Using a Little Humor

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John: 4:11

When I was reading an article on how to help my dad with his progressing health issues it said for family and friends to use humor. I wish I were as witty as the person in the video, but I try and that's all you can ask.

My dad is an on-going fall risk and would prefer to walk without a cane or walker, although the Physical Therapist advised him against it. I realize that sometimes it feels like I'm nagging my dad when I have to tell him things over and again, especially things of this nature.

Being prayerful about using humor, especially since I'm not blessed with the funny gene, this is what I say instead. "Dad, here's your walker. It sure beats eating dirt. Besides, dirt gets stuck in your teeth." Usually, he just smiles and takes his walker, even when he doesn't really want to. I feel really blessed to have this time with my dad!

Although we may not all be as humorous as Mary Maxwell, if we're prayerful, God will allow the right levity at the right time, if we are open to it. I especially like her poem at the end of the video.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John: 4:11

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

Caregiving Video: Funny Prayer about Getting Old at the Caregiver of the Year Dinner
By: Mary Maxwell at HomeInsteadInc dinner via You Tube

Comments from the Peanut Gallery

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.1 John 5, 7-8

 I'm sure these people meant to be helpful, but when my husband took my dad into the local senior center, some of the people we know started giving my husband all types of advice, most of it negative. They said that we should put my dad in a nursing home. They said we should, we should, we should....

I was fit to be tied when I heard all these less than supportive comments from supposed friends. I think that in their own minds, they thought they were being supportive, but it sure didn't feel that way. I think they thought that my dad's living with us was holding us back from doing more, but we didn't feel that way. We feel that God has blessed us by allowing my dad to live with us for whatever time he chooses to live with us.

Additionally, the love that God wants me to show is not only for my dad and husband, who had to bear the brunt of all those negative comments, but to love those people enough to forgive them for what they said. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love. 1 John 5, 7-8

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

Caregiving Video: I Feel Socially Isolated: Caregiving Confessions with Leeza Gibbons
By: Leeza Gibbons with Caring.com

Vain Babblings

1 Timothy 6: 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

This is really talking about not getting caught up by those who use their many words or scientific logic to minimize what is in the Bible. It reminded me of this one home health aide we hired to stay with my dad for a few afternoons when we had to be out of town.

This lady, although nice, talked to my dad like he was a toddler. I know she was trying to be supportive, but most adults would not appreciate being talked to like a child. Additionally, this lady told my dad that her dad had decided to no longer take his medications and that my dad didn't have to take his medications if he didn't want to.

I guess my dad makes the ultimate decisions about whether he takes his medications or not, but it seemed highly unprofessional as a medical professional to suggest that, especially since he takes some heart medications. I was prayerful about these things and realized that this wasn't the best fit for my dad. Fortunately, God has blessed us with other extremely professional providers of medical help and support for my dad. I feel truly blessed to have my dad here with us. 1 Timothy 6: 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

 Caregiving Video: Hiring a Home Health Aide-AARP Caregiving Resources
By: AARP via You Tube



Ensuring a Healthy Diet

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

It seems the major issues in the beginning were related to eating, since my dad had lost so much weight in the last few years prior to coming to live with us. The VA doctor told him to drink two bottles of Ensure each day. I think that when you know you have to do something, it can become the last thing you really want to do.

So, the more we were trying to persuade him to drink the Ensure, the less my dad wanted to drink it, despite our appeals about how he was continuing to lose weight. Being prayerful about handling this issue, so that it didn’t become a point of contention, there was an idea in my mind, which is often how God works in my life. Instead of trying to talk my dad into drinking them, I needed to just set them on the table and let them be. If I’m not trying to get him to drink them, he will more often drink one when he wasn’t even drinking any prior to that.

God’s had me realize that I have to back off of issues and allow my dad the freedom to pursue them on his own timing. Fortunately, God knows what's needed to help my dad, if I'm open to listening to the instincts God gives me. I feel so blessed to have my dad here with us. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.
These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

 Caregiving Video: Ensure Drinks-Expired Dates! (Just to know how to check the dates)
By: pinchingpennies2011 via You Tube

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