Dear Friends
God Knows Caregiving -- in the Middle
of a Pandemic -- Is Hard
Week of October 5, 2020
Prayer Requests
Dear Friends,
Or maybe we should say "God knows caregiving -- in the middle of a pandemic -- is harder."
The following is from one of our fliers, each written in a previous, a pre-COVID, world. Now, as you know, so much has changed, so much is more complicated, more frightening, more heartbreaking.
Still, now and always ...
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).
More than needing all that, a caregiver deserves all that .
. . and much, much more.
You deserve all that . . . and much, much more.
God knows you do.
One of the basic teachings of Catholic spirituality is that
throughout our lives each of us is personally called by God to
use a particular talent, to meet a particular need. For you,
now, that vocation is taking care of a loved one.
Our Catholicism also tells us that in all things, at all
times, we’re never alone. God doesn’t send us on our way. He
walks with us. That’s not to say there aren’t times when we feel
alone—or abandoned. Countless saints have testified to that
experience. From the cross, Jesus himself cried, “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?”
When you are caught up in the many everyday details and
demands of caregiving, it’s easy to overlook the spiritual side
of what you have been asked—called—to do and what you are doing.
It can help to realize, to remember, that what you’re doing is a
prayer, and the path you and your loved one are taking is
spiritual pilgrimage.
It’s his Son whom you are giving care. It’s the Son who
told us that whatever we do for those in need we do for him.
And it’s the Spirit who is with you right now. It’s the
Spirit who will never leave you, even during those times when it
seems he’s gone away and taken his gifts—wisdom, courage,
knowledge, and the rest—with him.
May God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit richly
bless you and your loved one in this life, and in the life to
come. Amen.
You remain in my prayers.
—Bill
- - -
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 online here
or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
or
print and mail an application form.