Believing caregivers, how do I reconcile that scripture says to put others before me whereas the secular world says put me first?

Praise the LORD Smeshque! Isn't He just wonderful! I love the fact that I am His and He is Mine. When you think how good He is, don't you just feel your soul leap?

I am happy you are doing so well and you are coming down off all the stress. It is amazing how some stress can take weeks if not months to shake off. But God is good!

I have learned to feel bless in the little things!



"For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. And I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
(Romans 9:15 NIV)

Hi everyone!

I hope you all are well.
Things are finally calming down and getting back to normal around here, after all the cousin stress.

Mom and AB are doing well. I am so grateful for that.

I have finally come down from all the stress I was feeling since the beginning of December.

I have a Friend who's Dad is being put on hospice, and she is too far away to be able to say her goodbyes, so please pray for them.

I am at awe how I remember feeling when I first found aging care. If I remember correctly it is about 2 years now? Not sure haven't kept track.
But God has really worked me over and changed me in that time. That those feelings I had then are not with me anymore. I am amazed at our Father and HIS tender mercy and love. He has helped me so much, and grew me stronger.
I have learned so much and have grew in my patience and it is all because of our Lord.


“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6

I am so happy for you Smeshque. That is just wonderful. 👏😁

Smeshque: Oh, that is such great news that you have medical, dental, vision benefits on your job! What a blessing from God! That just made my night. Going to sleep now. I do hope that you can get that much-needed sleep now, dear lady.💞💞

Thank you guys!

I really like my job. As of today DH and I have medical, dental, and vision insurance.
There is a retirement package should the Lord want me to work there that long.
Could be good since DH and I probably will not get Social security when our time comes.

But I think this job is a blessing. I originally took it to pay for cousins stuff. But I really like it and it has great benefits.
We shall see.
I cannot sleep. Haven't really slept for a few days.
Hope you all are doing well.

Jesus Loves you!

Smeshque, great big warm hug 🤗🤗🤗.

Praise The Lord that you got most of the money back.

Good luck on your first day of your new job!

You know what, Smeshque? Unfortunately, some people have to hit rock bottom before they REALLY want help. They have to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. They have to want it for themselves.

You were kind, loving and generous to him. You did all you could do. Now as you say, it’s in God’s hands and God won’t force him to do anything because He gave us all free will. I had to cut my brother off. I was losing my mind trying to help him over and over.

God wants us to choose what’s right. Your cousin isn’t ready. I hope one day he will be ready. He’s proven it isn’t now. I am glad you received money back.

You’re going to be fine on your new job. It’s natural to be a bit nervous. They are blessed to have someone with such heart and integrity.

smeshque: Thank you for filling us in on your cousin. Pretending to kill oneself sounds like something is amiss there, but I am no one to judge. i am very glad that you were able to receive most of your money back. What a relief that was. Cousin has unfortunately made his choice. It has to be bittersweet, but he was told many times what the rules set by you and DH were. Hugs to you, dear lady.

Good evening Everyone,
just stopping by for a few minutes.
So we found out today what happened last night with cousin.
He had a blow up with staff and then pretended to kill himself. I say pretended because if it was true intent he would have walked out of that place and did so.
He wanted back in detox where they were giving him drugs that made him not feel. So the rehab place had to send him to the mental health place again. Which as I heard sent him to another detox.
The rehab place gave us back most of our payment, thank the Lord. Normally they do not do that, but the guy said this was unusual circumstances so I am grateful for that.
We drove 2 hours to go get it this morning. Talked with the rehab team we spoke with saturday, and It appeared that one of them had to scuffle with cousin because he was injured and was not injured last I saw him, Saturday. They were all disheartened as we were. And very nice about the whole thing.
We were very sorry they had to go through all that.
But cousin is in the Lords hands. Cousin has made his choice. We have been relieved of this duty. Cousin has called several times today and I have blocked the number, however still goes to voicemail. But we will not be in contact with him any longer per what we told him beforehand. I will not have him around my Mom, nor want him speaking to her, for her safety and ours.
So I will keep praying the Lord will do a work in him.
But I actually feel relief. As this is no longer my burden to bear but his.
I start my new job in the morning and I am a bit nervous. Not sure why, like a little kid on the first day of school.
I thank you all for your prayers and support.
Sigh.
I am hopeful for rest tonight.
God is great and loving and merciful. I am blessed to be HIS child.


