Being a caregiver is a tiring, challenging and demanding task, while caregiver burnout is a constant threat. In this series of posts, Bobbi Junior brings her unique perspective to bear on the subject of Christian caregiving.
Bobbi Junior is a contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio, through her program entitled “Not Me Lord.”
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Read Part 5 of Bobbi’s series about Christian Caregiving here.
Here’s another point those supporting a caregiver need to remember.
The Appearance of a Break is not Necessarily a Break
In Matthew 15:29 Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down. Crowds followed him.
When caregiving, just being apart from the recipient doesn’t mean you’re resting. I could easily spend an hour reading in the living room while Draya watched TV in her room. But I never stopped listening for her to call out. I never fully disengaged and relaxed. I couldn’t turn off my vigilant state unless there was someone else to fill the need. Only when Draya was safe and provided for could I honestly rest.
Jesus’ story brought to mind another important fact about caregiving.
It’s OK to Change the Routine
In Matthew 14:16 the crowd was hungry. The accepted plan raised by the disciples was to send the people away to get their own food. Jesus did the unorthodox, and cared for them in an unexpected way, multiplying loaves and fishes until everyone was fed.
When Draya came home from hospital, we changed our routine as well. We did what, for us, was unorthodox, too. We changed our cooking habits. We ordered out more often. Sandwiches and fruit might constitute lunch, and dinner, too. My husband, Rick was very diplomatic. If he came home from work and saw nothing on the stove, he’d smile and ask, “Is this a ‘help yourself’ night?” I so appreciated his attitude.
Reduce Tasks
We reduced our tasks. For awhile (now, don’t judge me), I stopped recycling. Everything went straight into the garbage.
School routines changed too. If our son didn’t get his homework finished because we were too tired to help him, I willingly wrote a note saying, “We had a tough evening. Please excuse his incomplete assignment. Again.”
Housekeeping everywhere but in Draya’s room went by the wayside. We had the gift of a cleaning service for a few months. After that, sometimes friends would swoop in and give our little house a thorough going over. That was always a glorious day. I watched TV. A lot. I couldn’t concentrate on books anymore, always half listening for Draya to call.
Yes, we changed the routine. We let go of anything that could be let go of, so we’d have energy to focus on the steep, exhaustive learning curve we were on for the first few years after Draya’s accident.
Next time, I’ll cover the last few examples I found in reading about the life of Jesus – examples that help me remember that Jesus was a caregiver, just like me, and maybe you.
Read Part 5 of Bobbi’s series about Christian Caregiving here.
Bobbi Junior
Read and hear more from Bobbi Junior on the contributor’s page. You can also find Bobbi at her website, The Reluctant Caregiver, at bobbijunior.com
Bobbi’s program, “Not Me Lord” airs on HopeStreamRadio.
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Images:
Vacuum Cleaner: Wikihow
Sandwiches: Katrin Morinz
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