"It's probably nothing. Still, better get it checked, no?"
And then came the diagnosis, and your world imploded. Your spouse has an illness that's likely terminal, and you're launched down that caregiving road from which you can never retrace your steps.
It feels like you can reach back and touch yesterday...the hopes and dreams of growing into maturity together, of growing old togther, of experiencing the best that life has to offer...together.
And now this.
You want to turn back the clock...somehow.
Don't try.
Let the changes come.
If you accept what each new day brings, however awful it may seem, you're going to learn things...good things...about yourself and your mate that you never knew existed.
The changes will make your life narrower, but if you let them, you will find an increased depth in fortitude and courage and vulnerability and humour and the tears that come in the night, when the ark things gather 'round.
You will hold your husband or wife as you have never held that parson before...and the same will be returned to you.
If you don't spurn the changes, yes, you will lose the life you planned to share.
And you will rediscover the love.
I think we'll turn to the Fab Four, with Here, There and Everywhere. What do you think?
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 18 - Caregiver, Share Your Heart
October 19 - A Caregiver's Brave
October 20 - A Caregiver So Far From Home
October 21 - Caregiver, Give Hope
October 22 - Caregiver, Bring The Light
October 23 - Caregiver, Sometimes Nothing Works
October 24 - The Caregiver's Life, Revised
October 25 - Why, Caregiver? Just Because
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.
No regrets. Look ahead. I struggled with this when my illness wasn't terminal. So many memories lost, so many things I missed. But learning to look at the now was what helped me. I'm loving your posts this month!
ReplyDeleteChristy, thank you so much! And you are right...no regrets. Look ahead!
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