Rock of Ages -Cleft for Caregivers

American family radio, this is caregiver the Rosenberg of this as a family caregiver for the 65 million Americans currently serve as a caregiver for aging love on her chronically impaired. Love one may be that she and if so, you're in the right place were glad to have you with us you want to be a part of the show. 888-589-8840 888-589-8840 and we'd love to have you join with us.

This is the show that is dealing with the heart of a caregiver to many caregivers get lost in the weeds of caregiving and that is not where the battle is once you learn how to do certain task you got it you don't have to be constantly reminded on how to do laundry to do and of wound dressing to give an injection or to deal with doctorate insurance company set forth those to those skills are important and that's part of our journey as caregivers, but those things are one and done, you learned you got it you repeated rents.

Let's repeat or lather, rinse, repeat and in you got it, but I have found in my 35+ years now is a caregiver that the battle is in the heart where we are troubled we are scared where raging or resentful, despairing, were feeling guilty. We feel all kinds of things that are going on in and we don't know what to do with those things and they repeating over and over and over. It's not like it doesn't become wrote it becomes relentless and in where's the best place to learn how to speak to those troubled hearts with us were Scripture comes in.

That's what the show is all about is is helping us reorient our thinking you don't remember what Paul said it. Do not be conformed to this will be transformed by the renewing of your mind that is extremely applicable to the family caregiver are you renewing your mind. Are you rethinking the six and end. Please, please, please, never think that for one moment I own this. This is something I struggle with every day but I am seeing the path a bit clearer that I use to it were going to constantly veer off course and and and you know those up the meal when you're driving down the highway and they've done these things that Lisa do that were relative and in the great the road or lately with the with the pave the road that put those little slick. It's like a trademark on the side of the road so that if you veer off but your your tire starts competent and okay I got your back on the main road here that's that's kind of where we are's caregivers were constantly going to hit that thing and it reminds us okay. We gotta get back move back on here to the to the wrote and in this is this is where I believe that the battle is for us as caregivers of this life. To do this program. This will write books, is why do all things that do it, including the hymns that I choose to play each week to remind us of the sink and in the goal is not to see who couldn't come up with the be the cleverest person come up with him. The goal is for us to to reorient our thinking based on these tried and true statements of faith that come through our hymnal. We have all but abandoned in our modern church. We've got people printing out the lyrics in the bulletin are putting them up on the wall, but the not picking up a hymnal just thumbing through it and so these tunes that are so beautifully put down with this these texts that are born out of great travails at times and and certainly with with amazing theology. We just we all, but just discomfort as well bring them back and play them in a way. Hopefully that makes sense to you, and that's what I've been doing with this one today. I think you'll know it if you know what call and tell us about it. Tell us what's important to you what it means to you and every time up like this and think of a fellow back Nashville at my church there. Jim Spann outing him on the radio but there is about a story about that later, but it's a loved Jim still duties Greg and this solves report to, but here appears to debit the caregiver keyboard.

Here's today's him him him him. Do you know that you 888-589-8840 and I know this audience that a lot of you will know that him, but I'd also like to know what's important, what is it mean to what was it saying what hasn't said to you difficult times 888-589-8841 talk about caregiver theft. You know, talk a lot about in our society of of alarm systems and this is that an identity theft and so forth.

But you don't. One of the greatest thefts that we as family caregivers experience comes from our own hearts. Did you know that we steal from ourselves. We still from the moment because were were romanticizing or regretting the past over fear in the future and you know, I know that yesterday's events may have arrived with peers and trauma, but we we have an opportunity today to remain calm and deal with the current circumstances and and we as caregivers, we all know this, that tomorrow's challenges will most likely be tough. We get it, but there's also unexpected joys that are coming our way, but if were so busy looking way back her way forward with it a mess was right in front of us and we we steal from ourselves. We rob ourselves of joy in the present. None of this eliminates the grief that we carry.

