Life turned upside down…
September 30, 2014 – At age 63, I retired after years in education and business. Dale, my husband of 43 years, had retired June 2012 after teaching and coaching for 38 years. In the months approaching my retirement, our daughter Christy had asked several times what my plans were for “after”. At that time, my answer was simple – I have many interests but no specific plans; I had trusted God for decades to unfold the plans He had for me and was certain that would continue.
Three days later…
October 3, 2014 – While traveling out of town to join my sister and brother-in-law for vacation in Hilton Head, Dale suffered a massive stroke, actually two strokes. This happened six days short of his 64th birthday. I now had a new full-time job as his caregiver. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NKJV
I needed God’s help; we all need God’s help. And I trust that He, Who knows everything about any situation in which I function, also knows how to help me best handle whatever I’m facing. The key to gaining this knowledge that we need to survive in a caregiving role is to have a relationship with God. His Word tells us that He cares (I Peter 5:9). His Word tells us what we need to do to have Him live within us and guide us by His Holy Spirit (John 14, esp. 15-17, 23). And His Word tells us how to hear His voice (John 10:3-4,11; Isaiah 30:21).
Cultivating a relationship with God is the most important thing a caregiver can do – not simply my idea of how you should order your life. My opinion means nothing; God’s Truth means Life. The only way in which we humans can fully function in a healthy manner under the external stressors that a caregiver faces daily is by God’s guidance. And He graciously, lovingly shows us the way step by step as we slow down enough to listen for the answers. Yes, each answer will be there at the right time – maybe not as fast as we’d like and often not the answers we’d like, but definitely at the right moment we need, one step at a time.
For Those Who Care 