Caregiver...according to the Webster Dictionary...a person who provides direct care.
What does that mean? Caregivers are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, nurses, doctors, the list goes on. Caregivers are at the heart of every relationship. A mother takes care of her child, women take care of their husbands, husbands take care of their wives. Caregiving is a very special kind of caring...
Caring for someone is an unselfish act of love and kindness that necessitates a certain type of personality. Always putting others first before themselves. It is
both rewarding...but ultimately exhausting.
In the world of transplant, those waiting for a life changing organ or tissue to enhance or give life are dependent upon others to be their caregivers, to protect and provide care. We must realize that caregivers do become tired and weary and need their own outlets away from our illnesses. Caregivers take care of every physical and emotional illness that abounds in our everyday lives.
We do somehow become defined by our illnesses rather than our own person. It is a struggle within ourselves to come to terms with that and realize that becoming our own caregiver is sometimes a necessity. It is always hard to deal with one's own mortaility or illness. Our own personal strength and growth must come from deep inside ourselves. We must learn to be our own caregiver. And give the caregiver a rest.
How do we become our own caregiver? Not an easy thing to learn or become. We must learn to look inside ourselves and to God for our own blanket of comfort.
One way is to learn to live gently with ourselves and others. Gentle means being kind, considerate, patient and tender. Living gently will create an aura of peace in our lives...a down comforter if you will of support for ourselves and those with whom we are in relationships.
Another way is to face our own imperfections and learn to love ourselves. A difficult task if we have been dedicated to being a perfectionist. But like anything else it takes practice...and learning to be gentle to ourselves is a good start.
So today if you have a caregiver in your life, be sure to thank them for all they do. And if you love them, make sure they have time to nurture themselves so they can continue on with being the gift that they are. A caregiver...
I find that it is not the circumstances in which we are placed, but the spirit in which we meet them that constitutes our comfort...Elizabeth King
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