Posted on Hump Day, 10-23-19
(Warning: this is a Christian piece, more than most. Viewer Discretion is Advised. lol)
Happy Hump Day, you’all! I prefer “Hump Day” to Wednesday. It is easier to spell and it isn’t named after a couple false gods of times gone by. I even like the camel commercials. The origin of hump day is vague although it was used at least as far back as the 1960’s to designate the apex of the American Monday-Friday workweek. Just get over the hump of the week and you can see the weekend on the horizon.
Caregiver, I want to encourage you to do what you may already be doing: look to the horizon. A better day is coming. A day without Alzheimer’s. A day without tears. I day with happy memories chiseled in stone, not spelled out in the oft-stirred Alpha-Bits we have today. What is the secret to moving beyond the 2,000 elephant-sized dementia camel in the room? We need to find contentment and embrace it rather than chasing temporal weekends.
The verse that came to mind was one that is slaughtered day in and day out by what is jokingly called the “Evangelical Industrial Complex“. (People selling Christian stuff and ideas that are completely foreign to the Bible and its meaning.) We all love Philippians 4:13 that says ” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” What we don’t apparently like so much is the context of the verse:
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
King James Version (KJV)ESV Version here…reads a bit easier.
Where are the gym shorts with Phil. 4:13 on them now? This verse, in grammatical/historical context, is for those struggling. The writer, the Apostle Paul, was living in intense persecution. Times were very, very, very hard as a Christian in this challenging time. Emporers would vacillate between being OK with Christianity and impaling Christians on poles and lighting them on fire to light up the city streets and celebrations/parties. Paul found himself in a terrible prison when he was penning this gem to the church at Phillipi. No televisions with Netflix. No cell phones. No conjugal visits. Nope…just rats, little or no food and likely only provided by those on the outside. Maybe some tetanus as a bonus? No reason for joy or hope. No visits or conversations beyond the cell next door? Paul feels your pain, caregiver, and he has some bittersweet, very hard to accept words in this beautiful verse:
Summary: Be content. Let your contentment and peace shine to others such that they wonder how you can be that way. Focus on good and positive. Fight off negative and bad. Remember that this hardship is temporary and is being used toward a bigger purpose. Know that the Lord is in charge and loves you and your loved one deeply. Remember that He cries when you are hurting. Did I say God cries? Yup. Then look to the horizon at what awaits.
I realize this is easier said than done. I am a smidge of the caregiver that any of you are. I serve, maybe 20 hours a week on a busy week, four hours less than most of you do in a day. However, the Bible is clear that this is the plan and that better times are to come. So pray. Read the Word. (Psalms, Proverbs, sprinkle in some Job and Lamentations, and some of the Gospels to start). Meditate on/think deeply about verses (some listed below for starters). Paul got it (Phil. 4:13)…he was far too weak for the circumstance and I dare say he was a more mature Christian than we are. He leaned wholly on the Strength of another, His and our Christ, for strength. We need to consciously do the same. Will He give us more than we can handle? Absolutely…but never more than He can handle for us.
I pray for you lonely, tired caregivers early and often. Thank you for your Christ-like love and care. You matter and please know this: some sweet day things will be perfectly whole again. 🙂 This place ain’t our home anyway… Happy Hump day, believers. It is all downhill from here. 🙂
Update: Mom had another great day yesterday. Sadly, we are over the hump on the hard (behaviorally-speaking) times with mom (see the earliest 100 posts) today. This is sad not because we enjoyed them, but because times are easier now because the disease has progressed so far that she can’t act out. She is content and happy and is, all things considered, doing good for a person on hospice. I rest in the fact that she is a Believer and is also looking to the horizon, from a (likely) even closer vantage point than us.
#EndALZ
Few other verses worth your consideration: 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 30: 7-9; Matthew 6:25+; 1 Tim. 6:6+;
Last note: Tim Tebow wearing football eye black stickers that said Phil. 4:13 may have been ok since he has always been mocked and persecuted for his faith. Did it empower him to throw 300 yards? No. But hopefully it reminded him to stay strong in the face of a world that teases him relentlessly.