The Least of These.....

There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.

-Mother Teresa



Mother Teresa devoted her life to serve God, and she did this by serving humanity. She went into the slums and loved the unlovely, the neglected, the sick, the destitute. She was the epitome of "caregiver". She understood that her service was really to Christ. She saw each person that she ministered to as Christ. She understood the verse, Matthew 25:40,

"Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least
of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me."

Matthew 25 will help us to put our service to those God has placed in our lives into perspective. Lord, help me to remember to give a cup of cold water in your name.....and keep my motive pure, let me serve out of a heart full of love for YOU!

Gratitudes...

Copied from my quilting blog.......

Yesterday, my plans were to spend time working on the secret project, but life interrupted. I got a phone call that Dear Older Daughter was in a wreck. I went to pick her up and call the wrecker service, set up the repair, etc. As we pulled away from it all, I decided she needed to go to the hospital.

She banged her head and shoulder pretty badly, and while she was dazed at first, she seemed to be better. Once we got into the van and started driving, she became dizzy and nauseous. A quick (6 hour) stop at the ER, one CAT scan and some x-rays....we're a tired bunch around here today. Thankfully, Dear Older Daughter has some bruising and is REALLY sore, but honestly, we have so much to be thankful for!!!

We will find out over the next week the total damages to the car. Hopefully, it can be repaired.....and not totaled. Aren't we grateful we have full coverage?? Wow....insurance is really worth it, not to mention the fact, required!! LOL

Off to get a haircut today, and I'll be enjoying some wonderful singing this afternoon. Dear Older Daughter, Dear Younger Son, Dear Friend of the Family and Dear Future Daughter in Law are having quartet practice here at our house!! Yay, I love hearing them sing. They will be singing at a local church tomorrow.....so glad I'll be able to hear them, even if I can't go to the service with them. Life is good.

Happy Valentine's Day
Dear Care Giving Friends!!!!!

Caring for more than your spouse????

Wow....it's been a week. My mom has been down with her knee. Sunday, I had to call my sister to take mom to the hospital. I didn't have anyone to leave Dear Hubby and Dear Younger Daughter with. She was having really bad knee pain and her knee and the bend of her knee were really swollen.

They did x-rays and said she had arthritis in her knee and needed to stay off it for 2 days and then she could go back to work. She did, kind of.....which means, I was waiting on her and Dear Hubby! She went back to work Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday afternoon, she came home and her knee was in BAD shape. She didn't tell me. But she rested with it up. Around 6-7, I realized that she was really favoring that knee more. I looked at it and it was HUGE. The entire leg was swelling. So up on the couch again but even with it up, throughout the night, it got bigger and bigger. I thought it was a blood clot and took her to the ER again. (This time, Dear Older Son was home and could stay with Dear Hubby.)

Ultrasound and x-ray show that she has arthritis, bursitis and a Baker's cyst. The cyst is leaking causing the swelling. But should resolve itself. She had to sit with her leg above her heart so that the leg can drain back toward the body and her body can get rid of it. She was down for another several days, unable to do anything for herself or to help me like she normally does. So, I was back to doing everything!!

Sometimes, when it rains, it pours. She is doing SOOOO much better today. She was actually up and walking around and didn't have any pain. The leg still has a tiny bit of swelling, but it's so much better!! She's going to her Dr. for a follow up tomorrow. Hopefully, she'll be able to get back to her regular schedule.

I hated to see her hurting so terribly. I did my best to wait on her, but honestly, she doesn't like it!! She is so used to being the one doing the waiting on someone else. We never knows what lies ahead.....but we have to learn to take one day at a time.

We're all hanging in there, aren't we???

This past month has seen a slight progression in my Dear Hubby's illness. It seems that he is having more and more days of "I just don't feel good." It seems to me that he is spending more time in bed, less time on the computer and just generally feeling tired. He is taking Aleeve each night now to help with his aching legs, his tailbone and hip pain. Not fun for him at all!

You know, this is what I've been talking about. Just as you get settled in your routine and things are going along smoothly, you have a change in your loved one's illness. Something doesn't seem right, or maybe it's just a progression. Oh well, he and I are dealing with it.

I recently had two friends send me brochures about a caregiver's conference coming up this month. I've been before, and as I read through the brochure, I realized that this conference was not for me.

It seems that most caregiver conferences, sites, etc. deal with caring for an aging parent and/or someone with Alzheimer's. This conference does the same. I'm grateful for that because the two friends who sent the brochures are currently dealing with their mother/mother in law who both have Alzheimer's. But what about those whose spouses are young....relatively? What about those who care for someone with physical disabilities? What about those who are caring for spouses, younger children and parents all at once? Yeah, I didn't think so. There just isn't much out there.

I recently spoke with some ladies from the church who came by to visit. I have had a difficult time dealing with all this because I was unprepared. I long to have a mentor, someone I can call and ask for advice. I mentioned to the ladies that I wish there was someone in our church who had walked the road before me, could illuminate the path and give guidance....and there is no one. Talk about feeling isolated! That's when I was told that there has to be a first. There has to be an adventurer who takes the unknown path, clears the way, draws the maps, points out the pitfalls, etc.

Well, honey, that's not me. I'm a follower, not a leader. I take direction well, I can listen and learn. But, please, don't ask me to lead!!!

Yes, I am on the journey into an unknown area, but along the way I am finding places to rest and nourish my soul. I've found people who walk the path beside me to keep me company, I have diversions to occupy my hands and mind while I rest. My food? The word of the Lord. I have found nourishment and refreshment in the words of my Father.

The road will be long, the path rocky. Beset with pitfalls, dangers and loneliness. Some days will be dark and the rain will fall, but I have hope..... while I walk the path, I can rest in the knowledge that Someone walks with me and carries me.

I don't have to be an adventurer going into unknown territory. I have Someone to follow. Sure, I'll still seek out advice from others, but I know that ultimately it is the grace of Christ alone that will allow me to walk the path He has designed for me. Wow....HE designed the path, so HE must know the way. Following Christ, wherever HE leads.

The LORD will give strength
unto his people;
the LORD will bless
his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11