Whether it's a nation picking up the pieces following the attacks of 9/11 or individuals and families struggling with heartbreaking challenges - It's hard to know what to say when we see sorrow, and tragedy.

After the attacks of 9/11, I struggled with to process the devastation. Sitting at the piano, I wrote this song. Sharing it with Gracie - she lent her powerful voice to this song and it remains deeply meaningful to us twenty years later.

www.hopeforthecaregiver.com/music

Sometimes, we fail to consider the soberness of forgiveness. We may feel pressure from others to forgive and forget - all too quickly.

Respecting the trauma we endure - and often cause - allows for greater healing in our lives and hopefully in our relationships. Forgiveness is intentional and deserves careful deliberation.

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While in college, I worked for a music star in Nashville who had a long driveway lined with beautiful trees. A tree service was called to trim them, and the results were not what the star expected.

Please consider helping us expand this show with your tax-deductible gift at HopefortheCaregiver.com/giving

While in college, I worked for a music star in Nashville who had a long driveway lined with beautiful trees. A tree service was called to trim them, and the results were not what the star expected.

Please consider helping us expand this show with your tax-deductible gift at HopefortheCaregiver.com/giving

As a caregiver, do you ever struggle with knowing how to pray? Over my 35 years as Gracie's husband and caregiver, I sure have. I wrote this prayer for my book, Hope for the Caregiver, and it seemed to mean a lot to fellow caregivers.

The Caregiver's Prayer Heavenly Father, I love _______. I have committed my life to caring for him/her, Yet I know the task is greater than my abilities. As I seek to help another, I ask for strength to shoulder the burdens before me. Yet I also ask for the wisdom to know what is mine to carry. I ask for the courage to admit my failures and make amends. I thank you for your grace and mercy, And ask that you help me daily apply it to myself and extend it to others. As I walk through this long valley of the shadow of death, I ask for a deeper awareness of your presence to calm my fears. Glancing backward, may I only see your provision. Looking ahead at difficult roads, may I see your guidance. May I reflect you as I minister to this one whom I love. I pray all this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Who laid down his own life ... for me. © 2014 Peter W. Rosenberger

https://www.hopeforthecaregiver.com

Song: Sweet Hour of Prayer from SONGS FOR THE CAREGIVER

Forgiveness benefits the offended, does not require reconciliation, and can be extended even if unsolicited. Remorseless criminals fill our prisons, yet victims can still forgive. Many care for abusive but impaired loved ones who are incapable of repenting and reconciling. Yet, those caregivers can still forgive.

Resentment gnaws at our souls and, as caregivers, we already bear enough. We can choose instead to walk in forgiveness and lose the grudges—while keeping healthy boundaries.

"…I think it's about Forgiveness." – Don Henley

If you find this podcast meaningful, help us do more ...please visit www.hopeforthecaregiver.com/

Gracie and I celebrated our 35th anniversary this week. It's been quite a journey!  With apologies to Spotify users (which won't show video) we thought we'd share a portion of our journey set to a song I wrote with a friend. 

www.hopeforthecaregiver.com

With all the unsettledness in our country and around the world, what's our response? One thing we can do is turn off the television and specifically cable news. While news outlets profit over keeping us churned up, we profit when we turn our hearts to God's word "...and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. " PHIL 4:7

Hope for the Caregiver is the family caregiver outreach of Standing With Hope. If you find this podcast meaningful, please consider sharing it with a caregiving friend ...and also please consider helping us do more by contributing at https://hopeforthecaregiver.com/giving

I opened the show with a hymn from my CD, Songs for the Caregiver ...and shared i offered the message of this hymn to a listener struggling to care for the parents who abused her.

A line from the hymn: There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest ...near to the heart of God.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/songs-for-the-caregiver/1168214760

Hope For the Caregiver is the family caregiver outreach of Standing With Hope. Your support helps us continue strengthening family caregivers. www.standingwithhope.com/giving

From our national broadcast (7/31/2021)

As a caregiver, are you resting? What does that even look like?

Hope For the Caregiver is the family caregiver outreach of Standing With Hope. Your support helps us continue strengthening family caregivers. www.standingwithhope.com/giving