Do you care about those in pain?
Do you care about those in need?
Do you care about those who haven’t found Christ?
All those of us who answered “Yes” to these questions, will be doing their best to help those of you who said “No”, to accept Christ as their saviour.
Let’s knee down before Christ, at the foot of the cross, and thank Him for giving His life for us, and in turn accepting Him into our lives.
Does anyone care about you?
When you’re in trouble do you have anyone to talk to?
When you’re struggling is there someone you can talk to?
Is there someone I can talk to?
Someone on the line?
Does anybody want to hear
What’s on my mind?
The answer to all the questions I’ve asked you here is definitely, ”Yes“!
Do you know who cares about you, and who is always there for you when you’re in need? God!
No matter how strong a person we may be, we all have times when things concern or worry us, and we need someone to talk to. So please remember that God cares about everything that concerns you, so feel free to talk to Him about anything, at anytime!
Why is it when you try to help some people you just get your head bitten off and they go all defensive about what they’re saying it what they are trying to do?
As you’ll be aware if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, my Dad suffers from dementia and so I’ve been doing my best to support and help my Mum as much as possible, particularly over the last 12 weeks or so while Dad was in hospital. I’ve been trying my best but much of the time it has felt like my best just isn’t good enough, as no matter how much I’ve tried to help and support my Mum, she’s made me feel at time like I’m not helping, or that I’m saying things that aren’t helpful, and so she gets annoyed me with.
I know Mum doesn’t mean it to come across like this, as I know she does appreciate my help and support, it’s simply that she’s finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that Dad will never be home again, and after more than 55 years of marriage that must be so hard for Mum to cope with. So I guess it’s simply been that me saying things as they really are is hard for mum to hear as she’s still finding it difficult to accept how things are with dad these days.
No matter what people say or do sometime when you try to help them, don’t ever stop trying to help them, as often those in most need are those who “push” those trying to help them away.
Stay strong and continue to reach out to those in need.
Is life about helping others or about getting one over on someone?
I do wonder sometimes, as there are definitely a lot of folk about who always seems more intent on trying to get one over on someone else, than in actually working together and helping others.
What makes me even sadder about that observation is that some of those people I’m talking about profess to be Christinas…and that makes me mad!
We need to get the message out there that we’re all in this together, and therefore life should be about helping one another, not trying to get one over on everyone else. i.e. Help others rather than trying to beat them.
In Wednesday’s paper, the Herald, there was a very poignant article by Sally Magnusson entitled Magnusson’s torment at mother’s dementia battle. It really hit home for both Mum and me, and I’m sure many other’s who have family members or friends, who are suffering from dementia.
As you’ll know if you’ve been following my blog for a while, my Dad was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago, and over the last couple of years his condition has deteriorated very rapid. My Dad is still living at home with my Mum, with my Mum caring for him 24/7.
As Sally Magnusson says in her article in the Herald this week
“Caring for my mother at home, even only part-time in my case with the help of my sisters and latterly a team of wonderful carers, has been psychologically gruelling and physically draining,” she said.
“How much worse for those who are caring alone and cannot afford extra help.”
when you’re caring for someone with dementia, it’s not something which just takes up a small part of your time, it is a 24/7 job, one which is not just physically exhausting, but also emotionally draining.
Please don’t think dementia is just about forgetting a few things, it’s not, it’s a horrendous disease which sucks out the person you know from their body and leaves an empty, helpless shell. It’s a disease which not only affects the person with the disease but also those who care for them, as there’s no remission for them from looking after the sufferer.
The person I know my Dad to be isn’t here anymore, yes, when I look at him I see my Dad, but that’s about the only part of him which is still recognisable as Dad:
One of the saddest things watching Dad’s condition worsen, was when he went through a stage of bursting out crying for no apparent reason, other than just simply frustration at what was happening to him. I know how upsetting it was for Mum and me to see, but imagine how my Dad must have felt!
I do my best to support my Mum as she cares for Dad 24/7, however I never feel as though I’m able to do enough because I can see how difficult it is for Mum. On the plus side, Dad’s been into a local care hom,e a couple of time in the last 4/5 months for a week’s respite care, which has allowed Mum to get a bit of a break and a rest. In the last few weeks Mum’s talked about how she’s not sure how much longer she will be able to look after Dad at home.
