Peace for the CaregiverSample

THE OLD BATTERED BOAT

During his healthy years, Dan purchased an old boat. He had plans to fix it up in his retirement and spend time on the water.  Dan took it out on Lake Erie a couple of times. He soon learned that our little S10 Pick-up Truck was no match for pulling that boat out of the lake.  He parked the boat alongside our extra garage, and it sat there waiting for him to work on it, but health issues and his work schedule interfered.  

Many years later, the boat was being retired. I will never forget that day. It was such a sad realization to both of us that his days were few.  Our Pastor and an acquaintance came to remove it.  I will be forever thankful to them, as I had no clue how to rid of it. The boat had deteriorated from the years of weather and lost its value. 

Dan and I stood off to the side as they pulled it down the drive and took off down the road. I remember putting my arm around him to comfort him.  He said with sadness, “I had good intentions for that boat and never got to it; now it is too late.”

What a life lesson that statement was and should be to us.  

“Don’t wait until it is too late!”

We had some sad days like that.  I don’t know if Dan’s mind went into denial of what was happening, but I tried to keep mine in denial.  I didn’t want to think about him not being there.  Oh, how would I ever have peace of mind again?

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  Matthew 8:23-27

That old boat never got put in the lake at his retirement, but it shouted lessons from its bow!

Jesus had so much peace that He slept during the storm!  Say that statement out loud! 

Jesus had so much peace that He slept during the storm!  

Jesus is our peace, and He wants us to invite Him to be our peace as we navigate the unwanted storms and trials life deals us. He is the Prince of Peace.  I felt like I was drowning in all the caregiving obligations that were now my responsibility, yet deep within had this calm peace that it would be okay.

CAN YOU RELATE?

Will the responsibilities go away?  No, they won’t, but the peace God gives us as we learn to lean and depend on Him somehow lessens the overwhelming feeling that comes with being a caregiver.  Join me again tomorrow as we look for ways to turn the lemons of responsibility into a lemonade experience for the patient.  The sadness of watching pill sorting become mass confusion can be a lemonade experience if we handle the problem with wisdom.