Excerpt
IntroductionI have the distinct honor of presenting the Caregiver of the Year Award at Home Instead Senior Care’s annual international convention. This caregiver is one who best exemplifies the attributes of a model caregiver from among 65,000 caregivers throughout North America.
Selecting the Caregiver of The Year has given me an enormous appreciation for what it means to be a caregiver, both the challenges and rewards it provides.
STRENGTH FOR THE MOMENT is my salute to caregivers who many times go unrecognized for their hard work, compassion and devotion. They are truly unsung heroes in their households and communities. Caregivers generously shared their stories in the spirit of providing inspiration, strength and encouragement so that others may learn from their experiences.
The caregiving stories you are about to read are real and are drawn from our Home Instead Staff, Franchise Owners, International Franchise Partners, family members, friends and other acquaintances. It was not difficult to find people caring for their parents, spouses or special needs children. I learned they are all around us. And, most caregivers work quietly and privately not seeking recognition. Yet many feel overwhelmed and are yearning for comfort and encouragement.
I have written a brief introduction to each of the stories based on my own thoughts and experiences. I pray that it gives you some insight into my life and helps to put the focus on important lessons we can all learn from one another.
I was amazed at the many touching stories of love and compassion that family caregivers so willingly shared. I appreciate the genuineness of a daughter struggling to find peace in the midst of a father’s Alzheimer’s disease. And the arduous daily routines of a mother with stage-four cancer who must finally accept Hospice care.
The 52 stories in this devotional book emphasize the many different emotions that are common among all caregivers. Remarkably, many people told us that just the act of telling or writing their story was cleansing or therapeutic for them. It is my prayer that within these pages you will find new inspiration and a fresh perspective for your caregiving situation.
I have quoted Scripture from the New International Version with which I am most familiar. I encourage you to read these verses in your own Bible. You will find that comparing different translations gives God’s Word more depth and meaning.
From the beginning, this project has been covered in prayer by my Bible Study Fellowship girlfriends. They helped me select the right Bible passages and assisted me in creating the beautiful prayer at the end of each story. This Caregiver Prayer is for you. It is meant to bless you and turn your focus to God, the source of everything needed for your caregiving journey. After all, you are precious in His sight.
May God Bless You Abundantly,
Lori Hogan