'Dear Friends' June 2007

Monday, June 4, 2007     Waiting Dear Friends,    If you're like us, you've probably muttered some form of the sincere prayer, "Dear Lord, give me patience!" If you're like us, you've probably noticed God has taken you up on your request and continues to offer you ample opportunities to practice and perfect that virtue. In other words, to wait and wait and wait. Caregiving includes a lot of waiting. And so does care-receiving.    There are, for example, the waiting rooms in doctors' offices, hospitals and social service agencies. Waiting for the day of an appointment, waiting for medication to take effect, waiting for test results, waiting -- at some points in caregiving and care-receiving -- for life in this world to end and life eternal to begin.    Perhaps it helps to realize that waiting, that practicing patience, is a form of prayer even when we may be too tired, in too much pain, or too downright irritated to pray any other way.   Here are a few words of encouragement to help you through all the waiting challenges you may be facing this week: "Patience is the companion of wisdom."     --St. Augustine "Patience is the root and guardian of all the virtues."     --St. Gregory the Great "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew."     --St. Francis de Sales - - -    Don't wait! Join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver right now! (Tama did. Welcome, Tama!)    God bless you!                                                             Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, June 11, 2007     Your Call Within a Call Dear Friends,    We received an e-mail this week from a member who made several major changes in her life to move back home to take care of her parents. She noted that: "It's not exactly what I had in mind for my life -- what a reminder that God is in charge!"  We were reminded of the story of Mother Teresa's decision to begin the Missionaries of Charity. She was already a nun -- and had been for quite some time -- when in 1946, she had a "call within a call" and her vocation shifted.    When the two of us go out to speak to groups, we often talk about the "vocation" of caregiving. How, just as Jesus asked (called) St. John to take care of the Blessed Mother, he invites an individual to care for a spouse, a parent, a child with special needs, a family member or friend.    This, too, is a "call within a call." You're already a husband or wife. A son or daughter. A brother or sister. You're already a niece or nephew or friend. But now, within that vocation, God calls you to another one. A deeper one. He offers you an invitation which, like St. John, you can choose to accept . . . or which you can decline.    No one has to tell a caregiver that answering that call brings a host of obligations and concerns. Perhaps what we all need to be reminded is that it also brings blessings and graces. Or, in the words of another caregiver who shared a bit of her story with us:    "I think I have been given many grace-filled experiences in my life but it was caring for my mom as she died that made the words 'God filled spirit' so meaningful." - - -    Welcome, new members! Hello to Lynn, Theresa, Maureen, Mary S., Mary C., Diane & Dick, and Jean. Thank you so very much for agreeing to pray for family caregivers and those receiving care. (Not a member yet? It's easy to join. And free. Here's how.)    God bless you!                                                             Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, June 18, 2007     The Sacrament of the Sick Dear Friends,    We recently heard about a mother and daughter -- a senior and "middle-ager" -- who received the Sacrament of the Sick together. Mom because of her age and frailty; daughter because of surgery and ongoing chemotherapy. Their pastor, a strong advocate for this wonderful sacrament, makes it a point of personally inviting and encouraging his parishioners to receive it!    It could be that your care-receiver would like to receive the Anointing of the Sick if he or she knew more about it. It could be your own knowledge is a little sketchy.    YourAgingParent.com has two pages on this sacrament. One is basic, and the other offers more details. - - -   Making Plans: This week we've been making plans to attend three national conventions in the fall: Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Catholic Women and Catholic Medical Association. We've learned that face-to-face contact is a tremendous way to help professionals become more aware of the needs of family caregivers and learn how the Friends of St. John the Caregiver can help them meet those needs. Then, too -- always -- there are some among those professionals who are family caregivers themselves.    The downside? Travel costs take a hefty bite out of our limited budget. We would greatly appreciate it if you would make a contribution to help cover these expenses. Be assured the money will go specifically for this line-item. Please indicate on your check, or in a note, that you would like it used for this. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your gift --of any size --makes a difference.    You can send a check, made out to "Friends of St. John the Caregiver," to P.O. Box 320, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. Or you can use a credit card or PayPal account to donate on-line. FSJC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization so all donations are tax deductible as provided by law. - - -   Please welcome our newest member! Hello to Linda. We're so pleased you'll be joining other FSJC members in praying for family caregivers and those receiving care. (Not a member yet? It's easy to join. And free. Here's how.)    God bless you!                                                             Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, June 25, 2007     They're Praying for You Dear Friends,    There's a topic we've been meaning to mention in our weekly letter but we keep forgetting: Reminders! We all need them, especially with the variety of duties and obligations that come with family, work, parish . . . and caregiving. What you may not know, unless you've already joined the Friends of St. John the Caregiver, is that members try to keep caregivers and care-receivers in their prayers in a special way on the 27th of each month.    Why that day? Because the feast of St. John the Apostle, Evangelist . . . and Caregiver is Dec. 27th. Choosing one day out of the month doesn't mean not praying on all the others. It's a reminder of a promise to offer spiritual support to those who give care and those who receive it.    If you're a giver or receiver, please know that this Tuesday -- June 27th -- you're in the prayers of FSJC members worldwide. - - -    But wait! There's more! You also may not be aware that if you have a specific prayer request, you can post it on YourAgingParent.com. We invite you to visit that page, read through it, and say a prayer for the all the caregivers, loved ones and intentions listed there. Please don't hesitate to send us your request. - - -   On the road. As we mentioned last week, we're making plans to attend three national conventions in the fall: Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Catholic Women and Catholic Medical Association. Thank you so much to all those who made a donation to help cover the cost. Worried that it's too late for you to give? Relax!    You can send a check, made out to "Friends of St. John the Caregiver," to P.O. Box 320, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. Or you can use a credit card or PayPal account to donate on-line. FSJC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization so all donations are tax deductible as provided by law. - - -   Please welcome our newest member! Hello to Mary P. Thank you so much for joining fellow FSJC members in praying for family caregivers and those receiving care. (Not a member yet? It's easy to join. And free. Here's how.)    God bless you!                                                             Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation Past "Dear Friends" notes