Ever felt like you’ve no strength left to carry on? I’ve felt a bit like that recently. All those close to me need me more than ever at present, and I feel like I’ve nothing left to give them. Unfortunately they are also the ones who usually support me, so life’s tough at present.

However it’s made more bearable in the knowledge that God is there for me, and I just need to let His healing waters wash over me.

I pray that when you find life tough, you too will be comforted by the knowledge that God will be there for you.

I had taken Monday off so that I could help Mum get Dad ready to go to the care home, and then obviously take him there. I didn’t sleep terribly well on Sunday night as I kept thinking about how sad it was that Dad’s condition had deteriorated so much that he now relies completely on others to do just about everything for him now.

I was at the doctors early on Monday morning and when I got home, I got a phone call from Mum – she was getting a bit stressed as Dad was refusing to get out of bed and didn’t want to go to the care home. I tried to reassure Mum that as Dad was likely to forget within a few minutes, the conversation he’d just had with her, he’d probably get up in a wee while and be ok about going to the care home. I agreed to have my lunch and then head over to help get Dad ready.

When I got over to Mum and Dad’s, Dad was up and dressed, although Mum intercepted me at the front door to tell me Dad was still refusing to go to the care home. Mum had packed a small case for Dad, so I took that out to the car before Dad even knew I had got there. We managed to convince Dad to come out with us, by telling him we were going to see my Aunt – my Aunt lives at the same care home my Dad was going into for the week.

When we got to the care home, I think Dad had completely forgotten our earlier discussions, as he was fine when we went to his room, with his suitcase and then left him in the hands of the care worker. That was the tough bit, leaving Dad, and I know it was even harder for Mum.

As with the last time in November when Dad went into the same place for a week, Mum and I agreed we should not go and visit Dad during the week – in some ways this sounds harsh as I know Dad will be totally confused about where he is and why he;s there, however how is Mum going to get a break and relax if we keep going to visit Dad each day?

I was working on Tuesday and Wednesday, but after work both days I spent some time with Mum after I finished at work – going for coffee, shopping or dinner on both nights.

On Thursday Mum had one of her friends round for coffee and a blether in the morning, and in the afternoon Mum and me dealt with some of my Aunts business and then we headed to Silverburn shopping centre, for a wander round the shops and some dinner. Now here’s the surprise, between us we only bought one thing at the shops! – Mum bought herself a jumper. By the time I got home I was feeling really sore and very tired, so just spent the rest of the evening relaxing, despite all the housework needing done.

On Friday, Mum wasn’t feeling 100% so rather than go for a run in the car somewhere as we’d previously planned (which fitted in fine as both hubby and me weren’t feeling 100% either), we just went out for a sandwich for our lunch and then I picked up a few bits of shopping. Mum said she was quite happy to just spend the rest of the day herself relaxing.

Today, I was at the hairdressers in the morning, and when I was finished there, Mum and me headed out to the shops for a wee while. We’d planned to go through to Stirling with my hubby but he still wasn’t feeling too good.

The week’s been a mixture of ups and downs – between Dad going into the care home, some issues I had to get resolved at work, being in a lot of pain quite a few days this week, and feeling (and being) very emotional quite a lot, which if you know me at all will know I find it very difficult letting others see my emotions, so it’s been a all round tough week.

Part of me is glad this week is over, but part of me wishes it wouldn’t end, as although I hate the thought of Dad being in a care home, I know it’s what is needed to give Mum a well-earned rest from caring for Dad at home 24/7. Personally I don;t think Mum’s going to be able to care for Dad at home all that much longer as she’s finding it more and more difficult as Dad’s condition deteriorates, and his needs become more demanding on her.

We go to collect Dad from the care home and take him home on Monday, so I’d appreciate your prayers for Mum and Dad on Monday, as it’s likely to be difficult, as Dad will be very confused about what’s going on and where he is. The social worker assigned to my Mum and Dad is due to visit my Mum again in the next week or two to “discuss the future”, so I’d ask that you pray for Mum, Dad and the social worker,that the right decisions might be made for both Mum and Dad so that they can both live a comfortable life – I know there’s going to come a time soon when Dad needs to go into a care home full-time. When that time comes, it’s going to be tough, but ultimately I know looking after Dad 24/7 is definitely having a detrimental impact on Mum’s quality of life and her health.

Thank you all for your continued support during these difficult times for my family.

Does that sound like your family?

Even if it doesn’t sound like your family, I pray that you may still experience a wonderful “family” life as part of God‘s family.

God loves us as His children, every one of us. God cares for us. He feels our pain and our sorrows and comforts us in our time of need. God’s family is a loving family, so if you have not given your heart to God, please do so today. You will be part of loving family when you join God’s family.

Well following a conversation with colleagues recently, I’ve been thinking about families where there are divisions, or long-standing feuds…I should hasten to add, I’m not referring to my own family!

