Infuse Hope - Be a Thermostat-ABCs of Self-Care for Caregivers

In this podcast episode, Karen Sebastian-Wirth (AKA The Hope Lady) shares the importance of determining your own hope level. You CAN be a thermostat and raise the hope level no matter what is going on around you. This is especially challenging when you are a caregiver who is monitoring the progress of serious health conditions. 


We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. Romans 5:3 MSG

Takeaways:
Hope is realistic.
Hope is not unabashed denial that there is a problem. Instead, it is educating yourself enough to understand the terms the medical professionals are using and trusting God in the midst of it all.
Your confidence is in the way that God will work out the details even when you get bad news. You will survive and even thrive in the midst of it all.
You can land in a wide open space.
Hope says that no matter what happens you will land on your feet.
You will continue to experience God’s grace and glory in the midst of the darkest times.
You get to choose your posture (more on that later).
You can choose to shout praises. Now that’s contagious hope.
Active Self-Care:
Find places that bring you peace

Go for a walk
Find consistent green space
Get outside and enjoy sunrises (or sunsets)

Use alternate methods of communication

It is hard to hang on to hope when facing a critical diagnosis or the never-ending hamster wheel of caring for a loved one. This is especially true during a stay in the hospital. Everyone wants to know the details and you grow weary of repeating yourself. Still, in speaking the truth in love and declaring the goodness of the Lord in the midst of the hard times, you inject hope into the conversation.
Recruit others to  help you communicate progress or lack thereof
Investigate alternate ways of letting others know what is going on

Make a prayer and praise list

Praise worthy blessings need to be acknowledged.
Make your list and keep it updated.
Speaking the praise out loud intensifies its benefits.
Shout your praise and you will be amazed at the release it brings

Prayer

Lord, you fill our hearts with hope in the darkest nights of our soul. I ask You to fill the precious caregivers reading this now to feel an infusion of hope that they can pass on to the others in the situation. Things may look bad now, yet I am grateful for so many blessings. I shout praises to You for ________________. You always have me land on my feet. You give me grace for every situation and we see miracles of Your glory at every turn. I know we will continue to sense your presence and thank You for every provision.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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