Evelyn from Georgia
This is my story: I am a career caregiver who periodically struggles with my own issue which is asthmatic episodes and food allergies which has landed me on a ventilator about twelve times. In 2002 I was forced to retire due my health and the need my daddy had for me care for him after mother passed away. I was called to move back home after living in the city 33 years raising a family of three daughters. Daddy needed to be waited on literally hand and foot for he could not use his hands and one day he fell-- fracturing his hip -- therefore he could no longer walk, so he became bedridden.
My parents had a fear of the nursing home and I was chosen to care for my dad -- allowing him to stay in his own home for the rest of his days on this earth. This was a mighty big blessing in my life for my dad cared for us children when we could not care for ourselves. Though it was a work that called for complete commitment-- it was all worth it for the Lord my God says a work that is done in the service of the Lord will not go without reward in this life and in the life to come. I am confident that as He called me to care for daddy, He was also calling me to draw near to Him and He gave me the time I needed to sit and study His word. My father went home to be with the Lord one year and a half after I came to his home and this happened as he was lying in his own bed. I changed his diaper, said, "I love you daddy and he said, 'I love you too and he went over to the other side." This was the sweetest way the Lord could have allowed for us to part after daddy's 87 years and my 50 years on this earth. I am forever blessed, and grateful to encourage other adult children to receive the blessing if life calls on you to do such a work as this.
In 2009 I was called on again to provide care for my older brother who had a heart condition. He was 64 years old and retired from the city where he worked for 44 years. After his release from the hospital he was told he would need the care of a nursing home and I offered to care for him in my home but he decided to go to the facility instead. He asked us not to forget about him; so I chose to commit to providing his personal care. This means I was there in facility several days weekly doing his laundry, errands, hair, nails and sharing the encouraging good news of the gospel with him. He went home to be with the Lord within a few months. This was my brother and the Lord had blessed me yet again to provide a service which He desired of me.
2013 was another very good year for the service to a suffering family member continued. My younger sister in her fifties had an emergency open heart surgery and when the hospital was ready to release her I received a call saying they were going to release her to a nursing home for a period of recovery. She told them she did not agree and asked if they would let me know she wanted to come to my home instead. This was my little sister and the only answer I could give was "yes," so she was on oxygen in our home for a month. I prepared her meals, drove her to her doctor appointments and shared encouraging words with her. After her recovery she returned to her home two hours away. When the Lord calls us to serve He has already gone before us and prepared the way and we must walk in it for this always lead to blessing.