1. Take at least one day off every week, more if possible. If not a whole day, then a half. Find someone else to be in charge of your patient and do something fun or relaxing. Sit beside a brook and listen to the trickle of water. Read a book. Stroll through the mall.Go for a long walk to clear your head. The important thing is to get a change of scenery and recharge your batteries. Even God rested on the seventh day, you need to do the same!

2. Share your responsibilities with others. In our area Home Health programs offer services for the elderly. Three days a week these wonderful ladies come and bathe my grandmother and care for her other personal needs, like trimming nails and washing her hair. It helps my grandmother and it helps me by relieving me of a few responsibilities. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or call the nearest hospital and inquire as to what services and support groups are available. Speak with your pastor about your needs and concerns. Many congregations have programs to support care givers.

3. The power of prayer applies to caregivers too! Pray about the person you are caring for and don’t forget to pray for yourself. You need strength, stamina, and patience. Follow in Jesus' footsteps and study how He ministered to those in need. He understands your needs as well as those of the person you are caring for.

4. Don’t be afraid to laugh. Laughter is truly the best medicine and whenever possible we should use it to lighten our load. Of course, we have to be sensitive to those we are ministering to, but they need laughter even more than we do! My grandmother is 89 and she often confuses the television remote with the telephone. She laughs when the phone rings and she answers the remote and so do we. A house without laughter is a cold house indeed. When possible warm up your home and your hearts with bright smiles and the sound of laughter.

5. Realize that you are only human and Jesus is the great physician...not you.

No matter how badly you want the person you are caring for to feel better, be younger, stronger, whatever, there are definite limits on what you can do.

On the other hand, there are no limits to what God can do. Imagine for a moment you are carrying a heavy package. Let’s pretend it weighs about 40 pounds. Now imagine you take that package and walk on an ice covered sidewalk. More than likely what will happen?

But what if you walked on that slippery sidewalk without your heavy package? Would you feel safer? Would you be you less likely to fall?

Psalm 55:22 says "Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

Give Him your burdens. Your load will be lighter. Your path will be safer and He won’t let you fall.

Teresa Bell Kindred cared for her mother during her terminal illness, and for her father after his heart surgery. Her grandmother had a light stroke last fall and now lives with Teresa, her husband, and their five children. Visit Teresa online at www.teresakindred.com