Role Reversals

As my parents aged, I found that they resented many of the decisions I had to make as their primary caregiver. I tried to remember (and often failed) to see that they were not well and that they definitely struggled with our role reversal.

There is a clear example for this problem in Luke 6. The Good Samaritan, as we now call him, tried to help, just like I did.

He took pity on the poor man when others didn’t; he paid the man’s way to wellness. He did everything that he could. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ (Luke 6:35, NIV)

Was it appreciated? We don’t know what the sick man said. No one recorded that.

Were my parents grateful? I saw small snippets of thanks, and I recorded them because I needed those small remembrances on the many bad days.

How do we love the ungrateful or for that matter, someone we feel obligated to care for?

We do the best we can and if we are not able to be there, we help pay for the care that they need.

Prayer- Father, when caregivers are giving all they can, it’s only right that we at least give them sympathy, and yes some financial aid to help pay for expenses, not condemnation or threats. Amen.

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *