Thursday, July 31, 2008

Prayers For Those Worse Off Than I

Today I needed to spend time at a caregiver’s class, half a day. I met someone who made me realize that my current troubles are nothing compared to those of others. Without giving details, this is a much younger woman than I, attractive, healthy, alert, intelligent, with her whole life ahead of her. An almost-teenage son at home. And a quadriplegic husband. She spends every moment except for her job, which is necessary, in his care.

We talked a lot, between the tapes we viewed as part of the course, on breaks. We compared notes about our caregiving duties, how they differed, how they were the same. She is in the prime of her life. She has no life. She has been in this situation for over five years now. Yet she was sweet and kind and understanding. I would not trade my worries and troubles for hers for all the money in the world.
Prayer, being a personal talk with God, takes on a new intensity when I feel the need to pray for someone like this. I wish I knew what to ask for in her case. I do know I need to pray that her sweetness and kindness will never be soured by what life handed her.

Father, I am grateful that my burdens are those which I can handle; please bless this woman with the strength and love and compassion she needs to handle her troubles. Hold her always in your arms.

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