Okay I get that we all are going is caregivers working to carry grief daily looks at the point. The point is to be able to deal with that grief in a healthy manner and and and by doing that we we we live in the presently we are pushing back against that fear gives that rage gets that despair that seems ever present to overtake us in in our caregiving journey, but we live in the moment we live in the present. We live right now. And yes, our independence, our relationships are career paths our dreams. They all will inevitably suffer in our caregiving journey anybody tells you different is lying to they will suffer. They will take hits but our peace of mind remains 100% in our hands. No one has the power to rob us of that composure except us with only ones that can do that to ourselves and we do that often is caregivers in the way we push back against that is that we remind ourselves of these great truths to calm ourselves in the midst of whatever were not here to eliminate the store okay not to have, but we can strengthen calm and even find joy for ourselves in the midst of the storm. There is shelter there is peace. It's available is available right now about healthy caregivers make better caregivers. This is over the caregiver. This Peter Rosenberg will be right and as a family caregiver. This is the mid to strengthen you along the journey. We can't take it away. We can't can't make it disappear. That's not the purpose of this purpose is to fortify ourselves in it for endurance, strength and fortitude calmness, peace amidst the journey and what does that look like, how do we do that how do we stay, how do we stay out of the weeds on this and that's what this program is all about. You will be a part of at 888-589-8840 888-589-8840. I usually start off with the him that is easy enough to remind us throughout the day when things hit that you might go back to the student so my hope is that at some point today.

The next 24 hours when you have a challenge you to go back and just come this to yourself.

If you just home that let the truth of what this hymn is saying to you get way knowing you're so angry you let you start breathing again just brief and walk through this list, go to the phone much Jamie in Arkansas Jamie good morning, how are you feeling what you sound like you feeling good this morning. What's on your mind. I actually got a try.

Larry and I heard your rock at.

I am actually a PPA.

I am a personal-care family caregiver. I profession I get everything you just look for somebody to the night that well it's how they doing and what's going on with that said, I know you can talk about personal stuff of the family, but you caring for, well, I can't tell you about my current partner in caring for our nation but I can tell you about Holly Pat Wyant died taking care of people that hacked online or have been on half and I taking care of just about anything really on right now like I helped enter then I need to get up and out of the bathroom and are and they can't go to the bathroom I take care of that.

That's one of the thing hot but doesn't take care as you need a way to take care of what I what you what you do in the night as you are sitting there with this love one.

This family members of the family member and go to bed or whatever are they that do you have someone else in the home there with you. Suggest you buy yourself with this person normally are or what. How does that work with you sometime family member how well intended shut down and now I kind of way And I keep my mind occupied my Bible and another thing I hear them call or get up and look around.

I going with what Scriptures do you read in the middle of the night when you standing guard over someone watching over that what Scriptures mean something to you during those times. I don't want the overnight is my day. I go to sleep and I took a shower when I get home so I might daily Bible reading right you can be anywhere. I have read the client may sleep were in discomfort.

Wyant, do you find that your clients like to listen to the hymns and so forth. Is that something that's been addressed or or I know this with my own family members that that we we we have a lot of hymns that have been played and it just kinda comes about when they get agitated. Does that thing I can guide now… Mike ran like I matter I called her Granny Matt when he had, he couldn't talk, and remember anything that she remembered the work that I may really stick with. Did you know this and this morning that I played now actually I got 30 years old so I don't know any of the hands or anything like that. Well I'm glad that you called because I'm and I'm glad that you said that because a lot of people don't and that's it that's it said commentary on what's going on in our churches runner because were missing it with this hymn is this is extraordinary him that his touch millions of lives in a modal, but someone else guess it but you can use when you stay on and listen to the show that you know what this is, in here if you miss because I got a lot of folks of plant called in that if said that they know what this is and I'd like for you to know this hymn, and I will say this, there's one person here that that I think may resonate with you while I draw this fleeting breath when mind is so close and death when I sort of worlds unknown. See the on the judgment throne and I know that you've been there, would people have drawn their fleeting breath and that's it. That's the sacred moment that I know that you you participated in with folks that's that's part of your your world enough to get my hands up ring simply to the cross I cling naked come to the for dress helpless look to the for Grace Fowler to the fountain fly wash me, Savior, or a death in these are these are extraordinary lyrics in the go ahead of you say something there.

I someone there sacred for me when I like it.

I like to step out of the room and make sure the family has that now I'm not a distraction or anything and that's what I got in a path that I the percolating and I just excuse myself and make sure that they get to have that moment out this extremely thoughtful and meaningful that you do that noticeably people before I let you go.