Through conversation it became apparent that we all know of families where one sibling does not get on with another sibling, either to a level they tolerate one another and some where they can be very unkind towards one another without any prompting. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

I must admit that I always find it very sad when I hear of families where there are these divisions, sometimes, long-standing division that no-one can really remembers why there were disagreements in the first place. We only ever have one family, and therefore we should cherish one another, not argue and disagree about things past or present.

We often hear the phrase

We can choose our friends but we can’t choose our family

So what!

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12 NIV)

God expects us, and needs us, to love everyone in our life, regardless of whether they are a friend, a family member or a stranger. Go on, don’t just tolerate your family, love them, just as God loves them.

Today I’d like to think about those who have no biological family but who still consider themselves to have family either because they’ve been adopted, fostered or have been living with non family members and are considered to be “part of the family”.

Isn’t it amazing how people can take other’s children into their home and their life, and love and care for them, as if they were their own flesh and blood. I wonder how many children’s lives have been totally turned around because someone has given them an opportunity to be part of a family?

If you are considering fostering or adopting a child or children, thank you on behalf of every child that you give a home and a family to – You are their gift from God, just as much as they are your gift from God.

We all do!

Whether it be one of our parents, a husband or wife, a brother, a sister, an aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, a cousin, or even a grandchild, or grandparent, I’m sure we all have particular family members who we all turn to when we need help or direction.

Unfortunately this is not the case in every family, as some families have been torn apart by hatred, jealously, drugs, alcohol or abuse.

So next time you turn to someone in your family for advice or support, please spare a thought for those who have no family they can turn to. Please say a prayer for the lonely, and those without family to support them.

Are you part of God’s family?

Living for Christ can be challenging, however it is always rewarding and reassuring to know that whatever situations I may encounter, I am part of God’s family, and my “family” do care about me and will pray for me, particularly when I’m struggling.

Are you part of God’s family?

In my blog post yesterday Respite Prayer Request, I asked those who pray, pray for my Mum and Dad this coming week as my Dad goes for a week’s respite care, and as always, I was amazed by the response I got from you all – lots of you contacted me and told me you would pray for my family just as I’d asked. But what always amazes me even more, is that many of you who have never met me or my family, yet when asked to pray for us, you readily agree.

…that’s the power of being part of God’s family, and knowing the power of God’s love.

Matthew 5:9 (The Message)

You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

Thank you all for your support in prayer.

If you answered yes to those questions, I’d like to ask for you support in prayer in this coming week…

My Dad suffers from vascular dementia and over the last year or two his condition has deteriorated very quickly. So much so that he is barely able to di anything for himself now. He is still living at home (at present), where my Mum cares for him 24/7.

Mum has been finding it more and more difficult to cope with Dad over the last little while and has been talking about it maybe going to be time for Dad to go into care permanently, soon.

In November last year Dad went for a weeks respite care to the same care home my aunt (my Mum’s sister) lives in full-time. Although my Dad remembered nothing of his time there, the break did do my Mum the world of good, especially as the staff at the care home were able to reassure Mum that Dad had settled in ok.

Within a few weeks of Dad’s week in respite care, the social worker had got Mum to agree to putting Dad’s name down again for another week’s respite…there’s about an 8 week waiting list!

That’s the background to my prayer request today. So here’s why I’m asking for your prayers…on Monday, Dad is going back to the same care home for another week’s respite care so Mum can get a well earned break again.

Although Mum needs the break and is looking forward to having time for her rather than caring for Dad 24/7, I know she will really miss him, and she’s not the only one, as I’ll miss him too. The social worker who is dealing with Dad told us it was better not to visit Dad while he was in the care home, just so Mum could get a complete break – Mum did of course phone then nearly every day to check that Dad was ok.

Personally, I never ever wanted Mum or Dad to have to go into a care home, however I know how much Mum is struggling to cope with looking after Dad these days, so in that sense I’m glad Dad is going for respite care on Monday. That said, even although we’ve done this before, it’s still going to be a tough day taking Dad to the care home and leaving him there for a whole week.

While Dad in respite care next week, Mum will get a good chance to relax plus do exactly what she wants to do with no time constraints. I’ve taken a few days off too, so will spend those days with Mum and maybe go for a run in the car somewhere different, just for a change.

In closing, I would therefore like to ask you to pray for Mum and Dad next week as Dad goes in for a week’s respite care – I know Mum would appreciate it too if you would pray for them.

Thank you, and God bless.  .x

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me – Proverbs 8:17

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Love is important to all of us, both to be loved and to give love to others. Therefore, what great things could we ever hope to have than God’s love!

Unlike many people who come and go from our lives, God will never leave us, so we can always rely on Him love.

Have you promised to love God forever? If not, I’d urge you to take that step today because He is definitely worth it!