“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1

I thank the Lord for you all. May HE help us all.

You can't be Florence Nightengale if you're bleeding to death yourself!
That's why airlines tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first before the child sitting next to you.

I just want to thank everyone for your prayers.


"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and might things, which thou knowest not."
--Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

Smeshque,

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his GOD, the Maker of heaven and earth,"
--Psalm 146:5 NIV

Oh Smeshque,

This is awful, I am so sorry to hear about your cousin. The not knowing would drive me crazy as well! But I'm with Isthisrealyreal this will work out as it should. I know you are disappointed, but we know that God works things out for our good, even when it doesn't make sense to us. Just hold on to your faith and trust our LORD!

Just a thought, maybe something happened that was out of your cousin's hands!

You and your cousin are in my prayers.💞

Smeshque,

Oh my gosh. I am so sorry to hear about your cousin. You did all that you could. Please know that you have given your all.

I get that you feel defeated. Hard not to feel like that. It’s healthy to acknowledge your feelings.

I have ginormous faith in you! You will work through this difficult situation. We don’t necessarily get over something but we can work through it. Of course, it’s terribly disappointing and I am so sorry.

All of us wanted your cousin to succeed and to be able to celebrate with you. God gives us free will. Sadly, we don’t always use that free will according to our best interests. I am still going to keep him in my prayers. I’m sure that you are aware of that it’s not out of the norm for most people to make several attempts at rehab before it sinks in. It’s hard.

Best wishes to you and your family. Hugs! 💗

Shell,

Will definitely pray for the food truck. Sounds like a good fit for you. Drive it down to Nola! A few trucks have popped up around here and doing well.

Shell and Smeshque you are both in my prayers.🌹

Smeshque: I will talk to you privately.

Shell: I pray that you get this food truck.

Thank you Isthisreal,
You are right. I am trying not to lose my true focus.
We will see if they will give us some of the money back at least.
Just hard not knowing all the facts and waiting.
But I know you are right.
I will maintain my faith, that all this will work out as it is meant to.
Thank you. :)

Shell, may you get your hearts desire for the food truck.

I will keep you in my prayers.

Oh Smeshque, I am so sorry.

Ask for the money, 1 day come on folks.

Have faith, you don't know exactly what happened. This will turn out exactly like it is meant too. I know that is small comfort when you are looking at what is happening, but courage my precious sister in Christ.

Praying for you Shell.

My Dear Friends,
DH and I are extremely sick to our stomachs and disheartened, I am trying not to cry. We just got a call from the rehab. They had tried calling earlier so we could talk to cousin, but the phone didn't ring. :(
Well we called back and the guy told us they sent cousin to a mental hospital. :(
He couldn't tell us what happened until he gets an ok from his boss tomorrow to do so.
We are trying not to be angry, as for the money we just gave them yesterday, we feel scammed.
And now we must follow through with what we told cousin that if he left or got kicked out we could do no more for him.
The guy said he didn't get kicked out, but because of legalities they could not take him back. I have no idea what happened as no one will tell us even though we are on all the paperwork.
I do not know what happened, and that is what is upsetting. He didnt last but 1 day. Thats a lot of money for one day, which we could not afford.
I am just so sick and feel depleted. I am sure they will not give us any money back.
DH and I are so confused and so upset.
Please pray for us. I am feeling defeated. :(
I just can't believe it, I feel so sad for cousin and so mad at him as well. I just can't believe it.
Oh friends this is just awful.

If I may asked that my fellow Christians pray for me. I am trying to get a food truck and waiting to see if I will get some financial help (grants). This way I can do what I love, but also give me some freedom to help my mother and to work on the house!


Thank you in advance:)

"For those who bless me shall be bless as well." Give God Glory and praise! Amen.

NeedHelpWithMom: Agreed about the sign - that is crazy that some people would be offended by it.

Smeshque: That is great news. Congratulations.

