so much love and patience. And he calls me every day and cheerfully asks me how I’m doing. And I am so blessed by him.
And I pray now, I pray with tears, that God will bless Dad’s heart beyond measure and abundantly. And I pray that for all you amazing caregivers out there, too.
God bless your heart.
And for all of you who have already lost a parent you were caring for, and are grieving, may God give you comfort and peace, and bless your hearts.
Yes, Lord Jesus, please bless hearts today.
God's Grace and Life's Challenges 
Oh, wow! It always amazes me how similar our situations with our parents was and still is for me. My mom has had dementia for 13 years now. Dad has been dealing with it for so long that I sometimes forget how sweet and energetic Mom used to be. I kept them in their home for as long as I could. Dad fell three years ago just short of his 90th birthday and broke his hip. My mom had set the kitchen on fire accidentally while cooking the month prior. We moved them to assisted living for two years and now they are in a different facility. Mom has her room in Memory Care and Dad has his room on the other side of the facility in assisted living care. They are both sad to not be together but see each other often. My Dad had sepsis last month and spent a week in ICU. Mom fell while he was in the hospital while she was walking the hall “looking for Dad.” I had them both in the same hospital on different floors that week. I hated that they were in the hosptial but it was so good to actually touch and hug them while they were there. Our visits are limited to appointment only and with masks on with no touching since last March. Dad has macular degeneration so his eye sight is very poor and mom “hides” his things continuously. I would so appreciate your prayers for Dale and Jean who will have their 73rd wedding anniversary on October 17. These are hard and sad days but God knows, sees, and is able to carry us through. I treasure ALL your posts as they give me hope that these days won’t last forever and that “joy comes in the morning” as the Bible says. God bless you for continuing to encourage caregivers.
God bless you, Ivy. And I would love to pray for Dale and Jean! Thank you for sharing and for your encouragement! And yes God will carry you through and joy does come in the morning!
Ivy, I am joining you and Cheryl in prayer for your precious Mom Jean and Dad Dale. Praying God’s blessings to be with them and with you. I was my Mother’s primary caregiver for several years before she went Home to be with Jesus a little over 2 years ago at the age of almost 98 years old. I know the journey well and thought caregiving was hard (which it was) but the void left in my heart without her physically with me, has been almost unbearable. Blessings to you, Ivy, and wishes for Dale and Jean to have a sweet memory of their wedding day 73 years ago during the day on their Anniversary. 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, Nancy, for praying with us! What a comfort it is to have Christian connections/family and prayer. And God bless you for taking care of your mother! I know the grieving is intense and hard. May God God comfort and give you grace for that journey as well.
~Cheryl
I am so encouraged by your posts. We are caregiver for my husbands 93 – almost 94 year old Aunt with severe dementia. My husband is a Pastor and I run my business out of my home. I’m tired – we thought we would have years together with my siblings and empty nest but God had other plans. And we are ok with it. 🙂 COVID here in SW Georgia has been bad so I have not left my home since 8 March. Has been hard. And in January we are taking my business and moving us all to NC to be near some of the children and grandchildren. God is awesome and is my rock yet sometimes it is good to hear that others understand. Thank you so much for your posts and prayers.
God bless you for taking care of your husband’s aunt! Sounds like you have so much going on! Wow! That will be a blessing to be nearer some children and grandchildren! May God give you strength and grace for your caregiving, ministry, business, family and move! He gives grace! Thank you for taking time to share and for your encouragement to me!
~Cheryl
God bless you an ur dad it is hard to be a care giver an patient only comes from God above. I know i been one for years i not doing that now i care for greatgrand babies a blessing .God bless this family all care giver an the ones that have no patience.
Amen! Thank you for sharing Rhonda and God bless you as you care for great-grand babies! That is the best kind of blessing!