Posts Tagged ‘support’

Endless

Posted: March 21, 2013 in bereavement, children, death, dementia, depression, family, friendship, Health, heart, heaven, hospital, life, love, music, religion, words
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tearsThere are some things which can seem endless. Some that are good and some not so good. Things like the love and support from family and friends can feel endless which is obviously good. While a continual string of bad or events which affect your life are the complete opposite.

I’ve felt for the last few years that my life has just been one constant struggle after another between my own health problems as well as health  problems and other issues affecting other members of my family. This has all culminated in the last few weeks with my Dad passing away and now my 90-year-old aunt being admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago with a bad chest infection and not eating or drinking, and then just a few days ago being told my aunt had probably had a stroke and it was unlikely she’d pull through.

How does that make me feel? Well at times I question God, as I’m sure we all do sometimes, “why me?”, but other times I acknowledge that God wouldn’t let me go through these experiences if he didn’t think I could handle them.

That doesn’t make me feel any better during these tough days, and it of course doesn’t make my life any easier, but it does remind me that God lives me and walks beside me in all situations, even though it may feel to me that he’s deserted me.

So when you are going through what seems like an endless string of bad things, remember God is there and is supporting you in all at all times.

The following video of Susan Best singing God is Always There will hopefully help you remember that God is always there for you:

The Elephant in the Room…Depression

Posted: February 11, 2013 in animals, blogging, depression, friendship, language, life, love, words
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I was deeply saddened recently when i thought a fellow Christian was
accusing me of being unchristian because my blog mentioned depression and linked to other sites about depression.

depression and anxietyI couldn’t believe it, as sadly depression can be experienced by anyone at anytime – It’s an illness, and one which doesn’t care what nationality you are, your ethnicity or your religious beliefs (if any). i.e. Depression can hit anybody at any time in their life.

Depression is something many consider to be a taboo subject i.e. something we shouldn’t talk openly about. However I personally I feel its only a taboo subject for those who have never suffered from depression, as in my experience those who have suffered depression at some point in their life, are more willing to talk about it to others because when you’ve suffered from depression, you then realise how important it is to for sufferers to be able to talk about how they feel and their struggle to cope.

It’s a horrible illness which can leave the sufferer feeling lonely, isolated and even unwanted or unloved. So let’s not hide from the elephant in the room which is depression, but instead let’s talk about it openly about it, so we can give those suffering from depression all the love and support they need to get through their illness.

Let’s #taketimetotalk

I Miss You

Posted: February 1, 2013 in bereavement, death, depression, friendship, heaven, life, love, music, religion
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a-friend-in-need-is-a-friend-indeedIn the last few weeks, I think it would be fair to say that I’ve been struggling physically and emotionally with a few things. So much so that there have been several times when I have been about to contact a close friend of mine to chat to them, as they are always very supportive and understanding towards me.

Nothing unusual about that is there? Well actually there is….the person is question that I was going to talk to passed away a while ago! I hope you don’t find that creepy, I’m only trying to convey to you how strong a relationship we can sometimes have with other who are not related to us but who are very close friends.

Since my friend died, I’ve found myself often thinking of calling x, but I’ve always managed to stop myself calling them before I’ve actually picked up the phone!

So what now, who did I contact? Well I quickly reminded myself that while It’s fine to have close friends we can truly rely on, I must not to make them the first person I turn to when I’m in need, God must always be the first person I turn to for help and advice.

I know that although my friend has passed away, they are still watching over me from heaven, and while they may can no longer give me the advice and support they used to, God will provide the support I need today and everyday.

God is always here for us…here’s Mark Schultz singing He Is:

Helping Isn’t Always Easy

Posted: October 13, 2012 in blogging, dementia, family, friendship, Health, hospital, life, love
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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.

My Best Friend

Posted: March 26, 2012 in blogging, friendship, life, love, music, religion
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In yesterday’s blog post Always Special I asked you to think about the special people in your life who have had a big impact on your life.

