It's heavy because it holds everything in your heart...the good times before illness struck your husband or wife, and the things that happened after...the heartbreaking test result, the days when hope was renewed, the crushing hours when you thought that hope was an illusion.
It's a heavy box.
And you dropped it, and it broke.
You can't gather everything up, and move on. You can't even make a sack out of your t-shirt to hold them.
So there you are, stuck amidst the wreckage of your sad and bloody heart.
Won't you share the burden with your friends, the people who have heard the crash, and are even now gathering 'round you, anxious to help?
Won't you please dole out those memories, carefully hand over the hopes and fears, so they can carry them with you on this dark path?
Won't you offer your friends the grace of their opportunity to be like Jesus, ye who labour and are heavily burdened...and whose arms can no longer carry it all?
Musical accompaniment from Skillet, with Awake and Alive.
My #write31days posts so far are:
October 1 - Worship For Caregivers
October 2 - Talk To A Caregiver
October 3 - Create A Caregiver Haven
October 4 - A Caregiver's Raw Hope
October 5 - A Caregiver's Trust
October 6 - Caregiving For Our Country
October 7 - Caregiver, Don't Hold Too Tight
October 8 - Caregiver, You Will Find Freedom In Truth
October 9 - A Caregiving Plan?
October 10 - A Caregiver's Listening Heart
October 11 - Caregiving Remembrances?
October 12 - Caregiver, Write It Down!
October 13 - Taking Care Of God
October 14 - Caregiver, Don't Try Too Hard
October 15 - The Caregiver Will Remain
October 16 - Readings For Caregivers
October 17 - Caregiver, Grow A Thick Skin
October 11 - Caregiving Remembrances?
October 12 - Caregiver, Write It Down!
October 13 - Taking Care Of God
October 14 - Caregiver, Don't Try Too Hard
October 15 - The Caregiver Will Remain
October 16 - Readings For Caregivers
October 17 - Caregiver, Grow A Thick Skin
I do ask that you be patient with my slow replies to your comments (which we treasure). I'm trying to stay caught up.
Still hoping to get the new and improved version of Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart up and running in the near future. Just haven't had the energy to do it yet...but if you would like to read it, please say so in your comment and I'd be glad to send you a PDF (which should fit your Kindle).
I have another blog, "Starting The Day With Grace". The focus is a grace quote from someone you might not expect (like, say Mick Jagger) and a short commentary. I hope you'll join me.
Marley update... been moved to a sanctuary, and Bay County will revise their 'dangerous dog' codes.
WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!
And marley has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
If you can, please do leave a comment. I am trying to answer all, and I am failing, but please know this - I read and treasure each one.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
Beautiful, Andrew. Sometimes we can just no longer contain it all ... all the apples start falling. And we have to let others pick up what we drop. I know that must be the hardest part of a man being sick ... because you are strong and independent, mostly dependent on God. You are so loved.
ReplyDeleteShelli, thank you so much for this...and you're right. It is hard to pass on to others what I must now drop.
DeleteBut maybe the biggest independence of all is acknowledging one's dependence on the Body of Christ, the hands and hearts of His people?
Been there. Done that.
ReplyDeleteJan, thank you for bearing witness.
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