Make Your Offer Specific
Make your offer specific. Say, "I would like to come over Monday at 3:00 to bake cookies," "read you a book,"...
Make Your Offer Specific
jmesler
Thoughtful Gifts
Thoughtful Gifts
The following are suggestions from families who have received thoughtful gifts that helped them cope.
■Our family greatly appreciated the gift of restaurant gift cards when we were going through a crisis. No one felt like cooking, and going to a restaurant got us "up" and "out."
■Cook a dinner for my family. (Bring the food in disposable containers or include your name on the returnable containers.)
Energizing Words
Energizing Words
Charlie Brown asks Lucy, “Do pretty girls know that they are pretty?” Lucy answers, “Only if someone tells them.” How do people know that they are ok? That they are doing a good job? That they are important to you? How will they know: . . .Only if you tell them.
Preserve the Dignity
Preserve the Dignity
What do you see when you are caring for another person? Do you see someone who is a burden, an irritation, an old needy person, or do you look for the strength and beauty of God's image in that person? Do you help, in your method of caregiving, to preserve that person's dignity?
Trauma: Helping Children Cope
Trauma: Helping Children Cope
After any disaster, (school violence, hurricane, floods, fire, earthquakes, acts of terrorism, physical or sexual violence, and so on) children are afraid that the event will happen again, that they or someone they love will be hurt or killed, that they may be separated from those they love and be left alone. Following are ways that you can help children cope with trauma. Most of these suggestions come from the children's book Jenny is Scared: When Sad Things Happen in the World by Carol Shuman (Washington, DC: Magination Press, 2003).
Burnout (Of Pastors, Other Leaders, and their Spouses)
Burnout (Of Pastors, Other Leaders, and their Spouses)
During my early years as a pastor, I had a hard time balancing the demands of my job with the needs of my wife and family. Putting in long hours, struggling to get organized, and trying to figure out if I was up to this, I considered leaving the ministry. Eventually, the stress contributed to a divorce from my first wife.
During the difficult time when I was going through my divorce there was only one person from the church who called me daily, took me out for coffee to listen to me, and invited me to dinner. He did not lecture, did not pry, and did not try to get my wife and me back together. He was simply, steadfastly there for me. I will never forget the strength that man gave me.
Caring for Ourselves, The Caregivers
Caring for Ourselves, The Caregivers
It is extremely important for the caregiver to take good care of him or herself as well as the care-receivers. CareGiving can be a thankless, exhausting job and it may seem selfish to take care of oneself when the care-receivers require so much attention. To fail to do so, however, can be destructive. Jesus said, "Love God....Love Neighbor...Love Self."
The following guidelines are for care givers who feel overwhelmed, tired, frustrated, lonely, or like a "Caged Bird
