Fairview Community Church

Hi There Friends!

Last evening we held a wonderful event here at Fairview on “Caring for Aging Parents”  –or actually “caring for anyone” that focused on the role of the care-giver.  Our featured speaker, Jack Light, from the “ Caregiving Resource Center ” located at St Jude Hospital in Fullerton , used a phrase that stuck “Caring smarter –not harder.”   I identified with this topic more than I had anticipated I would.  I imagined that this would be a great resource for so many of you who’ve found yourself in this type of situation where you’re suddenly in thrust into caring for your parents either in your own home or in a facility.  I didn’t realize how this presentation would have an impact on me –and yet, I realized that playing the role of caregiver is difficult no matter who it is your caring for.  Much of what we learned about could be applicable in several different realms of life.   Over and over again Mr. Light lifted up the idea that care-givers must receive care themselves…and that care has to begin with themselves.   We need to be able to take care of ourselves.

How often do we feel like taking care of ourselves is “selfish”?  I know I feel that way often.  I hate the idea of being selfish, so I often won’t do something good for myself because I see it as luxurious.   However, as my friends and family have sought to remind me –turning the heat on in my house isn’t luxurious –it’s just a good idea!  Yet – how many of us fall into this category of putting others first to the point of simply not even identifying that we have our own needs.  As I write this, I realize I skipped lunch because “I didn’t have time” – I’ve had more important things to do!   And yet the reality is that we need to make time for ourselves  –in my case – to turn on the heater, fix the light in my bedroom, and eat lunch!  What’s the case in your life?

Valentine’s Day is coming on Saturday –quite honestly, a day I often struggle with.  I get frustrated by the commercialism of the whole thing.  And quite honestly, as a single person, I feel like the whole day is meant to make me feel badly about myself!  Well what if –in addition to or maybe even instead of – focusing on all the other people you love on Feb 14^th –you gave a Valentine to yourself?   How about a day set aside for loving yourself?  You don’t have to buy yourself flowers, or jewelry, or anything for that matter – but you could just set some time away for you –at minimum to get the stuff you need to get done done, and at maximum to pamper yourself a little bit.   So many of you are busy giving care to all the many people in your life, why not allow yourself this opportunity to be cared for?   The truth is, as we all learned last night, we can be better care-givers when we care for ourselves.  We all need to feel loved and for those of you that heard my rendition on Sunday morning as Whitney sings “Learning to Love yourself, it is the greatest love of all!”

So…chew on that….while I go find myself a late lunch!

See you on Sunday!  Same time -same place!    10am here at Fairview Community Church !