Is there something you would like to say to family members in that situation is what would you like to tell them that yes, well, if you're Christian yet know that the that they are going. The most wonderful play that shell was only going to be temporary and now they are with their Lord and that's not a bad thing that that should be something we all desire and you remember that and that will help with the key implicit Jamie I think I yes ma'am, please do one thing I recommend all people, Dale make photo out front and make sure on the back of those photo to write the names of who are in it if you know the location right back down. If you know the year. Write that down because a lot of people family members experienced and I'm sure the caregiver.

I can't tell them who found out that if I can remember that the names on the back.

I can combat might remember the name Apple trick associate that again.

And how many up and just left it.

This little suggestion wonderful suggestion from somebody who does this every day.

Listen, I know you're tired but if you, go to the next caller. But if you hang on for a couple minutes of think you hear more about this hymn and that I hope it will, it will connect with you in a very personal way, and I thank you for what you do. It's it it's a gift. It's a calling.

It's a ministry that you do and I thank you for it. On behalf of a lot of folks my family has experienced this with wonderful caregivers who come into the home and do this and you are your real source of encouragement to a lot of people I know that you are thinking.

Jamie already list go to Geneva and Kansas morning chief Geneva how you doing I hear your program will here in a time when I'm not just my radio on here. I am yet bring wonderful memory. I would most certainly is. You have your radio still on break down alternate all the buzz go on this bear that help know we just got a terrible connection. So I'm to put you on hold there for second but Geneva obviously got the solid rock of ages. Cliff for me.

Let me hide myself in the let the water the blood from the ribbon side which flowed, be of sin the double cure save me from its guilt and power rock of ages. Jamie thank you for continued listening as you cut off the shift. That's a great him and there's plenty of people out there who've recorded it and you can go out and download it and play it and let it just kind of wash over you is a wonderful hymn and Geneva I'm sorry, but with that bad connection will have to let that one go, and I'm very sorry for that because I always love talking to you I had a note to remind myself about you Geneva this past week because I know that November 4 was a important day for you and I think and appreciate you calling me and I had that come up on my calendar and I want you to know that this is this is extraordinary him will you get by labor to get to the rest the calls in the next segment but this hymn written by Gustus.

Top of the thing to say say his name. He was the minister and it was written in 1783. This text now the there is a legend that says that he was caught in a storm out of the countryside and he found a fissure in the rock in the slipped in there to get out of this storm and he was so you know, taken by the be the experience that he wrote that line rock of ages. Cliff for me that some people doubt that that happened.

I don't know I was there but he wrote this extraordinary text that's been modified a little bit over the years.

It was written for so long ago that the language has changed, but most of the state with us and Lowell Mason who wrote the company tunes great hymn writer wrote this wonderful to the goes with the rock of ages. Cliff for me. Will talks more about this.

What this means to family caregivers here. The next thing this Peter Rosenberg.

This is hope for the caregiver and I'm Peter Rosenberger and this is your caregiver minute in the caregiving journey we daily encounter five drama moments. They can really wear honest, some of this drama. Moments maybe from our loved one. Others might be from friends and family medical community and sometimes is how drama moments come internally as we mentally slept ourselves around over things we wish we'd done better, or which we not done it all and eliminate all of those moments, but we can reduce that by asking one simple question how important is this just a question we ask, how important is this it gives us and others an opportunity to prioritize and even detach from the circumstances so we can determine is this really a crisis or maybe this is something we can just let go. How important is it for us to be, caregivers, and we can answer that one right now together.

It's vitally important. This is been your caregiver minute with Peter Rosenberger brought to you by standing with hope there's more information@standingwithhope.com this is a family care ledger with 888-589-8840 just heard are your caregiver minute we do that a lot in. We got more those in our podcast hope the caregiver.com and see them in our pockets is free. We have almost 600 episodes of the program of your caregiver minutes of bonus stuff IS that this free podcast, please take advantage of it and use it wherever whatever hot Service you use.

Whether it's iTunes or Apple. Whatever it's it's available on every platform spot if I whatever industry take advantage of it, share it with people you know and we put these things out there to hopefully divide just in time to help as we journey along this very difficult road of being a caregiver and anybody that tells you hasn't done it long enough because it is.

