Being a caregiver is not easy. But it’s truly amazing what you’re capable of when you have no other choice – when reality is staring you in the face and you’re the one people turn to for guidance, support and attention.
Tia Walker, author of The Inspired Caregiver: Finding Joy While Caring for Those You Love writes:
“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.”
And while it’s not necessarily an ideal supported by American culture, many understand what a gift it is to give back to those who’ve given so much to us over the years. To accept the “role reversal” that often comes along with being a caregiver not with bitterness, but with tenderness.
And while the relationship will certainly change, we will find new ways to love those who once spent so much of their time loving us unconditionally. Walker goes on to say, “Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.” Caring for someone, while frustrating at times, often reminds us that it truly is “one of the highest honors” – to be there for someone when they need us most.
To all those caregivers out there, I hope you know how much you’re appreciated in the hearts of those you care for.
