Affirming Your Caregiver
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I have a sacrificial caregiver in my husband, Ken Tada. Like when Ken sets his watch at night to wake every few hours to turn me in bed, or when he goes out of his way to go to the medical supply store. That is a sacrificial service that honors God. And for that, I enjoy affirming him. And, I don’t mean flattery or sweet talk, no, I use the kind of talk in Ephesians 4 that says, “let everything you say be good and helpful.” It’s the skill of seeing Christ-like traits in the life of someone and supporting those traits with sincere words of encouragement.
So, when I find Ken showing compassion to someone, I acknowledge that and thank him for honoring God. It’s something we should do for all our caregivers. And even if you’re not a caregiver – look for Christ in someone, and then fortify that godly character with uplifting words.
The Caregiver’s Journey: Surviving to Thriving
When her husband Dave was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at 55, their life went into disarray and caregiving became consuming for Susan. Following Dave’s passing in 2019, Susan founded her ministry to caregivers, providing a path from surviving to thriving in Christ.