It's very challenging Joseph in Virginia Joseph good morning are you feeling you are well Clark Jacob call you earlier are prime phone number and got the wrong number, but I finally got here you are new rock. A very good marriage.

Started playing well I'm glad you did you tell the other number that you call that you were calling the rock of ages that probably calls it a little bit of confusion. But it's what this all mean something to you Joseph well don't remember rock a very old, let me hide my cell no longer combine wounded quick hello and double cure, and make those who are right click and my mother you hello mother saying sweet by her and then grandmother passed use to say similar Melody rock a very and pragmatically quoted will learn from the wounded side which flowed whenever we have difficult and trying again the outcry.

And that have clinical and often caregiving. We must look collective failure, and that picture on the call. God and the water and came flowing down the right hand. So currently on the way. We double. The longer end of love, like you said you know how her hero, whatever my love of ever said create no one going to call Brad because he is more on hate filled my friend everybody there and no one had gone to that, but he. And now, and bearing the troubles of the world.

We gain strength and saying my Savior and what he very well. Come follow me on the way learned that word way hold off until the Lord: and you have blessed Savior sloughing off the road and follow him.

That care for my mother and I had gone wrong. God now and my clothing.

He will caregiver along with multiple sclerosis you surely would not able to express herself in her mind is good Mike separating when he tried to sleep and he was unable to say what he wanted to say like she wanted. Like he and I was hurt caregiver for clearing the aircraft. I thank my outlook on hello, I have taken care of myself times when I'm still doing past my 80th birthday, but not very well and he used to say to me and with her expression out unraveling and local expression. We believe way E, route time, saying mud, we were going you doing bluntly how their little yes on client is you?

Click was your sister was she ate was she able to sing even though she was unable to speak very well of the words didn't come to the music come easier to her. Just a curious now, and caring for her. Like he was not able to go exactly correctly and fill it with all clear and not harmoniously. What was written mud will you make out yet what what what was or what was my first favorite songs. What is 100 which would what's a favorite sound that she used to singer still sings with one of her favorite hills.

We tried to talk my long-term goal line and we got together).

All you love me know: the Bible makes out and yeah now now I know this song Jesus loves you and your sister. You said your mom like you to sleep on the love that you love and the sweet bind Joseph on that beautiful show, and Joseph, I thank you for sharing this with you since I think that you love the CM I I love the same as well and I'm hoping that fellow caregivers if they remember nothing else from this program today and from this time together is that rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in the when it gets so difficult to get so gnarly for us as caregivers, can we remember those just those two sentences rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in the and that is that's a great human very moved about how this is meant something to you and your family through your caregiving journey, which is not been easy and here you are 80 or sisters 89 and these are difficult things, and yet you have endured. You have strengthened me and many others. They listen to you show this is what fortitude looks like. So Joseph, thank you for that. I really do appreciate it okay. Five. Call your heart. Your hand away and calm.

Career might know about who you know what you're talking about now that's that's that's a very moving to hear. Appreciate that very much. I want to go to Roger in Arkansas.

Thank you Joseph Rogers Arkansas good morning Roger how you feeling I bet you are. I will I and that Moses on top of the mountain to get the and God matting. Not bad after the guys not following God not getting behind eight and Texas United but just not protected by an song about God's protection applies to guard God will indeed in and I think that this is where is for me as a caregiver. When I hear this human recognizes that there is a place of safety for me, it doesn't mean that these things are going to go away that we deal with it means that he's going to sustain us and care for us and it and that the greatest place of safety is when our hearts are at peace knowing that he sovereign over all of this and and I love the second stanza, not the labor of my hands can fulfill a lost man's must seal no respite no good.

My tears forever flow all could never send a race down must save them saved by grace.

It's a great text will talks more about this in the excitement Roger. It's always a pleasure to hear from you. Thank you and you be safe out there today are right to dispute.

