Caregiving - bringing out the best in us
I realize now that my last post was just plain laziness. I had written on my family Blog and decided that was good enough. I could just cut and paste the link here and that is enough. But llamentations is my work journal for the creative process. While Cyndie's Musings is my research and historical journal, this page is for my creativity. This is where I bare my soul and breathe life into my creative writing.
The theme for today is definitely Brilliant Compassion. When I was in high school (1976), I explored a life of religious dedication. I had a mentor and I knew from early on I was born to take care of others. Before first grade, I played on convent grounds as my grandmother measured and sewed the habits - the formal wear of the Sisters of Mercy. I was usually drawn near the Grotto and felt peace while learning from my grandmother what it was like to devote time and energy for others. It was more than kindness. It was a type of devotion. I learned this from her.
I remember sitting in chapel around 10 in the morning and feeling the sun's warm rays filtering in the gold stained windows in high school. I felt it was God's love embracing me. It was a world of peace and all was well with my soul. And so, I explored the notion that I should enter into this world as that occupation. More than anything, I wanted to go to Africa in 1979. The AIDS epidemic was new to the western world. We did not know what we were dealing with, but there were some medications available to help relieve the suffering. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were prepared to go and minister to them. I wanted to go also. But it was not meant to be for me. After high school, I struggled. I lost my sense of purpose. It was not until 1998 when I began caregiving again, that I realized that this was what I was born to do. The lessons I had learned from the Sisters of Mercy during my pre-school years and the lessons from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were there -- just waiting to be reawakened. Caregiving is one of the most difficult things a person can do. Especially when someone we love has only a short time with us, but within us we are capable of brilliant compassion that shines and makes us better people as we endure. And I've discovered our loved ones never truly leave us. I feel their presence as I continue to give care for others in our family.
I remember attending meetings after school at Incarnate Word Academy high school. It was a philosophy club called the seekers. At 17-18 years old, we were interested in finding the answers to all the big questions. We wanted to discuss thoughts too grand for us. Now at 49, I realize I'm not any closer to answering the questions we posed back then. But I have learned one thing. Peace within ourselves, our community and our world seems like a complicated thing, but I believe the answer may be very simple. Acceptance. I truly believe we achieve peace when we accept ourselves, our place in this world and accept others for who they are and what they do. No matter how difficult things may be, we need to accept that everything will be okay again. Our faithful hearts will guide us through.
cyndiesmusings.blogspot.com
The theme for today is definitely Brilliant Compassion. When I was in high school (1976), I explored a life of religious dedication. I had a mentor and I knew from early on I was born to take care of others. Before first grade, I played on convent grounds as my grandmother measured and sewed the habits - the formal wear of the Sisters of Mercy. I was usually drawn near the Grotto and felt peace while learning from my grandmother what it was like to devote time and energy for others. It was more than kindness. It was a type of devotion. I learned this from her.
I remember sitting in chapel around 10 in the morning and feeling the sun's warm rays filtering in the gold stained windows in high school. I felt it was God's love embracing me. It was a world of peace and all was well with my soul. And so, I explored the notion that I should enter into this world as that occupation. More than anything, I wanted to go to Africa in 1979. The AIDS epidemic was new to the western world. We did not know what we were dealing with, but there were some medications available to help relieve the suffering. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were prepared to go and minister to them. I wanted to go also. But it was not meant to be for me. After high school, I struggled. I lost my sense of purpose. It was not until 1998 when I began caregiving again, that I realized that this was what I was born to do. The lessons I had learned from the Sisters of Mercy during my pre-school years and the lessons from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were there -- just waiting to be reawakened. Caregiving is one of the most difficult things a person can do. Especially when someone we love has only a short time with us, but within us we are capable of brilliant compassion that shines and makes us better people as we endure. And I've discovered our loved ones never truly leave us. I feel their presence as I continue to give care for others in our family.
I remember attending meetings after school at Incarnate Word Academy high school. It was a philosophy club called the seekers. At 17-18 years old, we were interested in finding the answers to all the big questions. We wanted to discuss thoughts too grand for us. Now at 49, I realize I'm not any closer to answering the questions we posed back then. But I have learned one thing. Peace within ourselves, our community and our world seems like a complicated thing, but I believe the answer may be very simple. Acceptance. I truly believe we achieve peace when we accept ourselves, our place in this world and accept others for who they are and what they do. No matter how difficult things may be, we need to accept that everything will be okay again. Our faithful hearts will guide us through.
cyndiesmusings.blogspot.com