Living your life day by day in the 'JOY' of the LORD!

I can remember, many years ago, as a young nurse and a baby Christian, wondering what God was doing in some of us when we became so frail that we no longer consciously knew to pray . . to worship Him,....when  we became so helpless that it appeared we existed solely to be cared for. 

I remember walking down the halls of a nursing home between bed checks one night in the wee hours of the morning, and spotting a little white-haired lady who had silently but systematically managed to get her head stuck all the way through the side rails of her bed. After quickly giving her support to assist her breathing, and placing hurried phone calls to rout somebody out of bed to come in and disassemble her side rail in order to extricate her, she was finally safely tucked back under the covers and resting comfortably. 

I recall gazing at her and wondering, for the first time, what God was doing in this now peacefully sleeping little old lady, who to all appearances probably wasn't even aware of the events of that night. Similarly, how was God being honored in those who may no longer consciously remember He even existed, and some, in their final frailty, who might even unknowingly speak and act in a manner contrary to accepted behavior? This was a question that was to remain with me down through the years. 

There's never been a doubt in my mind that whether we are family members or nursing staff, God works through the willing hearts of caregivers to activate His Healing Touch through our hands. This sacrificial life of service has always seemed to me anointed by God. 

Well, many years and many patients later, I was given what eventually became my last homecare case before retiring, a quadriplegic patient. As I walked out the door at the end of my first shift with my new patient, I didn't think I could ever step back into that situation. The lady was physically and emotionally demanding, and the atmosphere was that of a Godless household. 

But God led me to go back, and I subsequently managed her care for over 17 years. We nurses always felt that we were blessing this patient by our sacrifice,...often working under most stressful and difficult circumstances, which sometimes almost reached the level of 'nurse abuse', if there is such a thing. 

Now that I am growing old, and approaching that 'good night' myself, as I struggle to meet the needs of my own 92 year old mother, God has finally made the answer clear to my lingering question: We serve until the work is done.. IN US!! Yes, for those of us caring for elderly parents and patients, and finding it a challenge, the good news is that God is blessing US...producing His Sweet Fragrance in US! Our patients and elderly relatives are blessed to have our loving care, this is true, but their dependence is designed to bless US, as well. 

Looking back over the 17 years that I gave to my last patient, I can see now that not only did this lady who initially scoffed at God, become a woman who welcomed prayer, but I, myself, was slowly transformed by amazing Grace. For all of you who are caregivers, I pray it blesses you to understand that underneath our sacrifice for the sick, runneth a river of blessings for US, which God worketh in our faithful hearts! We are not in our patients' lives to meet THEIR needs as much as they are in OUR lives to meet OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS.... for the refinement of our eternal souls. 

I think that if the day should come when you and I can no longer serve Jesus with our good strong legs and Holy Spirit-inspired intellect, God will then continue to use some of us as refining 'heat', to finish His perfection in those who care for us...to produce a sweetness in their souls. Perhaps some of us who lose our dignity, will be honored to continue serving Him in our dependent state....so that He may develop lofty qualities such as patience, forgiveness, charity, love and humbleness in those who will from time to time feel the burden of meeting our needs. Much like after a lifetime of being on the potter's wheel the fire of the kiln finishes off the product and sets it forever, it may be us someday who will become the refinement of fire for those who care for us. 

We know that everything we do for the least of His children, we are doing for Jesus! In the most menial, tedious or unpleasant task, we are sacrificing for Him. But in the process, as we serve God, it is really HIM bending down and serving US! WE CAN NEVER OUTGIVE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER! 

Expanding this understanding a little bit further, I'm led to think that within ALL the weak and handicapped is a living light through which God refines us in our reaction to and treatment of the needy, no matter what their walk in life. Perhaps they are placed in our paths for US, that we may be perfected in holiness through our compassion for them. They are in a way, martyred... stripped of their quality of earthly life, that WE may become ever more Christ-like in our treatment of them....that we may give our love to God and please Him, through the love we give to His broken children. 

Precious and faithful caregivers: God sees every struggle you suffer, every tear you weep. Beloved children, may you be flooded with joy to think of that glorious day when God will most certainly smile upon you as He speaks to you this benediction, "Well done, good and faithful servants."