Rosenberg never helped somebody walk for the first time I've had that privilege many times through our organization. Standing with when my wife Gracie gave up both of her legs follow this horrible Rick that she had as a teenager and she try to save them for years and if it just wouldn't work out. And finally she relinquished him and thought wow this is that I'm not happy legs anymore. What can God do with that and then she had this vision for use in prosthetic limbs as a means of sharing the gospel to put legs on her fellow amputees and that's what we been doing now since 2005 was standing with work in the West African country of Ghana and you can be a part of that through supplies through supporting team members through supporting the work that were doing over there. You could designate Olympus all kinds of ways that you can be a part of giving the gift that keeps on walking and standing with.com would you take a moment ago what to standing with.com and see how you can give they go walking and leaping and praising God. You could be a part of that@standingwith.com would like to hope Rosenberg. This is a show for as a family caregiver and I know that so many of you are very sometimes when the show airs live on Saturday mornings. You're just getting up your love ones not up yet and is just your time to be quiet and to kinda reflect before the day gets away from you a little bit and I'm grateful that we just have this time to hang out together just to talk a little bit and strengthen one another for the journey because it is a very painful journey is a very difficult journey but it doesn't have to be a miserable journey.

I have learned a lot of things over my 35 years of this and one of them is that this is just not all up to me. I have done things on behalf of Gracie that are extraordinary and I had to have it even slow the journey to. I have fought with insurance companies and one of never lost an appeal with an insurance company of interacting with well over 100 doctors now in 13 hospitals that all of her 80+ surgeries that ended that I can count I can help.

Really all of more trips to do clinics and hospitals and doctors office I want, sitting it up in a doctor's office. We are waiting to meet with the surgeon over in Billings, Montana for we didn't back and forth with them doing this as it is worth paying for something to Gracie.

We had had not met this doctor yet and assess it that I looked around the room I realize how much that room looked exactly like the rooms.

I spent countless times and in Nashville at St. Thomas Hospital at Vanderbilt Hospital. It says at this hospital had trust at a Centennial Hospital. All these different hospitals have spent time in an old exam room start looking like I'm sitting there looking Gracie and I just got reflected how many moments like this.

If we and it is just to hit me that there is the longevity of this journey and what this means for us as caregivers, and so many of us are in that same pathway were just is. It's that repetition of the caregiving world. It's what I started reaching out to my fellow kegger somebody asked me what what separates your program from others and I just I don't get into the task of caregiving I get into the weariness of the caregiver's heart I get into the broken places of the caregivers heart that is is struggling to find solid ground in the midst of the craziness and I stay out of the weeds. There's no need for me to go there. I can't tell you how to take care your lovely morning to Gracie what I can share with your things that I've learned along the way. What I've learned along the way, is that it's just not up to me.

Gracie has a Savior that Savior and as I often say on the show to look down at your hands. I looked at my hands.

I don't see nail prints in minority nor do you. This is not ours to fix and so what is our role arose to care and to minister as best as we possibly can, and to trust that God is working in this in ways that we cannot see nothing in my hands, I bring, simply to thy cross I cling naked come to the for dress helpless look to the for grace foul out to the fountain fly wash me, Savior, or a dinosaur him for the rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in the once we understand that concept. It re-orients her thinking as we go to this that is somehow I were not projecting ourselves to our loved one are doing what else is there Savior. Recognize that nothing in our hands that we bring to this, but we get we get the privilege of being used by our Savior, to minister to one that he loves knowing that also. He loves us as well.

One reason to put Jesus loves me out. I just like that for Josefina sister saying that she couldn't sing very well because of her condition that what Jesus loves me on my CD of songs for the caregiver and it's out there website you go out and check it out and see when you listen most of it for free and I think download of whatever it's it's out there to put that on there because a lot of caregivers are so busy carrying their loved one to Jesus.

They forget that he loves me to. I was so busy trying to get Gracie to Jesus.

I didn't realize that he left me to never, how many times I've talked about on this program of our loss of identity that we caregivers are so busy speaking in third person singular or first person plural. We, us, our he/she that we forget that it's Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so and I and I use these old hymns to remind us of of these great truths people wiser and sharper than me took the time to write these things down and I get to stand on their work. I get to benefit from their journey and incorporate these things in my life to sustain me along the way and I want to pass that on to as many people as possible rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in the justice company wrote the side and by the sisters of side note he he and John Wesley evidently had a with a color pamphlet war. They were basically to get out material like they can't do it on Twitter back in the 1700s. They did it with pamphlets and they were back and forth over Calvinism versus Arminianism and I would build out not get into that particular to patent but I think it's probably that these guys I know what they're doing on Twitter now, but this been going on for forever.

