Caregiver attitude check!

It is time for an attitude check.  What am I talking about?  Well how is your attitude about being a caregiver.  

Attitude definition:  A complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, values and dispositions to act in a certain way.

How does a Christian caregiver do an attitude check?

Let's look at Paul's words.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Rom. 8:28.

May I suggest we focus on the word “CALL” in these words.  

You are CALLED!

This is such an important word for Christian caregivers to acknowledge.  You are not a victim.  You are not being punished.  You are called.

It is so helpful to see your caregiving role as a Christian calling because it changes everything.  It changes your attitude.  It changes your approach.  God has called you.  Think about that.  I know you didn’t ask for it.  Neither did Jonah, Peter, Paul.  Jesus words to “Follow Me” means Jesus has a direction he wants us to go in our lives.  We are called to be servants and you are called to be a servant in a specific circumstance.  Jesus’s promise to us in the end of Matthew’s gospel are the words, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Jesus has called you to be a caregiver.  He promises to be with you.

We are called according to His purposes and he will reveal those purposes more completely over time.  We may not understand His purposes at this time, but scripture says God works for the good.  

I have been reading a number of books about the stories of caregivers.  Yes, it is hard and sometimes very hard.  However, the stories are about the blessings and learnings these caregivers received.  He will bless you and you will learn much. 

Being called by God also means God has a stake in your caregiving and God will provide.  I don’t know how He will do it or when He will do it, but I believe He will do it.  He promises to do it.  He can do it.  You are connected to the right source.

There is a condition.  The scripture says, “to those who love Him”.  This love is not a feeling, this love is an action.  We love God by talking to Him, by worshipping Him, by praising Him and by blessing Him.  As the hymn writer learned to love God by writing, “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy name.”

Even secular research has discovered that attitude is important in caregivers.  See the attached link titled, 

Utah researchers find caregivers' attitudes critical in Alzheimer's disease progression
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865571095/Utah-researchers-find-caregivers-attitudes-critical-in-Alzheimers-disease-progression.html

So how is your attitude?  Allow your faith to draw your attitude closer to the mind of Christ in your Christian caregiving.