Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Challenge for today, we are over half way through and I hope that some of the tips that I have shared have been helpful to you.
Faith
My faith, my belief has been the one thing that is constant in my life, it is the thing that lifts me up when I am down, and ministers to me when I cannot see a way. Because of my faith and my spiritual walk I find the strength to do what I do today. When I feel that there is no hope, my faith and belief in God reminds me that God not only loves me for who I am but he gives me strength when I have had a difficult time with mom and she doesn't want to go to bed to sleep. He reminds me that when I was ill mom would stay up with me and tend to my needs. When mom won't eat and I get frustrated cause of the effort it takes God reminds me to let go of the emotional ties to food that I have and when mom is ready to eat she will.My faith helped me to see mums dementia from her perspective, to constantly ask myself how she must be feeling and to give her space and time to express what she needs and to challenge myself. When I work to her time there is less need to get stressed about how long it takes or whether or not she wants to do something.
I learnt through faith to be patient, to love unconditionally to be humble, dementia and its affects on lives has humbled me. It has affected all of our lives in one way or another and I don't take my life for granted and i don't take her life for granted. Mum can still live a full of grace, peace joy and love.My faith reminds me that I have to make the most of everything that mom can do and how she is feeling. She still feels emotions though not always able to express how she is feeling her life is precious in Gods eyes. As I spend time in his word I am reminded that he gives me strength each and every day. He will never leave or forsake me.
Art Journal Page
For now, think about your spiritual walk, we do not go through this alone and God will guide you through if you let him. He will walk by your side in the good times and carry and comfort you in the hard times. How has your faith comforted you?You can also click on the 'Celebrating life' image to be taken to the rest of the posts from the Journey of a Carer.