How many special people have you had in your life? Personally I’ve had a few.

However there is one person who has been a very special friend to me for many years now, and despite all my faults and the many times I’ve let them down or disappointed them, they still love me, support me and help me, and even better than that, they are always there for me no matter where I am or what time of day or night it is.

You may know my special friend…it is Jesus!

Yes, I’ve turned away from Jesus many times and refused to do what He’s asked me to do, but He keeps on loving me, and He never lets me down. I can honestly say I have never had another friend like Him, and I know I will never find anyone else just as loving and forgiving as Him.

Part of God’s Family

Posted: February 5, 2012 in bible, dementia, family, friendship, Health, life, love, music, prayer, religion
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We all have family, some we’ve met other’s we don’t even know about. However as a follower of God, we are part of an even bigger family…God’s family!

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.

 

Get Along, Always!

Posted: January 11, 2012 in bible, blogging, church, family, friendship, Health, life, love, music, prayer, religion
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Today I want to continue looking at how, as Christians, we should live our lives, using words from the bible for guidance.

The text I want to use today is from 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 (The Message):

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

In the same way as I talking about how we must be supportive and encouraging towards our leaders/managers in yesterday’s blog post (Support Them, Always!), the same applies to our relationships with one another. i.e. We must try to always be loving and supportive of others.

God doesn’t expect us all to become the best of friends, but He does expect us to respect one another and support each other. Just because we don’t necessarily agree with someone’s viewpoint or perspective, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love them and respect them. After all none of us are perfect, we all have our faults, we all have our good points and our bad points, but God love each one of us in spite of them!

If God can love each of us despite our faults, surely we must try our hardest to encourage one another, despite our religious, economic, political, environmental or physical differences. So reach out and help those around you, they need you, they need God.

In summary The Way He Wants You To Live #2 – get on with everyone you meet, support and encourage them at all times.

 
They Need Christ (John Gowans)
 
There are people living in the world out there…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ;
There are children crying and no one to care…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
And they’ll go on hurting in the world out there,
And they’ll go on dying, drowning in despair,
And they’ll go on crying, that’s unless we care:
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
 
There are people living who would rather die…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ;
And their Christian neighbours simply pass them by…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There are people sitting by a silent phone,
People cold and hungry, people left alone,
Suicides for reasons that remain unknown:
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
 
There’s the prostitute and there’s the prisoner too…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ;
There’s the ‘skid row’ fella who has lost a shoe…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
The compulsive gambler dreaming of his yacht,
And the lad that’s stealing just to get his ‘shot’,
And the kid that’s pregnant and pretends she’s not:
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
 
There are runaways who want a place to go…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ;
There are alcoholics who don’t seem to know…
They need you, they need me, they need Christ;
There are God-less people who have lost their way,
And they need God’s love but they’re afraid to say.
If we close our eyes perhaps they’ll go away
Without you, without me, without Christ;
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.

Different Relationships

Posted: December 2, 2011 in bible, family, friendship, life, love, music, prayer, religion, work
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I’m sure we each have some relationships we consider to be more important than others. In the same way the type of relationships we have with others varies in each relationship. i.e. Those who in positions of authority expect us to obey them, and we expect them to know what they’re talking about, so typically we do as they say. On the other hand, friends expect us to offer support, encouragement and fun, which is what we expect from them.

…and then there’s our relationship with God…God expects us to love Him and trust Him and tell others all about what He has done for us and can do for them.

Regardless of who our relationship is with, our manager at work, a friend or God, we must constantly work to develop those relationships. All relationships need to be constantly developed if they are to remain happy, healthy and rewarding relationships.

So how do we develop our relationship with God?

As with all things, we must pray and read our bible so that we might develop our understanding of God and allow our faith and trust in Him to become stronger.

So make today the day you start redeveloping your relationship with God.

Rotten Week

Posted: September 3, 2011 in dementia, family, Health, life, love, Mother's Day, music, pray, prayer, religion, work
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Well I don’t know about you, but my week has been rotten!

