Recently, during an extended time of having houseguests, I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed—not only physically tired, but also tired of planning and preparing meals three times a day to feed our large group. Then one day, a friend dropped by and brought the fixings for a simple pizza meal! These were items that I could have thought of and bought myself, but the fact that someone else was thinking of me and wanted to help was such a gift. It went way beyond that one meal and blessed me immensely, giving me renewed energy to carry on.
Having a house full of treasured and dear guests is mostly a joy and not a hardship, especially in comparison to the burdens many others face while caring for their loved ones. The unending cycle of care can become extremely taxing and tiring. At times, it can feel like we are barely surviving. The Lord knows this, and one of the ways he cares for us during challenging seasons is through his body, the church. We are encouraged to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2), and as a result, we are privileged and blessed to be on either side of giving or receiving care.
If you know someone who is going through a challenging season of caring for others, know and believe that a simple act of kindness, a listening ear, or a promise to pray is powerful.
If you are feeling the burden of caregiving—perhaps for a family member with chronic or acute health challenges, as a single parent, or for other reasons—know and believe that there are people at SDBC who can walk this journey with you. Caregiving is often hard, exhausting work, and no one is meant to do it alone. We encourage you to reach out to a friend at SDBC, your community group, a ministry leader, Stephen Ministry (click the button below), or the prayer chain.
Caregiving is often hard and exhausting work, but allowing others to walk the journey with you can lighten the load, even just a little. If you are a caregiver, Stephen Ministry invites you to visit us at the Spotlight Table this Sunday. We don't have the fixings for a pizza meal, but we do have a tiny gift to give to you on this Valentine's Day weekend as a token of support and appreciation for the role you are playing in someone else's life.
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