My mother lived with us the last six years of her life. She had dementia. I was her primary caregiver.
I sat with my to-do list one morning—a very long list that day. Clean this, take care of that. Do the laundry. Cook the meals. Take my mother to the doctor. Stop at the store. Pick that up. Drop that off.
I was exhausted before I even started.
I looked at the list wondering how I was going to get it all done. I prayed—for strength, for patience, for relief.
God answered. Just one thing on God’s list: “Be a blessing to your mother today.”
Be a blessing. Hold that precious hand. Give her a hug, a smile, a tender touch.
Be a blessing. Sit with her and ask her about the old days. Listen to the story. Again.
Be a blessing. Laugh with her while you drive to the doctor’s visit and run the errands. Sing with her on the drive back home.
Be a blessing. Focus on connection, while there is still time.
Those long, hard caregiving days are over. My mother passed away twelve years ago at ninety-six.
I still hear her singing.
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May you be blessed today. You are loved. Pass it on.❤️
Thank you for this… caring for a parent or a spouse or a loved one is one of the hardest and best jobs in the world. Having had two parents with dementia, those moments of laughing or singing that brought joy to them are wonderful memories.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.