NeedHelpWithMom: I have no idea about Alcoholics Anonymous.

Amen!
You are a special sister to be certain 🤗

Thank you Isthisreal- Your prayers and support mean so much to me. :)
HE is marvelous!!
We are a blessed people.

Praise THE LORD!

I was just sitting here thanking THE LORD for giving you the victory today and then I saw your message. Oh my, HE is so good.

Thank you all for your loving support and prayers. Please rejoice with me and give praises to God, for HE truly paved the way this day.
I think I told you we had small window of time that we were working in. Well God opened that window wider for us.
So DH and I set out early this morning because we had snow and wanted to have breakfast together before we went. Well as we were on our way to get breakfast, Cousin called saying they were discharging him right then, the hospital faxed all necessary paperwork to the rehab, and given him copies as well. So DH and i skipped breakfast and headed straight to get cousin.
We had snow and the roads were not great but not too bad. On the way, we got held up in traffic and poor guy jack knifed his truck and there was a truck flipped over further down the road and someone ran into a barrier. Because of the roads. No one was hurt in all of them thank the Lord. So we were held up for a bit on the freeway, we got to the hospital shortly after 10 and was leaving with cousin and paperwork by 10:30.
That was great because that allowed us plenty of time. So we were able to stop and have lunch with cousin and have good long talks on the way. And the road was clear from the hospital to the rehab :)
I believe he is going to do well with the Lords help. He wants it so badly and he is so appreciative of everything.
So we get to the rehab about 12:30. Talked with the people, got a tour, and by the time we were done and leaving cousin was more relaxed and ok. He was terrified beforehand as I would have been too. But the people made him feel welcome and comfortable. We were there a good 3 hours. But I still am not feeling relief yet. It hasn't set in. On the way home I had to contact hospital and then go pick up meds cousin is allowed to have so that I can mail them monday. Too far to drive. I will overnight them if possible.
DH and I accessed the people and place and we are pleased with all. It will be a good experience and cousin was so worried about the money we were spending on this. He kept saying you all need that and can use it for something else. I said there is nothing more important than you. He kept thinking how could he pay us back. I told him , you want to pay us back, then you do your very best here and graduate this program and that will be the best pay back. He wants it, if he doesn't give up on himself, he will make it with Gods help. He was happy to know that the staff themselves have been through the program, so they can relate to what he is going through.
I loved on him as much as I could, he was tearing every so often. I reassured him he can do it, and rely not on his own strength, but on the Lords.
We finally got home around 6:30. Been a long day. AB stayed all day with Mom. It is so sweet he really watches out for her when we have to be gone.
DH and I are super tired.
I just want to really express to you all the love I have for you. It is such a blessing to have you guys praying for and encouraging me and my family. I am blessed to have you all in my journey.
It will be 2 weeks before cousin can call or we can visit. He is going to do it. Please keep praying on this matter when it comes to mind. So that in a year I can tell you how he made it through. :)
They do bible studies daily and scripture memorizing, and they have to get up at 5:30 and go to bed by 9:45. They work them 6 days a week. And they have a gym, and counseling and mentorship. A schedule they must abide by. He will be a new man, after all is said and done, Lord willing.
Hallelujah!

Thank you my friends.



Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Llama,

Wasn’t the original Alcoholics Anonymous program based on a spiritually based philosophy? They all follow that same 12 step program, for drugs, alcohol, overeater’s anonymous, gambling, pornography, whatever...

They don’t refer to God specifically. I guess that is common these days.

Nowadays, they just use the term, “higher power” in a generic way. I realize not everyone is a Christian so maybe that’s why. They want to make it more universal to everyone.

It’s offensive to use God’s name to some people. That’s sad. I’m surprised the Pledge of Allegiance is still said in schools. Why can’t everyone just express how they feel and still show respect for non believers?

In my neighborhood, there is a family that puts a sign on their lawn every Christmas that simply says, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” They are a sweet family.

Certain neighbors went to our HOA and asked them to take down their sign because it offended them. That is crazy to me. Just don’t read the sign if it bothers you, instead of petitioning the home owner’s association to have them remove their sign.