It’s sad it’s come to this for Dad, but for the sake of my Mum, and her health, I was pleased when Mum told me she had asked her social worker to put Dad’s name down on the waiting list for the local care home. It’s upsetting to think of Dad not being at home, but ultimately he doesn’t really know where he is or who he’s with anymore, so as long as he’s comfortable and being looked after well, that is all I can ask.
If you are a praying person, can I ask you to pray for all those suffering from dementia and also for those caring for them. Thank you.
In this last weeks, I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I’ve been hurt and upset about some things that were said to me. Things which were completely unfair and founded in nothing but guesswork, and that hurt! (see my earlier blog post entitled Why Oh Why and People!)
If you follow me on Twitter you may also have read one of my tweets from Monday evening when I stated that I’d had a really crappy day on Monday and hoped that my week would only get better…well I am glad to tell you that it did get better!
I just love how when you’re down and feeling really low, friends are there to pick you up and raise your spirits, helping you to see things from a different, more positive perspective. Thanks you my friends…you know who you are!
My working week was rounded off today by meeting up with a friend I’ve not seen for a while, for lunch. We had a good blether and a good laugh. It was just what I needed after some of recent events. Thank you my friend…you know who you are!
What I want to say about this is that I truly believe that having friends come along and lift you up when you’re at your lowest, is God‘s doing. He knows when we’re hurting, He knows when we’re in need, He knows when we need help and He alone is able to send us the help we need. Thank you God, for all you do for me.
Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV)
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
How many of us would actually do all those things mentioned in the above bible passage?
Yes we might all manage to give those who are hungry or thirsty food or water, but would we invite a stranger into our homes, give someone clothes, look after someone who was sick or even visit someone in prison?
I may have taken this passage of scripture quite literally , but I think in this instance it shows some distinct ways in which we may or may not be willing to “put ourselves out” for others.
If we profess to be Christians, God expects us to do all we can to help others, so we must give of our times and our processions to help others whenever we can – Whether that be giving the homeless food/water/clothes, phoning or visiting someone who is ill or has not attended church for a while, spreading God’s message to those who don’t yet know Him.
Sometimes we can do things that can mean the world to someone else, just by a simple action, so go on reach out and help someone today.
Yesterday in part 1 of This World , I asked you to consider when the last time was that you stopped for a few minutes and had a real look around you at the world in which we live. In that blog post I asked you to focus not on the buildings or people but on nature, on God‘s handiwork.
Today however I want you to do the opposite, today I want you to look around you at the people, the buildings, the communities.
What do you see? People and communities flourishing, and full of life and happiness, or do you see people and communities struggling to make ends meet, struggling to get themselves and their families through another day without giving up on life.
Sadly there are many in our communities who struggle every day through life. Many of them will do their best not to let the “outside world” that they are struggling, while others will do all they can to get every bit of help available to them.
Then there are those who quite simply have nothing…no home, no job, no food, no money…what do you do when you look around this world and see them? Ignore them, go out of your way to avoid them, or reach out and try to help them.
I suspect I’m not alone in admitting that I have been guilty of ignoring or doing all I can to avoid homeless people – Why have I done that? If I’m honest, because I’ve felt I’m too busy and didn’t want the hassle. However sitting here considering this in more detail, I truly feel ashamed by my actions. How about you?
God made each and every one of us, and He continues to love and care for each of us, so we must all do all we can to love and care for everyone in our communities, not just those we know personally, but also those less fortunate than ourselves who are in desperate need of help.
Here’s Casting Crowns singing a wonderful song entitled If We’ve Ever Needed You
We’re always told that we should encourage others, but sometimes it can feel as if it’s an unthankful or unrewarding task. However please do not ever underestimate the impact a word of encouragement can have on a person, as often it we will not see the results of the encouragement we have given until a much later time, if at all.
Don’t ever let that discourage you from encouraging another just because you don’t think it will make a difference. You may never know the difference a few words of encourage make in someone’s life so please continue to encourage your those you come into contact with.
Who do you need to encourage today? Do it!
I pray that as you went through your day today, you were able to continue to do alright. Only through God’s help will we ever mange to “do alright” all day, everyday. So keep God at the centre of all you do and you can be what He wants/needs you to be.
