To caregivers... and those they care for...written by Will Allen Dromgoole (1860-1934)
She was a prolific author who also served in the U.S. Naval Reserves.




An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray
To a chasm vast and deep and wide
Through which was flowing a swollen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The rapids held no fears for him.
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.


“Old man,” cried a fellow pilgrim near,
“You’re wasting your time in building here.
Your journey will end with the closing day;
You never again will pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm deep and wide;
Why build you this bridge at even-tide?”


The builder lifted his old gray head.
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There follows after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This stream, which has been as naught to me,
To that fair youth may a pitfall be.
He too must cross in the twilight dim —
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/will-allen-dromgoole

New Life

It's amazing that nothing is wasted with God, is it not? Out of the ashes of our sorrow and despair, God brings us the joy of new life beyond what our earthly walk can assure!
Alls Grace!
Kathie

Refresh


In the midst of hardship,
remember to seek the beauty
that is all around you.
It will refresh you if you let it.


Therapy Dog or Companion Pooch?

“What a cute dog! What’s her name?” I asked the woman, as her excited little canine jumped up and scratched my leg with razor-sharp nails. “Oh, this is Harlow, my therapy dog,” the dog’s owner gushed. “She’s such a sweetie, don’t you think?” A sweet dog? Yes, if I suppose so, if enthusiasm at meeting a virtual stranger, was any indication. But therapy dog? Not likely.

Does this scenario sound familiar? We’ve all met our share of both dogs and owners who were long on friendly and short on manners. And you probably know that petting and caring for a dog provides known therapeutic benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and heartrate. But what makes a dog a therapy animal and what exactly do they do? It helps to understand the wide range of categories that exist between a household pet and a service dog. Any family pet can become a companion dog, if a doctor writes a prescription saying the animal is beneficial to the owner in some way. These dogs are sometimes called emotional support animals. The pet doesn’t need special training and can live on property that doesn’t normally allow pets, such an apartment or condo. However, companion dogs are not authorized to accompany an owner to the grocery store, restaurant, doctor’s office or other “no pet” establishment. Companion animals are not covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act, because they do not perform tasks that handlers are unable to do themselves.

Specifically, a therapy dog provides...
Read more »

Quote of the Week




"Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway."                                                    –Emory Austin

Our life is but a breath...


Till we meet again, my sweet boy...

Days of Elijah click here
(my apologies for any advertisements)


Thanks, Whoever You Are...


I'd like to say thank you to all the caregivers and friends of caregivers who take the time to read here. Although I don't know all of you personally, the stats for this page show readers from many places. I hope the link below gives you a bit of peaceful respite. God remembers you and sees your gifts of time and love.  
 
My stats page may not pick up visitors from every place, but greeting to the readers from these countries!

 
United States 733,  Russia 103, Germany 57, Malaysia 32, United Kingdom 25, Israel 24, Canada 19, India 17, Romania 16, Australia 10, Italy 9, Latvia 6, South Korea 6, Russia 4, China 3.  

I hope the link to the song below gives you a bit of peaceful respite. It reminds me of 
God's grace,
   upon grace,  
      upon grace...

Psalm 116 by Sons of Korah

Lyrics:

I love the LORD for He heard me
He heard my cry for mercy
Because He turned His ear to me
I will call on Him

Cords of death, they entangled me
The anguish of the grave was upon me
I was overcome by troubles and sorrow
Then I called on YOUR Name

O LORD Rescue me
O LORD Rescue me
O LORD Rescue me
Rescue me
Rescue me

The LORD is gracious and righteous
He is full of compassion
The LORD protects the simple-hearted
When I was in need He saved me

So be at rest once more my soul
For the LORD's been good to you
So be at rest once more my soul
O my soul
O my soul

For you have saved my soul from death
And you have saved my eyes from tears
And you have saved my feet from stumbling
That I may walk before the Lord.

That I may walk before the Lord,
   That I may walk before the Lord,
      That I may walk before the Lord. 

 
 

 
 
Greetings from Dusty & "Mom" ... to all who stop by to read here, thanks for visiting!
 

Hunger

    “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove

                    than the hunger for bread. 
                  ~ Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Solo...

                                       Solo Christo ~ Christ alone
Solo Gatia  ~ by grace alone
Solo fide   ~ through faith alone

Martin Luther,  1483-1546

Trust

This is a post from a couple of years ago.
Remembering again that God's path is always the best one to take.

Waking up short on sleep,
   cleaning up messes that seem to appear out of nowhere,
      sitting down, only to look ahead to the next item on my list,
         thinking I could close my eyes right where I sit.

Then I remember...



It was during David's years of wandering in the wilderness
     that God prepared the future king to trust Him. 

Time is never wasted with God.  


Blessings,

Kathie  

Simplicity

"His wrath, you see, is fleeting,
    but His grace lasts a lifetime.
The deepest pains may linger through the night,
    but joy greets the soul with the smile of morning."
  Psalm 30:5  The Voice 
 
Simplicity  Photo Credit: Susan Quinten

I'm just sitting here God, listening to one of my favorite David Nevue instrumentals. 

While The Trees Sleep Thinking about the act of caregiving, what it's turned out to be and what it has not.
 
Would I have ever have seen what You wanted to show me, if my son's illness hadn't slowed me down long enough to look with eyes of understanding? 


I could have missed the best lessons. I might have missed the real me that resists surfacing, except in the quietest of moments. I might not have found the immeasurable peace that hides in the stillness of late nights. My life would be less if my mind had not called out to You during the hard moments, looking for the strength to Overcome. Without the fuel of prayerful moments, I would surely have fewer thankful thoughts.
 
There is such peace in simple things. Such grace in innocence. Such humility in the privilege of being asked by God to care for a person's needs in such a personal way.
 
