Caring Is Sharing Giveaway

I am caring for an elderly loved one, Granny M.  But make sure you do not tell her she is elderly at 78.  She will make sure you know right off she is an able body person who can do for herself.  Strong willed she is, a good housewife she is not.  I have to giggle at her view point of house work.  "Why do it?  It only gets dirty and you have to do it all over again!"  Well as you understand this role can push me to the limit, press on my every nerve—and yet fills me with a deep sense of love and peace of mind.  I feel blessed that my mom is here with me, in my home, safe and sound, well cared for and allowed to be the cantankerous spirit she is.  
Beloved  authors Cecil Murphey and Twila Belk know this too. Because You Care, beautifully written and full of gentle wisdom, their personal stories of care giving help me face some of the ups and downs of this journey.

• Feeling guilty for doing too much, too little, or nothing at all
• Answering other’s well-meaning but insensitive questions
• Watching someone you dearly love suffer or die as I had to with Mr. C.

It is not always easy to be the "grown up" for other grown ups.  You feel like a bully telling them what to do.  And you also feel responsible as if they were your child.  It can grow tiring, making you dream of a time when you days are your own.  Then you feel horrid for the dreams.  When Mr. C came to live with us, we felt so blessed to have this gentle man as part of our lives.  When we lost him, with pain we said goodbye but with love we celebrated the time we had with him.  Granny M provides us with good solid "no BS" attitude and open eyes to see how easy it is to love those around us.  I am glad to have Because You Care to gently remind me of this some days.   

This Is Who You AreFrom Cec and Twila

Others may call you brave. They’ll use words like noble or sacrificial. They’ll admire and applaud you because you’ve offered your life to make yourself available to someone who needs a long-term caregiver.

“I couldn’t do what you’re doing for him,” a friend says.

You listen to the words your friend speaks, and you like hearing the compliments. Yet as you listen and smile, you don’t see yourself as exceptional. You’re doing the right thing for someone you love, and that gives you peace. You also know the reason you’ve devoted your energies to another person.

You can express that reason in a single sentence: “I do it because I care.” You might say it’s because you love the person, or you may do it because of a strong sense of commitment to God and to your loved one. Regardless of how you express yourself, you’re determined to give yourself as fully as you can.

Some days you may not feel like loving anyone. You get tired, lose your temper, or think of the things you didn’t accomplish. During the worst times, you wish the situation would change. And in those dark moments, you’ve probably prayed, Dear Lord, please take this burden from me. 
The situation probably won’t change for a long time—perhaps years. It’s not the kind of life you would have imagined. You probably envisioned living out your years in blissful peace. Caring for your loved one wasn’t part of your dream, but this is the life you have. Despite the moments of sadness, perhaps even regret, your answer remains the same: “I care.”

Taken from:  Because You Care.  Text Copyright © 2012 by Cecil Murphey, Twila Belk.  Artwork Copyright © 2012 by Betty Fletcher. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon.  Used by permission.
BiosTwila  Belk and Cecil (Cec) Murphey are both long-term caregivers for their  spouses. Twila, aka the Gotta Tell Somebody Gal, is a writer and speaker  who loves to brag on God. She works full time with Cec as his manager,  personal assistant, and biggest fan. Cec is a veteran author who has  written or co-written more than 125 published books, including the  bestsellers 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper) and Gifted Hands (with  Dr. Ben Carson). His books have sold in the millions and have brought  hope and encouragement to countless readers around the world. Cec and  Twilas’ second co-authored book, Heavenly Company: Entertaining Angels Unaware (Guideposts Books), released in August 2012. 

  

    

  
Grand Prize Giveaway Description 

• Book—Because You Care: Spiritual Encouragement for Caregivers
• Book—Hope and Comfort for Every Season
• Hallmark journal, list pad, and memo pad stack
• Glade “Angel Whispers” candle
• Hershey’s Bliss dark chocolate 

Instructions to Enter the Grand prize Drawing:

1. Leave a comment about the book or author on the blog post during the blog tour.
2. Each blog tour host will draw one name from those comments to send to the tour coordinator by October 12.
3. The coordinator will put all the names into a drawing, and select a winner, using an online randomizer.
4. The coordinator will notify the blog tour host who submitted the winning name.
5. The blog tour host will notify the winner and collect the mailing info so the author can send out the prize.