Dear Friends
God Knows Caregiving Is Hard
Week of May 6, 2019
Prayer Requests
Dear Friends,
God knows caregiving is hard. God knows caregiving is work.
God alone knows all the particular circumstances—the feelings and
emotions, the life experiences and personality quirks, the baggage
and hot buttons—that can make taking care of another person hard
work.
And knowing all that, God has chosen you to play a
central role in providing that care. Just as from the cross Jesus
asked St. John—the patron saint of caregivers—to take care of the
Blessed Mother, God asks you to help take care of someone else he so
deeply loves. But that doesn’t mean providing care for a spouse, a
parent or grandparent, a child or sibling with special needs, or any
other family member or friend is simple or easy
You know caregiving is hard work. That caregiving can take
a toll physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, and
spiritually. What you may not know, or at times not recognize, is
that you are not the only one facing these challenges. While you may
be the only one in your family providing care (or the primary person
providing it), there are other caregivers in your workplace, in your
parish, in your community, in your city or town, in your state
As in your case, often the work they do and the services
they provide—the loving care they offer—is unknown and unseen by
others. That’s so because caregiving is personal. That’s so because
caregiving is not a role one accepts and sticks with to earn glory
and praise. That’s so because caregivers aren’t interested in
tooting their own horns (even if they had the time or energy to do
so).
You remain in my prayers,
Bill
- - -
This week we're so pleased to welcome Judith E. of Idaho and Sister Laurentilla of Maryland as the newest members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep them and their intentions in your prayers. They have promised to pray for you and yours.
And again this week we cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.
No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).
You can:
sign up on-line here
or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
or
print and mail an application form.
God bless you!
Bill