“They found the kidney stone,” he told me on Monday. “And I’m going to have surgery today at three.”
This was the conversation that my husband and I had after his doctor’s appointment last week. While I was relieved that he would be having surgery to relieve the pain he had felt in his back for over five months, I was completely caught off guard by the timing. “Today? At three?!”
I’m a full-time working mom who hasn’t accumulated enough vacation time. We have three kids five and under who would need to be babysat. I had just meal-planned a whole week’s worth of meals. It’s crazy how fast plans can change.
My husband needed surgery, and we needed to adjust our schedule. My supervisor was gracious by giving me the afternoon off. My mom and mother-in-law agreed on a plan to take care of the kids. My father-in-law told me he’d help get his son home. I took a deep breath and realized that I was not alone.
Several hours later, my husband went into surgery. It was late when he was wheeled back into his room and he was incoherent. We’d been married for almost eight years and it was one of the first times that he’s been in a condition where he needed my help to stand and to eat. Watching him groggily awake, I kissed his forehead and ran my hands through his hair. I loved him in a way that extended past our present circumstances. I became a caregiver, putting his needs above my own.
The hours on the clock ticked close to ten when we finally made it home. Recovery was tough for him, and I hated to see him in such pain. But, when he woke in the morning, he was doing better so I left for work.
Afterward, I picked up our children from school and my twins were crying hysterically, telling me how much their ears hurt. Our pediatrician’s office was closed, so I wheeled into the Urgent Care in need of a physician. Double ear infections were confirmed and medicine was prescribed. We made it home close to dinnertime and that’s when one of my twins began to vomit. Not once. Not twice. But All. Night. Long. Her ear infection had thrown off her equilibrium and she was in pain.
I had a choice in that instant — I could be a caregiver or I could have a breakdown. I wanted to cry. I needed to cry. But, I took a deep breath and instead shoved dirty sheets into the wash. In that moment, I chose to be a caregiver.
Friends, I’m sure you too have had incidents when you have had to become a caregiver — to your husband, your parents, or your kids. Being a caregiver is the most selfless act of mankind because it is making a decision to put the needs of others first. Sometimes we become a caregiver by accident, other times we are prepared. But, we all experience moments of exhaustion and physical demands way outside of normal.
If you are a caregiver right now, I want to encourage you to breathe. Let others help you. Cry if you need to cry. Try to eat a decent meal and take a walk. Don’t drown in the giving of yourself and know that you are not alone.
Being a caregiver is tiring but you can receive strength from God. Trust in his ways even when the diagnosis doesn’t make sense. You were called “for such a time as this” to take care of your loved ones. Remember, you are loved and this is just a season.
Take a deep breath sweet friend. Keep calm and care on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLICK THIS LINK & CHECK OUT HOW YOU CAN HAVE A CHURCH HOSTED BETTER TOGETHER CONFERENCE
(As we are finalizing the details, we wanted to give you a peak at how you can have a BETTER TOGETHER Conference at your church!)
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
