He Cares that We Care

Written by Steve Schoon

A few years ago a friend and co-worker of mine became a caretaker for an elderly neighbor who lived, in what we would call miserable circumstances. No one said it was her responsibility. She just saw the need and gave of her time, experience, encouragement, problem solving ability, friendship and herself to help in a situation to stave off the further deterioration of a person struggling with basic living needs. Each time she shared what took place in her visits with her neighbor the more I realized my friend was developing a deeper relationship as a caregiver. She was meeting the needs of another person without reservation of the time and the effort it took. There were no limitations to her care giving and no expectation of reward.

When I picture her care giving I reflect that all of us were created by God to be care givers to those in need. It is part of being created in His image. It is what He expects of us! Sacrifice without the expectation of personal reward.

I am sure all of us know care givers. There are professionals who entire lives are giving physical, mental and spiritual care. There are those who offer various types of care as the needs arise for fellowship, chocolate chip cookies, prayer, a ride to the doctor, a personal note, a few dollars, a listening ear, filling out forms, painting a neighbor's house, repairing a car and care for the seriously ill and not so seriously ill. I could continue this list for several pages and still not cover all the acts of care giving that are needed and offered on a daily basis. No one is exempt from birth to death to need care provided by others.

Sometimes, we see the care givers overwhelmed by the care giving roles they accept or are forced into to meet the care needs of other people. Then the care givers need the same support that they have been extending in love without the expectation of reward. The cycle continues.

The ultimate care giver is God. He takes care of us through the care taking He established in creating us in His image. He modeled care taking when He sent Christ to earth and instructed His disciples and us to care for each other. He showed us in His physical healing of those in need, in parables of life and His command to love each other as we love ourselves. The ultimate act of His care for us was the sacrifice of His Son so that we might be beyond the need for care when we are taken into our new home in Heaven. Then all our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual care needs will be removed forever.

Today we are living here in anticipation of our ultimate healing. We cannot escape the need for our own care and the need to be care givers in His image on a daily basis in every part of our lives. I pray today that you will continue the care that you do now as care givers and that you will remember the only care giver who does not need our care is God.
In your care and His,

Steve