May 1st was the beginning of a new adventure for my family. When I say adventure, I don’t mean in the most exciting and happy way. Our summer has been nothing short of trials and tribulations, topped with a few exciting events. My mother’s open heart surgery took place on the 3rd of May, two days after she was diagnosed with heart failure. Two weeks later, mom was released from the hospital and she moved in with me so I can take care of her as she recovers. In an instant, I became her full-time caregiver.
Being someone’s caregiver is an exhausting and overwhelming job (a special shout out to anyone who has done it and continues to do it). It is definitely not an easy task and not for the faint of heart. It takes patience, perseverance, strength and especially faith to be able to meet the needs of an ill family member, AT ALL TIMES! Mom’s recovery is not over yet. She is four months into it and her incision is still open which lead to yet another procedure last week to narrow down the root cause of why her incision will not close. This too has extended the healing and caretaking process. This experience has not only been exhausting but also rewarding. I have learned and grown so much! Not only did I have to overcome my fear of blood and wounds, but I ended up cleaning and treating hers twice a day, every day. My patience and perseverance have expanded to a new level, I never thought possible to achieve. My faith has gotten stronger.
In the midst of my storm, I had to learn how to encourage my mother to never give up. I have also learned how to disciple my two young girls through this and demonstrate the importance of taking care of our parents. But, the one thing I have learned and grown through the most is learning how to accept help from others. I have a strong personality and the mentality of “I can do it all on my own, there’s no need to burden others.” Well, my friend, as convenient as that may seem, permitting others to extend us their helping hand is not the end of the world.
Allowing others to help does not mean we are weak, it means we have been blessed with people who love us and care enough about us to want to help us.
I learned an even more valuable lesson when my sweet friend, Sarah, stopped by last week to bless our family with a gift card to a restaurant. As we chatted, she shared how declining other’s help, takes away from the gift of giving they have been blessed with and called to do. I had never thought about it in this way. We are never meant to go through life alone and we are made for relationships. It was time for me to touch the extended hand and allow help because let’s face it, we all could use a helping hand every once in a while.
As you face life, allow those around you to show you how much they love you and care for you.