Between running around after hubby, helping Mum, having a problem person to cope with at work, not feeling to great and in a lot of pain and generally feeling alone and unwanted at times, it really hasn’t been one of my most enjoyable weeks.

So how have these events made me feel this week?

A number of emotions have been very prevalent this week, but here are a few of the main ones: I’ve felt invisible, alone, worthless, useless, frustrated, in pain, annoyed and upset – all of these feelings are not very pleasant ones and therefore may help explain why I describe this one as having been a rotten one for me.

So how have I managed to survive my week? My inner strength and most of all my faith!

As I’ve mentioned several times before, these last few years have been tough ones for me and at the moment life definitely seems to be back on a downward spiral again. However, while I still have my moments of complete despair and inability to cope, I’m still able to reassure myself, because of my experiences over the last few years, that God has not deserted me, but is still very much with me, through it all - I simply have to remember to put my full trust in Him despite what life is still throwing my way.

Just to help add to the particularly bad week, Mum’s not feeling too good now either, and is struggling physically and emotionally to continue to care for Dad, who has vascular dementia. So much so, that this afternoon when I was with Mum, she told me she wasn’t sure how much longer she will be able to care for Dad. Obviously I’m upset by this too, however I must be honest and say I’m surprised Mum has managed to cope for so long. Ultimately the decision that Dad needs to go into care is Mum’s not mine, as she’s the one who spends 24/7 caring for him.

On the plus side, Dad’s booked into a local care home (the same one one of my aunt’s is in), for one week’s respite care at the end of October/beginning of November. I’ve taken that week off so I can spend it with Mum, so she’s not completely on her own. I’m hoping that week will be a huge help for Mum and that Dad will settle in at the care home ok. But ultimately I hope it may help Mum make a decision on the future, and how much longer she continues to care for Dad at home.

So there’s my rotten week in a nutshell. I hope your week has been far more positive and encouraging than mine! Let’s hope we all have a far more positive and helpful week next week!

In conclusion I’d just like to thank all of you who have supported and prayed for me and my family over the last while, I really do appreciate it, and ask that in these coming days for your continued prayers as these coming weeks are likely to be difficult ones for us all.

Thank you.

I love the song Through It All which really sums up my Christian experience over these last few years in particular, so I hope you enjoy this version of the song performed here by The Three Sopranos:


Through It All
Though the future seems uncertain
Though the fear erodes my peace
Though the circumstance seems hopeless
And the doubting will not cease
I will claim what He has promised
For my heart must recognise
Mine is not to question
But keep focused on the prize.
 
Through it all I choose to serve the saviour
Through it all I claim Christ as my friend
Through it all my faith will never waver
Till He calls me home or comes again
 
This path now set before me
Is not my route of choice
Yet I must keep moving forward
Listening to His still small voice
This step along this journey
He reminds me I’m His own
And through the cold dark loneliness
I’m aware I’m not alone
 
Through it all I choose to serve the saviour
Through it all I claim Christ as my friend
Through it all my faith will never waver
Till He calls me home or comes again

I’ll Still Stand By You

Posted: June 21, 2011 in friendship, life, love, music, religion
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Today I make no apologies for using the same song (different artist) as I did yesterday – I’ll Stand By You, this time sung by Carrie Underwood:

The phrase in this song I want to concentrate on today is:

When you’re standing at the crossroads
And don’t know which path to choose
Let me come along
‘Cause even if you’re wrong
I’ll stand by you, I’ll stand by you

In our lives we face many decisions, many crossroads, but do we always make the right decisions and go down the right path? Definitely not! When we face difficult decisions in our lives it can be extremely difficult to determine what is the right path for us, that’s why we must always remember that no matter whether we choose the right or the wrong road in life, God will always remain by our side, supporting us.

I love the above words because they remind me that God will always support us even when we do make the wrong decisions.

Put your full trust and faith in God, because I can guarantee that He will always stand by you!

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