I just came home earlier this evening from a Maundy Thursday service in church. When I contemplate all that the true meaning of Easter means to me I wonder why should the troubles of caregivng or any other troubles of this life ever get me down? When I see how my husband’s disease has progressed, it is easy to get discouraged. It is even more difficult when I think about how his personality has changed and when I feel as if my life has been turned upside down.
What am I going to concentrate on this Easter, however? Am I going to concentrate on my many spiritual and physical blessings, or am I going to concentrate on the heartaches? Why is it so much harder to concentrate on the blessings than on the trials?
Lord, thank You for Your presence in my life and for all my blessings. Give me the strength to concentrate on Your blessings. Give me Your strength and joy when I feel overwhelmed. Give me Your peace when I feel anxious.
Sharon..it is extremely difficult to find joy when in pain. Your best friend and partner is sick and that has to be very hard to watch. We all know your appreciative of all the good things God has blessed you with but at the same time I think it is perfectly normal to be concentrating on the loss as well.
Go with your heart…dont question your feelings….you have the right to them. You just keep trusting that huge heart of yours and take it one day and one moment at a time. Please know you are a shining star in my eyes!!!….
Sharon, I just wrote Donna last night that I was thinking about writing a blog on Easter, which will be the 4 year mark since we became fulltime caregivers for mom and the world changed…it actually goes back to the Nov before that when we had the fire and had to move in with mom. But I am not sure if I will write yet, I will wait till after I get back from church I think, then I will see if a blog is tugging at me to come out! It is more difficult to focus on all the blessings and the goodness of God, even on the anniversary of His Reseurrection which is not right. But He does not condemn us for that, He knows our lives have been difficult and He has a special love for those of us who are caregivers, whether it is for our aunt, our husband or a parent, whoever…we are His Special Treasures. So ladies, and gentlemen out there, let’s remember Him this Easter season, and the blessing of His death on the cross, and His magnificent and triumphant Reseurrection…and He is sitting next to His Dad, applauding us, cheering us on every moment!
.-= Donna W´s last blog ..Book Learning =-.
Thank you to you two wonderful Donnas! I appreciate your words so very much. My heart is full of joy this season because of my salvation and my relationship with my Lord, but the sad feelings are there also because of my husband’s disease. Once again thanks for your encouraging words. Donna W. I live in WI also. If I am guessing right we could live only about an hour and a half from one another.
Thank you, to each of you, for these words. It is definitely easier to focus on the negative, especially when others “appear” to have an “easier” road. Everyone has difficulty in their lives, we just cannot always see it. Donna W., thank you for your comment about forgiveness. I am convicted when I am not focussing on the gifts that God has given me, and too focussed on what I feel I have lost. Have I really lost anything? I too often worry about our children amongst caregiving… Easter is the perfect time to refocus on all the “brightness” in our lives, especially what God sacrificed for each of us, His only Son. Have a wonderful Easter and thank you again for these reminders. (Why don’t I live in WI?? (: ) I think it is truly a gift that caregivers can support each other through this site. Thank you. Donna W., I think of you often and wish I could sit with your Mom so you could go to a neighborhood cook-out! (You mentioned this in one of your blogs, Take Care.)
Sharon, I am just south of Milwaukee in Racine? I met with Denise for lunch a couple weeks ago because she is in Chicago, not so very far away. We met in Gurnee. Maybe we can get together with you sometime too, and one by one gather the rest together as well (yes New Yawker,you have to come too!)
Ok so everyone move to the midwest, either WI or Northern Ill! lol Thanks for wanting to sit with mom Bette, I know we would each be willing to help the other out like that if we were close enough. I am getting ready to start the next phase of this journey called Caregivers Not Alone. I will probably blog about it soon. Excited!
.-= Donna W´s last blog ..Book Learning =-.
Donna W..you read my mind…I was saying I want to come too….Bette where do you live? are you anywhere near New York lol..Im starting to feel like the friendless friend !!…..your all still very special friends despite the miles..Im very grateful
All of the friendships here are so important. I feel like I have known you all for quite some time! I am in Central PA, about an hour North of Harrisburg. Not too far from NY! (: I hope you all have a special Easter.
Donna W. I live in a small town about an hour north of Milwaukee-Oostburg, WI. This is about 13 miles south of Sheboygan. It would be great to get together sometime. I think I would be a little nervous driving through Milwaukee-maybe some place north of Milwaukee?
Sharon – what a blessing you are to us all. I am so grateful He speaks to me through you.
In your post, you asked why it was so much harder to concentrate on blessings and gifts than on difficulties, heartaches, and trials. This certainly seems to be a pattern with us humans, doesn’t it?
One thing we know for certain – concentrating on blessings brings reward, while spending that time on difficulties only seems to bring more difficulty.
What’s the old adage – nothing worth having comes easy?
Happy Resurrection Day!
-Derek
Happy Resurrection Day Derek and to all my family on caregiving.com! Because He lives, we CAN face tomorrow!
.-= Donna W´s last blog ..Book Learning =-.
Thanks once again to the two Donna. Also thanks to Bette and Derek. Derek, you are correct in saying that concentrating on blessings brings rewards. Concentrating on the problems brings depression and more difficulties. It is still difficult to do sometimes, however. Isn’t it? I say amen to Donna W’s last comment also. Because He lives, we can indeed face tomorrow!
I just wrote this to donna earlier and thought it would fit with this post as well….it is hard to understand but god equips us in different ways and it is by working together using our strengths and talents that we accomplish his will….I think we get applause once in a while for our efforts but for some reason we dont always hear them but the one negative incident thrown our way resonates loud and clear….1000 people can applaud us but it is the one person who shouted the show stunk is what we focus on…..together we must applaud and thank each other for our efforts every single day. Together we will strengthen our tools and we can effect the lives of so many others..
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter…and yeah, wouldn’t a big caregiving.com reunion be great? Anyone near Montana? Haha.
Sharon, I still can’t believe how strong you are. I know it must seem so unimaginably difficult sometimes…just know that we are all here for you!
.-= Miss R´s last blog ..Waiting for Living Our Dying… =-.