Unseen Caregiving

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What to Do When a Disability is Unseen

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV

Do not be surprised or discouraged that as a caregiver a lot of what you do is unseen or misunderstood. In my years as a chaplain I have gotten to know people in many different kinds of long term care settings. I have seen, prayed for and been involved with people struggling with all different types of disability. While most people are familiar with disabilities linked to wheel chairs or breathing assistance; they may not think of those unseen disabilities involved with mental or emotional illness. If you are in such a place and are dealing with a loved one who battles with depression, memory loss, dementia or other unseen issues that leave you feeling frustrated and misunderstood you are not alone. The most important thing to remember is that God sees. Our battle in caring for our loved one may be unseen but as today’s scripture reminds us; we walk by faith in an unseen God who is able to help us because He sees our heart! He will give us strength for the journey and has promised to never leave us even when no one sees what we are up against. He is still more than enough! I loved and was encouraged by this short video from Ken and Joni on how God has helped them to see how caregiving has both challenged and strengthened their trust in the Lord. Through it all God has faithful to them and He will also see you through even at those times no one else understands. He who knows every detail so much so that he has even counted every hair on our heads will bring us through! Have a blessed Saturday everybody!

Don’t Forget to Pray!

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And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke 18:1

Did you ever feel like just giving up on something you have been praying for? There are times I can’t even think of a single reason why God would want to listen to me when there are people with far greater needs and who have much more faith than me. And so Jesus knowing how easy wat is for us to give up praying told a story about a widow and a judge. This widow had a lot in common with most of us. She wasn’t well connected, rich or powerful and besides everything else, the only person she could turn to for help was a corrupt politician!

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In face of that most of us would have thrown in the towel, moved away or started complaining to our neighbors. But she wouldn’t quit. Instead, every morning she went down to the judge’s house and knocked on his door. She knew that he was not a good guy and that he didn’t want to help her out. But despite the odds she kept asking him, “I need a protection from abuse order from my enemies.!” Now some would not have wanted to keep bothering the judge. Maybe we would have tried to make friends with him first. But she decided that driving him crazy was the quickest way to get his attention just long enough so he would just do his job! And guess what? Despite all the odds the judge finally threw up his hands one morning shouting; “Oi vey! Alright already! I’ll give you what you want!”

Then Jesus reminds us that when we pray God is not like that judge at all. Instead God who is our judge is good! He wants to listen! God loves to answer our prayers. So why should we ever give up? Why should we should ever think He doesn’t care? God is listening and if we are faithful to knock on His door every morning He will answer us one day in ways far greater than we can ever imagine!

Don’t Forget to Pray by Peter Caligiuri © 2020 All rights reserved

A Tale of Two Brothers

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Younger brother was lazy and spoiled could be

While the older worked hard to just earn his keep

They walked different roads ending up far apart

And neither could know that they broke father’s heart

The youngest just partied and lived the wild life

Sleeping in every morning – staying up every night

While his brother just labored from dawn to the dusk

Barely pausing to rest because he felt he must

So when father forgave when the younger just asked

While the older was still finishing up his day’s tasks

He got angry and shouted “Dad what about me.”

Think how brother was shaming our whole family

But father grew quiet and with tears in his eyes

Put his hand on his shoulder then he made this reply

Son, if you forgive and leave that up to the Lord

You’ll see life’s greatest joy in a family restored

A Tale of Two Brothers by Peter Caligiuri © 2020 All rights reserved