There is an age old adage that says,
“Man makes plans, then God smiles”.
All of us have many wonderful plans for our lives, only to face a detour or two along the way.
I had married for the second time and my husband and I loved to travel. He retired in December 2004 only to die of lung cancer 18 months later. Neither one of us saw that one coming.
But, there are other challenges that might come your way. With medical intervention, people are living much longer than they used to. The net result is that you might find yourself being a caregiver to one degree or another.
I think of my former sister-in-law who is now handling all aspects of her husband’s care and trying to run a household. He is not dying but is suffering the ravages of time. She is a very proud woman who is bending under the weight of carrying for a husband who is slipping into the abyss called dementia. He forgets, he sleeps most the day, he then forgets which day it is, and etc.
If you know of someone in this situation, and we all do, find some time to check in on them. Maybe you could sit with their loved one while they go to the doctor or a movie or just to get a breath of fresh air.
If you are part of an outreach ministry at your church or club, consider reaching out to those who are shut in and are trying to manage a mountain of tasks.
Such a great reminder, Beatrice I especially like that you talk about helping caretakers and allowing them to maybe see a movie or “just get a breath of fresh air.” It seems as though people are often very willing to step in and help if a caregiver needs to see a doctor or something official like that, but sometimes they also just need a little time to themselves. Thank you for writing this.