You Got What You Deserve!

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

My dad had some financial decisions that he needed to make for some time now, but he continued to put it off. My husband and I tried unsuccessfully to help him pursue different options, but he didn't want to hear them. He just wanted us to leave him alone!

It was to the point that my dad had almost exceeded the time to do something productive about these financial decisions, but when I tried to talk to him again, he told me that he didn't want to hear it. The first thing that popped into my sinful head is that when this goes sour, I could tell him that he got what he deserved, because he wouldn't make a decision when he needed to, but is that true?

Children run out in the street time and again against being told they shouldn't run in the street or they could get hit by a car. Should an adult say to the child who gets hit that they got what they deserve, because they didn't listen? Of course not! I need to remember that with my dad's health issues, his decision making abilities are somewhat diminished and it's easier for him to put off decisions than to face them head on. I feel truly blessed to have my dad here with us for whatever time that God allows whether my dad makes the decisions he should or not. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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.
By: Barbara Nevins Taylor, Consumer MoJo, via You Tube



Take a Number!

Acts 16: 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily

It was just one of those days. My dad wanted me to play dominoes with him. My one grandson wanted me to come to see his new artwork. My younger grandson wanted me to come to the opposite side of the house to see his Lego creation. My husband wanted to tell me about something that happened and I needed to make dinner.

Whew! Everyone wanted me to address their issues and felt they needed my attention right that minute. It crosses my mind that I should have told everyone to take a number! But what would that have accomplished? I said a prayer telling God that He knows my every need and that I trust Him to provide for them. Through divine grace, God got me through this time and so many more like it.

 By relying on Christ's patience in these situations, He allows me to be more of a role model to my family than I would have been if I were running around ranting and raving that no one respects my time limitations. I want to see my family increase through faith in number which wouldn't have been as likely if I had told them to take a number when they were being so insistent. I feel very blessed to have my dad here with us and especially blessed that Christ gets me through the difficult times! Acts 16: 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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.



Caregiving Video: How to Create Time for Yourself in a Busy Woman's Schedule?
By: Mary E Knippel, coaxingcreativity.com via You Tube


What Were You Thinking?

And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:17

Thud! That sound had become all too common these days. I quickly threw my robe on and dashed down the hall. I could see the light under the bathroom door, so I knew where I needed to go.

I opened the door and saw my dad on the floor with his legs spread out. His head had hit the sink and his arm had hit the toilet. What was worse was what almost came out of my mouth when I realized that he hadn't taken his walker with him. His Physical Therapist had warned him to use it every time he walked, since he had several falls recently.

Could he have forgotten? I doubt it, because I remind him or get him his walker anytime that I see him attempt to leave without it. He wants to feel independent and hates relying on devices.

Fortunately for me, God kept me from uttering the words that would have hurt my dad terribly. I am so very blessed to have my dad in my life falls and all. Even more important than that is that I have God in my life who quiets my urge to blurt out something like the title of this blog that would have caused irreparable damage to my dad's self-esteem as an adult.  And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:17

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.



 Part 6: One Legged Stand-Prevent Senior Falls: Assessment & Balance Exercises
By: Home Instead, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Caregiver Stress via You Tube





I Thought I Could Do It All

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. Deuteronomy 8:16-17

I thought I could do it all. I thought that when my dad moved in with me, that by my personal care of him, his health would get better, he would gain weight, and that the sun would shine every day. (That's my expression when I forget that God's in control and I think that I am capable of doing more than I am humanly able to.)

That's why this passage is so significant. It's is where Moses is telling the Israelites that when they go over to the Promised Land there will be a time where they will think that they have this land of milk and honey by their own efforts instead of from God who gave it to them, as well as fed them in the wilderness with manna.

I have to remember who is God and it's definitely not me, nor would I want it to be. God always sees the Big Picture and my focus is often very narrowly focused, Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. Deuteronomy 8:16-17

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 Lost My Cool

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

My dad fell on Monday night. He wasn't using his walker and fell, although the physical therapist had previously told him that he's to a point where he has to have the walker. Even a cane won't be enough to support him, at this point.

This morning, my dad was watching a western in the front room and got up to go to the bathroom without his walker. I went and got his walker and put it in front of him. He was frustrated by this and said that by using the walker he's not getting stronger. I responded with, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just need to use the walker, so that you don't fall like you did on Monday evening."

While I was washing the dishes feeling vindicated in my response to my dad, God gave me the feeling that I had been rude and disrespectful to my dad. I went and apologized, telling him that it's normal to be frustrated to lose some of his ability to walk independently and I was sorry.

I feel ashamed that I responded in kind and have to remember not to let his frustrations or mine affect my interactions with him. I feel very blessed to have my dad with us for whatever time that God allows. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

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.
By: The Senior Minute, www.homecarehoney.com via You Tube



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