LEFT BEHIND

My hubby and I have been in ministry together longer than we have been married, which I value and love telling people. This year, we’ve been married 41 years. Whether I realized it then or not, those first 3-and-a-half years of dating and engagement were training years- learning the ropes of ministry, learning how we both adapted to stress, and learning how to be a couple doing ministry together.

Flash forward to when I was Momma Mary's primary caregiver. For the last two-plus years of her life, Terry would leave for a ministry event, weekend or trip …without me. I was left behind. As he drove away, guilt and worry weighed on him about leaving me behind.

When one is providing 24/7 care to another, alone, the weight of being in that role is taxing on body, mind and spirit. Everything feels heavier, making it easy to feel unseen, left out, and unimportant.

Have you ever read something in scripture you’ve read so many times, but this one time it just about leaps off the page in a new way? What I read in Exodus 3:7-12 CSB seemed to jump around and wave a flag as if to say, “Notice this! It’s for you, today!” For the sake of time and word-space, you can read those 6 verses later, but I’ll skip to what was waving at me.

“I have observed the misery…”

“I have heard…”

“I know about…”

“I have come down to rescue…”

“I am sending you…”

“I will certainly be with you…”

Four acknowledgments. Two assurances. One call to a holy work from the Great I Am! He is the “I AM WHATEVER YOU NEED.”

Are you tracking?

Yes, caregiving is hard work, but not impossible, not unseen, and not alone. It is a holy work. If your loved one (LO) is your parent, your caregiving is a holy work with a promise, as noted a few chapters later in Exodus 20:12 and then repeated in Ephesians 6:2-3.

He sees, cares, knows, and is your helper. With His help and guidance, you can do this very hard thing, because He knew you would do your best when He chose you. And He will certainly be with you and not leave you behind!

Take a deep breath and pause while I pray this over you…

Father, your words to us are precious and life-giving. They promise us that You are our help, our safe place to run to and our strength in time of trouble. I pray Your presence surrounds and encourages my friend, today, as they engage in the daily hard and holy work of caregiving. You’ve hand-picked them. Not because You’re mean, but because Your thoughts are higher and wiser in trusting us with the life of another person. We are You with skin-on to that person. And, as hard as it is to admit this: THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US FOR THE JOB! In Your Son’s name, Amen.