Blessed are the Cargivers

 

I am so blessed to have amazing friends that fill my heart with great joy and peace.  Yesterday I got to spend a few hours with such friends who have been caregivers for their elderly relatives since the first day I met them.  So, I wasn't surprised when they shared with me they were bringing their elderly mother into their home to take care of her.  Incredible love for this beautiful couple filled my soul as I shared with them there were great blessing in store for them.

A total stranger on a FB post had shared how she was caring for her elderly mother.  As I read her post that same radiating love filled my soul as I assured her great blessings were in store.  

I am so grateful that my dearest friends are some of those few who chose to take care of their elderly parents by bringing them into their home.  I am also blessed to have colleagues that fill my heart with joy as I witness them showering our adopted grandmas and grandpas with their unconditional love.

As I was reflecting on them a poem started flowing into my mind.  My way of sharing with them how amazing they are and how grateful I am to have them as friends.

Still needs some work but I love the message.

In the premortal existence before we were all born, our Eternal Father in Heaven called a meeting with a special few.

You are preparing for a mortal journey where you will start young and then you will grow old.  Some will have their minds begin to fade, others will have many aches and pains and there will be some who will face diseases that will eat at their good health; and so my dear children when that day comes what suggest you on how to care for them?

A vibrant discussion soon ensued where many ideas and suggestions were then shared.  But in the back of the room stood a quiet few who silently observed.

Noting their silence our great Father fastened his gaze upon them and asked, “What say ye dear children who silently observe?”  Nervous to answer one finally spoke:

“Our Holy Father here is our desire, let us your silent few take them and care for them when that day arrives.  All we ask of you is that you grant us the strength and courage to stay by their side and let our hearts be filled with love and patience as we witness their decline.”

Pleased with their humble answer our Father then declared, “Blessed art thou and how great shall be your joy when you return to your Heavenly Home."

The BIble told me so

 I enjoy listening to various insights that different pastors share from their reading of the bible.  Some are quite enlightening but there is one that every chance he gets he takes a jab at members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I just find myself sadly shaking my head because he is so off base with his thoughts.

Today he was commenting that "Mormons don't worship the Christ that is found in the bible.  They worship the Christ of Joseph Smith."  I was dumbfounded and found myself shaking my head sadly.  Joseph Smith was a young man looking for answers and he was reading in the bible               James 1:5

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and abraideth not; and it shall be given him."

If one listens to our General Conferences speaker after speaker will quote from the Old and New Testament and all encourage us to look and follow our Master the Savior and emulate our lives after His.

My thoughts than turned to the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5-7.  Then I remembered President Hinkley's Beatitude's:  

1.  Be Grateful

2.  Be Smart

3.  Be Clean

4.  Be True

5.  Be Humble

6.  Be Prayerful

All traits our Lord and Savior exhibited throughout his life.

Then the words to "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" started playing in my mind:

1. 1. I know that my Redeemer lives.

   What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

   He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

   He lives, my ever-living Head.

   He lives to bless me with his love.

   He lives to plead for me above.

   He lives my hungry soul to feed.

   He lives to bless in time of need.

2. 2. He lives to grant me rich supply.

   He lives to guide me with his eye.

   He lives to comfort me when faint.

   He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

   He lives to silence all my fears.

   He lives to wipe away my tears.

   He lives to calm my troubled heart.

   He lives all blessings to impart.

3. 3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.

   He lives and loves me to the end.

   He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.

   He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

   He lives and grants me daily breath.

   He lives, and I shall conquer death.

   He lives my mansion to prepare.

   He lives to bring me safely there.

4. 4. He lives! All glory to his name!

   He lives, my Savior, still the same.

   Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

   “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

   He lives! All glory to his name!

   He lives, my Savior, still the same.

   Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

   “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

5. 
   

There is no doubt in my mind that The Lord and Savior that I not only love and worship but who is my best friend is the One and Only Christ found throughout the pages of the bible and it is Him that I strive to be like each and every day.  I have felt His great love for me and my neighbors for His words and actions are written in the soft fleshy tablet of my heart and it all started with "Cause the bible told me so."