Caregivers

Happy Easter all..I want to start this morning by explaining what today means to me... Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.--Romans 6:4....this is so powerful to me... when I think about the fact that he died so that I could walk in newness.. hmmm it seems that the only words I can think of is THANK YOU.. Thank you Jesus!

I hope you all had a great week. I had a good week. It was busy and all too stressful at times, but made it through and getting ready to start another. Lots of what I and many others call "stinking thinking" this week. Not sure why though. Strange how the mind can play tricks on you...if you let it. when I feel my stinking thinking taking over I try very hard to pray pray pray.. I pray that I keep the good thoughts first and foremost in my mind and throw out the rest.. well maybe not throw them out as I try to learn from every thought good or bad, but maybe push the bad to the back of my mind and dwell on the so many wonderful things in my life. Last week I talked a lot about survivors of cancer and this week I wanted to tell you about the caregivers in my life...amazing caregivers.. those that probably don't even realize what they do for me on a daily basis... It's tough to think of all the caregivers in my life without wanting to mention them all by name, but  If  I did I would be here until next Sunday so instead of mentioning names as I am sure I would forget a name or two and would never want to hurt anyone I will just call you "caregivers" and hope that you know that it is you I speak about...When I went to my therapist for the first time I had to fill out a questionnaire and it asked me what were some of the things I fear.. and it came to me that I really feared the silent effects that my cancer might have on those closest to me. The effects that they either don't talk about with me or just keep hidden inside for other reasons.. now my caregivers have mentioned more than once the good that it has brought into their lives, but what about the bad stuff... what about the things that go through their hearts and minds when they are alone???? I wonder about these things and know.. deep inside... that the "caregiver" has a heavy burden to bare.. Not only are they there relentlessly to take care of  the many physical needs a cancer patient has, but they are there emotionally as well..always putting on the happy face...always offering sweet, kind words...always lifting our spirits when we can't seem to lift ourselves.... but who is there to lift them? who carries their burdens for just a little while so they too can recharge???? I can only imagine how lost a caregiver gets sometimes sitting in the shadow of cancer ... I wish as a cancer survivor I could help other survivors and those still fighting with what we as survivors could do to lift or encourage or help our caregivers. I wish I had some miracle words or actions that would or could show our caregivers that what they do and say means so much more than they know... that their silent thoughts and sadness is felt and known... that their hard work and efforts never go unnoticed... I now know as a survivor how important the "caregiver" is in our struggle to beat the cancer and live with it's effects. I truly believe that if not for the caregivers in our life the survival rate would fall tremendously..I know that personally if not for the caregivers in my life...I could have never made it through.. so today I want to thank you..I want to thank you for putting your life on hold to take care of me..for putting on that happy face when all you really want to do is cry..for lifting me up and carring me through when it hurts to even walk...for kneeling and praying when all you want to do is lay down and rest your weary head....for all those things and so much more I thank you...I thank you with all that I am ... and pray that you the caregiver knows that because of you not only am I now a survivor, but now I am a caregiver....one that has been inspired by you and the silent effects you bare... I feel that the only true way to show a caregiver what they mean to you is to be one yourself.. be that caregiver that means so much to ones survival... be the caregiver that everyone needs.. not just to those fighting cancer, but to those fighting the every day trials of life... that's what I intend to do... I want the caregivers in my life to know that what they have given and continue to give was, nor will be in vein... I will take what you have given and share it with others.. I too will be a caregiver that you can be proud of... that is my thanks to you... for all that you are and all that you do ... I LOVE YOU!!!!! I hope everyone has a great Easter and a wonderful week!!!!!!