 
"God has chosen what the world calls foolish to shame the wise. He has chosen what the world calls weak to shame what is strong."
 
 
"Our society values youth, wealth, security and power, but the true greatest value comes through serving others with compassion and love. We’re not all called to serve in the same way, but we are each called to serve through compassion & love in our own way. Mother Teresa declared that the most painful suffering of all is “loneliness.” Mother said, “Don’t ever forget who you are touching.” 
 
"Our aging parents and elderly loved ones face loss and loneliness on a daily basis.  Each of us, in our daily lives, can “make room and time” for the elderly who cross our paths.  Consider giving the “gift of your presence.”  Through your listening ear, a simple gaze, a gentle touch…. you can indeed nourish the soul of another human being at the time of their greatest need."
 
By Paul A. Wright, MD; Cardiologist to Mother Teresa the last 5 years of her life.
 
 "I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,
you did it to Me."
 
 
 








Morning Prayer, 1527

God be in my head
And in my understanding. 
God be in my mine eyes
And in my looking. 
God be in my mouth
And in my speaking. 
God be in my heart 
And in my thinking,
God be at mine end
And at my departing.

~ Old Sarem, Primer, 1527

God Be In My Head

National Caregiver's Month

Thanks Jennifer for sharing this!
 
November is National Caregiver's Month...As a caregiver myself, I know what a heavy load it is often times to bear. I have such profound respect for all of the caregiver's out there! Keep us in your prayers, that God would continue to give us the needed strength to keep pressing on. I dedicate this to my fellow caregiver's...  ~Jennifer Beasley
Father, You’re the strength that lifts the burden,
You’re the oil that ...soothes the pain;
You’re the sunlight when there’s darkness,
You’re the shelter in the rain.
You’re the hand that brings all healing,
You’re the song that calms all fear;
You’re the peace that brings all comfort,
You’re the God who’s always near.

~ Roy Lessin, "Meet Me In The Meadow"

 The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.
    Psalm 118:14 NLT


“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”  ~ Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Stronghold


 
I know God holds us up in the palm of His hand.
It's only when I look too far over the edge that fear overtakes me.
 
 
When I crawl back into the center of His hand again,
I don't get anxious about what's out there. Then I find rest.



 
It's not often I find a really great website to added to the list of Links on this site.
I suppose that's because not many people write about their thoughts as a caregiver
or the thoughts of the dying people they meet.
Here's one I came across that stands out from the rest.
 
 

Petals


I wrote the above "Haiku" back in 1973
 as an assignment for a creative writing class.
Strange how it seems to have come full circle 30 years later,
when time for the caregiver seems to have it's own ebb and flow...
when life for the one cared for seems to follow it's own rhythm and time.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
My Dusty Doodle, 
who sees so much
without sight.

Do you know you are loved?


A hug given, a kiss received.

aren't love on their own.

Just random acts they are, 

when given without the tangible,
 the intangible

 emotion that is uniquely love.

 
It isn't seen with eyes,
or felt in the mind.

Only hearts that give great love,
receive love fully.

 
So of course Dusty,
Since you give such whole love,

you must know
you're loved in return.

 2012
 


"the word and the tear are twins
   and the ... poem
      is no more than a tear
         wept by writing fingers."

~ Nizar Qabbani

Read out doors.

   Walk in the park.

      Park your car on a hilltop,

         and enjoy the view.

~Michael Kincaid

Merry Christmas!


The Christmas 2012 season is here! And my sweet Dusty has enjoyed another year at home, away from the hospital. Caregiving has had it's up's and downs, as I'm sure the year in general has had for some of you.  But I hope the year has also brought you strength, peace and hope for the future.

Some of you have lost loved ones this year and the extra time I've had with Dusty is something I don't take for granted. At this very moment, he's snuggled in his bed listening to one of his favorite movies, "Lassie." He's laughing and imitating puppy sounds, which tells me he's enjoying himself.

He can't sit up for very long anymore. But he still enjoys walks outdoors in his stroller when the weather is good. And he can communicate with family and friends when they visit. He still likes to get "bossy" with his dog Pappas, by patting the couch to invite him up or by telling him to "sit." Pappas is a wonderful companion and never nips or growls.  

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with many blessings! Occasionally I receive email correspondence from readers about this page. So I've decided to open up the comment section for awhile. If you would like to post a comment, you don't need to have a google address. You can sign in as an anonymous user. Leave your name & email address if you'd like, but you don't have to. If you would like to add your website or blog address along with your message, feel free to do that as well. I enjoy reading other writers posts.


Thank you to Aafreen from Pakistan
for sending this poem for caregivers
written by Bruce McIntyre.  
Note: Afreen's name means "encouragement."
 A perfect name for a caregiver!
*****************************
Unknown and often unnoticed, you are a hero nonetheless.
For your love, sacrificial, is God at his best.
You walk by faith in the darkness of the great unknown,
And your courage, even in weakness, gives life to your beloved.

You hold shaking hands and provide the ultimate care:
Your presence, the knowing, that you are simply there.
You rise to face the giant of disease and despair,
It is your finest hour, though you may be unaware.

You are resilient, amazing, and beauty unexcelled,
You are the caregiver and you have done well!
~Bruce McIntyre
Blessings,
Kathie



Soul



“The mold in which a key is made would be a strange thing, if you had never seen a key: and the key itself a strange thing if you had never seen a lock. Your soul has a curious shape because it is a hollow made to fit a particular swelling in the infinite contours of the divine substance, or a key to unlock one of the doors in the house with many mansions

Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you and you alone,because you were made for it-made for it stitch by stitch as a glove is made for a hand.
~ CS Lewis, The Problem of Pain


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