CAREGIVING is often taken for granted. I just read a post by Jyee24 about caring for her dad from rehab to nursing home to home again. Her mom is not able to care for him. They are both the same age.

Scolars, teachers and educators please excuse the mispellings and improper english usage. I'm writing this as it comes to mind for my feelings for each caregiver including my wife. She quit her job to care for me. I'M VERY THANKFUL.

I reached another milestone today with her caring and a blessing from GOD. Today I made 64 years on earth. Thats a long way from her coming home to find me lying on the floor passed out from a bleed in the brain. The stroke was at 11 am. I got to the hospital at almost 4 pm still bleeding. Was rushed to another hospital for surgery. By that time the bleeding stopped.

I was hospital and rehab for 3 months. She came every day. I was so happy to have her care about my well being and recovery. I came home in wheelchair left side affected, only able to walk a few feet.

Caregivers in my mind starts with the EMS team, ER, ICU doctors. At that point of the stroke you are a victim at their mercy and knowledge with Gods grace and blessings. A couple days later you become a SURVIVOR. You made it for now bearing any unforseen setbacks. Another blessing by God in my mind.

The mistaken idea is ingrained in the way we think that people who faithfully care for survivors often wonder if anyone considers the work of their hands and heart to be of value in our progress to survive and recover. Some even question if it matters to God. Those that are married said vows, until death do us part.

We are reminded to the call by God to care for children, friends, aging relatives and our neighbors. Those of us believing in our faith love GOD and our neighbor. We care and pray for others in need. Caregiving is full time work from the heart and soul. You are exausted at days end then night begins. Then there are some to ask, what do you do?? There are no breaks, no rest, no regular cycles with days off.

Caregiving is repetitive, creative, tedious and practically unfinishable. Remembering to give medications changing diapers, house cleaning, cooking, driving to doctor appointments, pharmacy grocery store, choir practice, meetings and others I forgot--- is done over and over day in day out.

This is a drain where the caregiver has to guard against burnout and seek rest and some refreshment somehow on a regular basis. Easier said than done when there is a lack of support from other family members available to offer help. All caregivers need inner pease, love when they are drained.

Caregivers I'm saying take time to unwind. Read a book, write, take a walk outside, conversate with a good neighbor who cares and thinks in positive terms. Hopefully also believe in God. Be encouraged by your survivors progress(ever how little or much)he or she needs your caring. This is priceless and your reward is nearer than you can imagine by God.

I am so thankful for my caregiver wife it makes me want to do more and never give up. To me that would be a slap in her face for me to stop wanting to live my life no matter how slow I am.

As a progressing survivor I pray for all caregivers on this site and everywhere in this wide world. To other survivors be thankful for your caregiver God loves all of us. IN GOD WE TRUST. We are blessed not lucky to be caregivers and survivors, lets thank God. No matter your faith or stand have a BELIEF. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE in something or you will fall for anything.

For me remember this: The difficult we do IMMEDIATELY, only the IMPOSSIBLE takes a little LONGER.