Welcome to Thursday Coffee Hour. This is an open topic thread so help yourself to the goodies and sit a spell and let us know what is new with you. As many of you know I have moved my disabled brother Reid from California to North Carolina so I can take care of him. Reid has severe diabetes and M.S. and can not walk without the aid of a walker. We are actually looking to get him a wheelchair since he has been falling. He has been having a lot of pain so setting up his own apartment has been put on hold.
The other evening I was curled up reading in my bedroom and Reid was on the couch where he has been sleeping and spending most of his time. He got a call from California. I heard him say, “My sister has been a godsend.” Miriam Webster defines godsend as: something that provides great and usually unexpected help when it is needed and a very helpful person. Needless to say that compliment really made my day. To be honest though my family has come to rely on my help in times of trouble. They realize that the parent’s house would never have been sold and our brother Mike’s affairs settled without me. Berni would not be working where she is since I take her the hour to and from work every morning. Reid was at the point where it was no longer safe for him to be totally by himself.
When you think about it though the world would be a better place if everyone would strive to be a godsend. There is so much we can do to help our fellow man. Sometimes just being willing to sit and listen to someone can make a difference in someone’s life. Being a full-blown caregiver is a very difficult job and not everyone can do it. I was caregiver for Mom. Being Reid’s caregiver was a given for me considering my nature. My early life was influenced by activist priests and nuns who were helping the Farmworkers Union get organized. I was taught we have an obligation to help our fellow man. I realize that this round of care giving is going to be much tougher than taking care of Mom. This time around I am dealing with having to help lift him up. I am dealing with him not being able to get to the bathroom in time and cleaning up the mess. Someone needs to do it though and I would rather it be me than some stranger. Besides it feels good to be called a godsend.