Monday, November 29, 2010

Good Medicine for a Weary Caregiver

This family of four penguins graced the tree skirt and child's rocker next to last year's Christmas tree. 
During my devotion time this morning it occurred to me that as a caregiver, my emotional and spiritual energy is most often directed toward cultivating perseverance as I navigate my way through grief of loss. This could be likened to a physical diet of meat and vegetables with nary a dessert in sight.

This morning I've remembered that God’s “foolishness” is wiser than the best wisdom of human beings. God is sometimes whimsical—how else do you explain penguins? The Lord’s playfulness is never heavy-handed or awkward, as when an old college professor makes an attempt at humor that he does not truly feel; but is as delicate as the perfect choreography behind the spring dance of hundreds of dragonflies in the air above my front yard. A book could be written about the “foolishness” of God, and it would be a beautiful book.

Last year at Christmastime, I purchased some appealingly funny, nearly life-sized penguins and placed them around my Christmas tree. This afternoon I think I'll put forth the effort required to dig through the back of the storage area beneath the eaves of our old house to find where I've stashed those penguins.

I'm praying for each of my readers right now: may the sweet relief of humor lighten your caregiving burden today.

Scripture: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength" (1 Corinthians 1:35).

4 comments:

  1. Thank you. I so look forward to reading your newest entries--I catch myself checking quite frequently, and am so lifted when a new one appears! You remind me that I am not alone in my journey with my mom. God Bless you and those others who are caregivers as well.

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  2. Thank you, "Anonymous," for these encouraging words. I find myself praying for my fellow caregivers as I write these posts. Though I don't know your faces, God does, and I like to think that He will help you through my prayers. So many of you have more difficult challenges than mine. God bless you.

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  3. Love the humor of my ALZ husband. I am thankful every day it is not gone, nor is his sweet love for me.

    The other humorous thing in our life right now is another couple. The gentleman has ALZ and his wife and I enjoy their conversations so much. They repeatedly tell each other the same things and it doesn't matter. "Sally" and I laugh instead of being mortified. We laugh because of the joy or our husbands' friendship.

    Hugs,
    Carol

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  4. Perhaps you might undertake that book as a new project? This was a comforting post. Thank you.

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