You would people have the five ways to communicate in and argue back and forth of this.

The human condition we are going fine.

We start but they they got into the rift over that land be of sin the double cure and and there's all kinds of drama that was going on, but the hymn has prevailed through all these years, and it sustains so many around the world rock of ages, cleft for me, it just that one sentence were saying that the rock this solidity of of God and that the ages you don't you know that old hymn, O God, our help in ages past, but it also refers to the eternal missive God of ages he he's over all of this, the sovereignty of God over all this. This is cleft for me, a hiding place for me.

A safety place for me that it makes a very personal so told by this massive concept of God rock of ages and makes it real, personal, cleft for me, what is it mean to us as a caregiver. In those moments when we are so afraid were so despairing were so discouraged that the great I am the king of kings and Lord of lords. The rock of ages as a hiding place for you. Psalm 91 the shelter of the Almighty.

The shadow of his wings. These are things that mean something to us in this caregiving journey that can be so disheartening and lonely and frightening. Yay though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death I will fear what no evil for what thou art with me. He's with me. Please take the wait-and-see stick me out of the valley seasonably with me. Do you do you do you connect with that this morning.

Some of you are getting ready to face very difficult things just today, probably within the hour.

Do you understand that there is a cleft for you that there is a is that the hymn writer said. The legend says that he felt that for sure the rock in the midst of the storm. He was able to get shelter. You understand that shelters available to you right now you don't have to bring anything fancy city goes on to say this not the labor of my hands there's nothing I can do to earn that if I can't fulfill all the laws demand. The law was beyond my ability to do that if you seal new no respite if he had no rest for his zeal if his tears never stop flowing over his sin, it still would not erase thou must save and saved by grace and that grace is what were falling into when we accept that there is a cleft of the rock for you. Nothing in my hands, I bring, simply to thy cross I cling you heard Joseph talk about naked I come to the for dress helpless look to the for grace found lie to the fountain fly wash me Savior or a dad.

These are things that mean something to us as we deal with the harshness of this world. It is caregivers. We seem to have a relentless opportunity to see the harshness of the brokenness of this world, but it's not all up to you. It is and never has been, and he's not abandoning you to this.

He's not leaving you to this figure this whole thing out by yourself. Instead, he's assuring you of his presence right now and offers comfort, strength, calmness, peace, and dare I say even joy along that is hope for the Smita Rosenberg. This is the show for you as a family care. Glad to join is healthy. Caregivers make better caregivers. There's more and hopefully caregiver.com will see next story of Peter's wife Gracie and recently Peter talk to Gracie about all the wonderful things that emerge from her difficult journey.

Take a listen Gracie. When you envision doing a prosthetic limb outreach. Did you ever think the inmates would help you do that, not in a million years. When you go to the facility run by core civic and you see the faces of these inmates that are working on prosthetic limbs that you helped collect from all of the country that you put out the plea for and their disassembly sell these legs like what you have your own prosthetic and orange everything when you seal this makes me cry because I see this on their faces and I know what it is like someplace where you can't get out without somebody else allowing you to get out the hospital.

These men are so glad that they get to be doing is one thing said something good with my did you know before you became a deputy parts of prosthetic limbs could be recycled. Now I thought peg leg. I thought it wouldn't legs.

I never thought of titanium and carbon legs and flex the sea legs and all that. I never thought about.

As you watch these inmates participate in something like this, knowing that there helping other people all providing the means for the supplies to get over there. What is it just on the heart level. I wish I could explain to the world.

What I see in here and I wish that I can be able to come and say the this guy right here in East Africa with I never not feel that way out every time you know you always make me have to leave. I don't want to leave. I feel like I'm at home with them and I feel like we have a common bond never expected that only God could put together.

Now that you've had experience with it what you think of the faith-based programs. The core civic offers. I think they're just absolutely awesome and I think every person out there for half faith-based program ties the return rate of the men that are involved in this particular faith-based program and other ones like it and I know that this one car is an amazingly low rate here is that that is me just has something to do with God.

People want to donate and use prosthetic limbs, whether from a loved one who passed away or you somebody well-groomed you donated some of your own for the please go to standing with.com/recycle pain. We