The Call of a Caregiver

Every human being has a special calling in life. It may change throughout different seasons and there may be more than one, but each of us is called by God to walk a specific road that He has laid out for us. Some are called to be teachers; to share with others the wisdom that God has given them. Some are called to be encouragers; to stand by a friend, cheer them on, and let them know that they are not alone. Some are called to be musicians, missionaries, servants, and the list goes on. Of all the unique, admirable callings that God has placed upon His children, the one closest to my heart is the calling of a caregiver. Not a doctor, nurse, or someone who is necessarily trained to take care of others, but ordinary, every-day people who take on the role of caring for a friend or family member who is sick, thus beginning a journey that requires patience, endurance and a whole lot of faith.

The dictionary defines a caregiver as "a person who cares for someone who is sick or disabled." But what does it mean to "care" for someone? I have witnessed a few special people recently who have walked or are walking the road of a caregiver, and it is SO much more than just periodically checking on their loved one to see if they need anything. To be a caregiver is to live life with the one being cared for and to be there for their every need. It means taking them to their doctor's appointments and treatments, going with or for them to the grocery store, keeping track of their schedule as well as your own, making late night trips to their house, or sometimes having them live with you. It means constantly having your phone nearby and listening in case the person needs something when you aren't with them. It means talking to them and listening to their cares and frustrations; holding yourself together in order to help hold them together. Sometimes it means crying yourself to sleep or not getting any sleep at all. It can mean constantly worrying about your loved one's well-being and wondering if you are doing enough to take care of them. It means making sacrifices and putting your own needs aside when necessary, which is often. It's not always a fun job to be called to, but God always seems to call just the right people to walk it. He doesn't always call the strongest people or the ones with the most experience, but He calls the ones who He knows will be faithful. After all, He has not called us to be perfect or even successful, but faithful.

The caregivers that I have witnessed have most definitely been faithful. They have cried, gotten frustrated, felt weary and stressed, but they have kept going because they love the person they are caring for. That's what it all comes down to: Love. 1 John 3:18 says "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." A faithful caregiver is the embodiment of this verse. They are not only telling their loved one that they love them with mere words; rather, their love is made manifest through the actions they take and the sacrifices they make for the sake of their loved one. John 13:34 says "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." The love that Jesus shows us is unconditional, sacrificial, and never-ending. The role of a caregiver is a beautiful example of the love of Christ being lived out as it should be.

Some of you have fulfilled this calling and your journey as a caregiver is complete, and some of you are still walking this road. Wherever you may be, just know that you have been faithful. Your love, care, and devotion to your loved one has not gone unnoticed or overlooked, and I believe that God is pleased with you. You are a faithful servant and an inspiration to many. You have poured so much of your life into others, and I pray that God will now pour it back into you and that you will find joy and rest at the end or in the middle of your journey.

Some of us may never experience the life of a caregiver. We may be called to other roads; some fun and exciting and some dark and painful. Whatever the path God has called us to, He only asks that we submit to His will, rely on His strength, and faithfully follow Him.

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40