The ACGR Connect

There was a quote from the story of the Wizard of Oz, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."  Dorothy

     It took a tornado to lift the house up into the air and see all of the people that she had recently interacted with in order for Dorothy to realize that she was not in Kansas anymore.  There comes a time sometimes several times in the life of a care giver that they realize that they are not in Kansas anymore.  And I don't mean the great state of Kansas, I am referring to the familiarity of which we are prone to settle into when caring for a person in need.  The needs change, the medicine changes, the daily tasks change, THE DIAGNOSIS CHANGES!!
     These are the types of changes that can really get you to thinking, "Who up there doesn't love me."
 Well, I am here to let you know that, it is because He loves you that you are the one who has been chosen to care.  Your love for the person you care for is essential to their comfort and sanity and helpful to your own life fulfillment.  Remember that as a care giver, you find some purpose of your life in caring for others. This is important!!  The patient on the floor, that husband of the patient who is completely out of his element in the hospital, that social worker or chaplain looking for ways to comfort a family, all need your help. You have been called to guide them through this ordeal or hold their hand while you both see this chapter in the family's life being played out.   You have the heart for this and that is why you are here.
      Care giving is not for someone who wants to checkout in life but for a person who is willing to love with all they have so that the fulfillment of the soul is nurtured and set free to do that special task in this time of your own life, the season for caring and learning to love more and to do what you have been created to do.  Yes, you will go through times where Kansas is where you would love to be because you enjoyed the simple life but there is more to care giving than that!!!
      Don't let a tornado have to happen so that you can find out that you are not in Kansas anymore.