The Flip-Side-Placement of Things

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:4-5 NKJV 

I have been overseeing my dad's care for the last four years. During that time, it's been important to me to be a Christian Caregiver, making the decisions Christ would want on my dad's behalf. That somewhat changed when I broke my heel and was told I couldn't walk for 90 days. I still oversaw my dad's care, but in addition, I had become a caregivee.

One of the things I think is funny is the placement of things. I have prided myself for conserving space. I utilized every little knook and cranny as a potential storage spot. Pride is one of the many ways Satan sneaks up and tries to trip up Christians!

I wanted a book to read, but I had stored these particular books underneath my nightstand on the floor. That didn't do me any good, because I couldn't get to them and I didn't want to ask my husband, because it's difficult for him to get down on the floor and get up. Well, the magazines I wanted were on the floor underneath my dresser. The wrapping paper I needed was stuffed in a box all the way in the back of the closet in a tight space. Some of the dishes or foods I wanted were on a very low shelf or a very high shelf that I couldn't get to.

All of this has made me prayerfully consider what I need to do now that I am almost better from my I injury. I talked to my husband today about me reorganizing the kitchen, with his assistance. The idea is to look at the placement of things with a new perspective. The goal is to put more frequently used or heavy items at a height that is easy to get to. Things that are used less frequently or are light would be put in the higher and lower cabinets. I would never have thought of this if Christ hadn't given me this new perspective on the placement of things, because of my foot injury. God is definitely good!


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: Amy Cohn, Amy Alexander, Monkeysee, Home Instead, General Mills via You Tube


The Flip-Side-Food Choices

The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128:5-6 NKJV

Things changed about five months ago when I fell down a couple of stairs and was told I couldn't walk for 90 days. I had been my dad's caregiver, overseeing his medical care for his Parkinson's Disease at the Veteran's home where he currently resides. Since breaking my heel, I have now become a caregivee and have a different perspective on things.

Prior to my injury, I was the main person cooking, although my husband has some specialties that he would make from time-to-time. Trying to be a Christian Caregivee, I needed to be prayerful about how I responded to daily issues like food.

I had my own style of cooking and went to great lengths to make sure the meals consisted of well-balanced, healthy foods. When someone else is making all your meals, it's generally best if you are appreciative for the food you are provided, regardless if: it's cold when it should be hot, isn't one of your favorites, lacks variety, isn't what you were really yearning for, etc. Someone made that food for you as a caregivee and it would be less than gracious to complain about it. 

Sure, there's no way I could be just like you would have prepared it, but someone has given of their time and effort to make sure you are cared for, often at the expense of many other things they have given up to be a support to you. I think Christ wants us to be gracious in all things!


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.

The Flip Side-Isolation

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. Psalm 147:13 NKJV

When my dad first moved here four years ago, I know he had to deal with feelings of Isolation. Sure he got to see my husband, my kids and grandkids quite often, but there are other people he used to get to see regularly, but couldn't because of the distance. Although he didn't complain about it much, I know it had to be difficult for him. Fortunately, now, Dad resides in a nice Veteran's Home where he has developed friendships with others.

After I fell and broke my heel, I was told I couldn't walk on it for around three months. Within a matter of minutes, I went from being a caregiver to being a caregivee. During the healing time, I went through some feelings of isolation, as well. I still got to see my local family and a neighbor who would stop by periodically, which was nice. I sent texts and emailed people on occasion, but didn't really feel like I had much to share. I didn't want to bore people with a play-by-play of my gradual progress, so I didn't contact people all that often.

It still can get kind of lonely sitting there and sitting there and sitting there, for what feels like an eternity. Fortunately for me, I had my faith in Christ to rely on. I was able to prayerfully contemplate so many different things with Him, I never really felt alone-that's because I wasn't. Christ was always there with me, even in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep, He was always there to comfort me. I am truly blessed!


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: Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Dale Mitchell, Jean Patel Bushnell, Ruth Palambo, Dan O'Leary via You Tube


Flip Side-Making the Bed

The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and the widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. Psalm 146:9 NKJV

I have been my dad's caregiver for the last four years. The first year, we provided all his care when he moved in with us to help him with his medical issues. The following years, I oversaw Dad's care as he lived in a nice local group home for a year. Then, when the doctors said that Dad needed 24/7 skilled nursing, he moved into a nice Veteran's Home to better assist him with his frequent falls due to having Parkinson's Disease and frequent bouts of pneumonia. It became the flip side of caregiving when I broke my heel and was told I couldn't walk on it for three months. I went from being the caregiver to being the caregivee.

I used to pride myself in making my bed every day. Pride is one of the many ways Satan can sneak up and knock Christians for a loop. The thing is, there is no way I could make my bed. Also, if my husband made it, because he knew I liked that way, it made it very hard to get into bed when I would hobble into the bedroom later in the evening. I didn't like to add to the large number of things my husband was already doing to take care of me, so I had to be prayerful about all of this.

If I were to hobble in the room, hopping on one foot, to unmake the bed, I would have had to reach beyond the walker and try to pull the covers off. Both of those actions would increase the likelihood that I could flip the walker over and fall. If I backed up to the bed to sit on it, my body weight would be holding the bedding down, making it very difficult to pull it out from beneath me so I could get under the covers. 

After lots of prayerful consideration, I realized that I needed to give up prideful feelings about the bed being made. It wasn't worth adding one more thing that my husband needed to do for me. Once I realized that, it no longer bothers me that the bed's not made.



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: Dolce Line via You Tube


The Flip Side-Sleeping

Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. Psalm 148:12-13

Well, I had been my dad's caregiver for four years. One of the years was in my home. The rest of the time has been overseeing his care. He was in a nice local group home for a year and the remaining years I have overseen his care as we visit Dad weekly in a nice Veteran's Home, due to his Parkinson's Disease and frequent bouts of pneumonia. Now, I was the one who was the caregivee, because I had broken my heel and was told not to walk on it for three months. 

The Orthopedist Doctor told me to keep my casted leg above my heart. I think that was to reduce the potential of getting blood clots.  I tried to prop my leg up on pillows in my bed, but the weight of the cast would smash down and/or move the pillows, so they were no longer above my heart or were no longer comfortable.

After many frustrating nights with little sleep, I started spending the vast majority of my days and nights in a reclining chair. At night, I would push it all the way back and try to layer pillows to prop my casted foot on. Unfortunately, the weight of the cast would generally squash down the pillows and the heel of my cast would lean on the leg rest or something else that would make my heel ache by the time I realized it.

I spent many nights at 2:30 a.m. searching YouTube videos for tips on how they were able to sleep with a cast. I tried some of the ideas. The funny thing is, I might find something that would work for a night or two. I'd get so excited, because I thought that was the end of my sleepless nights, but it seemed that particular pillow arrangement would no longer work. I don't know if the pillows were too squished down by that point to be able to cushion my casted foot.

I wish I had the magic answer, but I mainly just prayed my way through. Somethings worked for awhile, but not consistently. I think it depends on what part of your foot that you've broken. The significant point is prayers, so that our lack of sleep doesn't affect our moods when we interact with our caregivers and loved ones!


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: Alliance for Aging Research via You Tube


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