How Can I Be A Caregiver?: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent.
I love my Lord, and I love solitude. But now the Lord was asking me to bring my mother – who had Alzheimer’s – to live with my husband and me. It was my worst nightmare.
Not that I was sleeping. I could only toss and turn, muffling my sobs and groans with a pillow over my mouth. I can’t do it, Lord. Help me! I vowed to never say ‘No’ to you, but how can I do this? How? The whole night was spent in self-pity and despair.
The next night I tried deep breathing. Lord, breathe on me. Fill me up. I’m going under. There was no provided way of escape. I would have to drink this cup – like it or not.
Mom slept peacefully in the next room, confident God was taking care of her.
Lord, You are asking the impossible. How can I be Mom’s caregiver? She deserves so much more tenderness and compassion than I am able to give her. You know I don’t love well. I can do the loving thing, but I can’t feel loving towards Mom.
Then through the dark fog of despair, God took me by the hand back 25 years to another time and place when I had cried out to Him, I can’t go on if You don’t help me love. That memory began easing my despair.
God had responded to that cry by moving obnoxious unlovely people to live next door to me. The feelings of love for them didn’t come until I had exhausted my arguments and finally listened to God’s still small voice telling me to invite them into my life. Acting on obedience only, I reached out to them, and God filled me with feelings of love that literally caused me to burst into singing with amazement, joy, and thanksgiving.
I knew God was asking me to trust Him to give me the feelings I needed to obey Him. I wish I could report an overnight change of heart, but in reality, it took three years for the transformation to be completed. The days seemed so long while they were being lived, and the victories seemed few and far between. But looking back I am so thankful for God’s patience and perseverance in opening my heart to step by step receive the lessons and blessings my mother was sent to give me.
I love the Lord more than ever, and I still love solitude. But I also dearly love my mother. This is a gift from God.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Lawrence is retired and resides with her husband, Carl, in Corvallis, OR.
COMPLETE SERIES TITLES:
Drifting (Part 1 of Series by Linda Lawrence)
Hug Your Mother (Part 2 of Series by Linda Lawrence)
How Can I Be A Caregiver? (Part 3 of Series by Linda Lawrence)
Alzheimer’s Became a Blessing? (Part 4 of Series by Linda Lawrence)
Treasured (Part 5 of Series by Linda Lawrence)
The Shepherd Restores a Soul (Part 6 of Series by Linda Lawrence)
Thank you for this! I too love my solitude. My space. My alone time. I am in the same position, about to give up my home to live with my mother who needs me. I always thought I would be there for her when the time came. But now that it’s here, it’s harder than I thought. For one, I am single and while God has blessed me to be able to afford a break in pay for some time, I’m scared about how it will work out (paying for my own health insurance, finding a job again when the time comes, etc.). I know this is a test of faith in His provision. I found it very hard to find other stories about how to handle caregiving from the angle of someone who is used to being alone. I’m going to read your other posts. Perhaps they will help me make the right decision and heed the call. Quitting my job of 23 years is also hard because it’s “home” and comfort and I have to give 4 weeks’ notice! And I keep thinking, no, not yet. Not ready. I think if I could just say “I quit” and be gone, it would be easier.