Where are you ???

Are you out shopping?  Are you busy working?  Are you just doing 'life'?  So many times we get so busy with things that we don't take time to stop and see where we are.   My life seems that way sometimes, and I'm sure yours does as well.

Tonight I got a text from my little sissy and she informs me she is "adult sitting" (as part of her job as a CNA) for a couple tonight - and both - husband and wife - have dementia.  The husband is worse than the wife.  And my sister informs me that she is to stay with them until 6AM tomorrow morning.  The daughter doesn't think her parents are that bad, and she lives out of state.  The company has sent one person - my sissy - to take care of the two of them.  The man has tried to slap her twice because she has tried to get him to go to bed.

Yes, I got upset when she told me that!  She is there alone with two people who have dementia and the husband is strong and he is the worse of the two.  I 'chewed' my sister out for taking on the case - when the last 4 CNA's who had this case have quit after one night.  And she thought she could handle both of them? 

She said that during the day it isn't so bad, but tonight is the first time she has had them at night.  And she is paid practically nothing to do it.  I gave her a lecture; they need two people to care for the people when there are two people that need help.  She says she is going to tell her boss Monday morning that 1) more pay and 2) two people for night shifts.  But she won't - she will get through it and she will think it wasn't so bad.  Sigh.  It's her choice.

Today I volunteered at Market on the Move at the church. I think I really got my exercise with lifting the boxes of vegetables and moving things around.  Tried to get a little shopping done this afternoon but didn't accomplish much.  I've got to get my thoughts together and get this shopping done.

And my whining about my life and what I do (or don't do) sure isn't much compared to what my sissy is doing.  Or others who train to take care of people who desperately need someone to take care of them.   Or others who take care of those who need medical help for whatever reason and do it with love.  I don't know that I could do that - regardless of how much I love them.

I think of a friend - and what she endures with her husband - and yet, she is always smiling.  I don't know how she does it.  She is an endearing example for her family.  If it was one of my family, of course I would take care of them - but I don't know - truthfully - how joyful I could be about it.  I guess that comes from my friend's relationship with Jesus Christ.  I pray I never have to endure it - nor any of my children.

Tonight I sit on the couch trying to download photos of previous events.   NCIS is on television and even though it is a rerun, we watch it.  Marley has already been put in bed for the night.  Tom is asleep in his chair - and it is not even 8:45 yet.  Oh well.  I like do nothing evenings.  I don't have them often now.

My thoughts are starting to wander so will stop writing.  I hope that as you read this, you will take some time to think about where you are in life.  What are the things you value - what are the consequences of choices made.  What good have you done recently.  Have you loved more, cared more, touched someone's life in a way you hadn't before?  Where are you in this realm we call life?

Take some time to touch someone's life for the good today.  Speak softly, be kind.  Cherish the moment; love deeply.  Breathe deeply in  -  and let it all out.  You are alive; choose to live.

Blessings!