General
Care for the Care Giver
Asleep, I listen.
A meditation for Care Givers
By
The Rev. Nigel W D Mumford
Asleep I listen,
To the breathing, to every precious breath,
To any change, to a groan, to the pain, to the fear,
I listen to the fear, in me, and in my beloved.
Asleep I listen,
To any need and want, my body asleep but my ears open,
The constant vigil, ready at a moments notice
To leap out of bed to address the need.
Asleep I listen,
To the phone, to the TV, to the radio, to God.
I pray and wonder what will happen?
Am I doing my best, what else can I do?
Asleep I listen,
Even when awake guilt pervades my mind.
How can I even go to the store, how can I leave the house?
I listen to the cell phone, did it beep, is it vibrating?
Asleep I listen,
To My faults, to My responsibility, to My blame.
What if? If only! But Why God, WHY?
I can’t I even pray anymore I am so tired.
Asleep I listen,
My mind wonders what will it be like afterwards?
What will I do? Where will I go? How will I live?
Oh NO it’s not about me, guilt pervades again.
Asleep I listen,
A friend calls and asks me out for a coffee.
“I will call you back, if there is a change.”
I wonder, can I really step out of the house?
Asleep I listen,
To God,
Who says “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Do not be afraid, I am with you always.
Asleep I listen to my conscience and all is well with my soul.
May the healing Grace of the Lord be with you,
Fr. Nigel Mumford+
www.byhiswoundsministry.org
Lovely. and so on target for when I have been a caregiver. Thanks, Nigel!
Dear Fr. Nigel,
Thank you so much for that poem, âAsleep ,I Listenâ.. I am forwarding it to my friend Betty Ann whose husband is failing rapidly from alzheimersâ¦â¦..Thanks again my face book /email friendâ¦
In Christ,
Rita OâRourke
Nigel, dear companion, This post is more appropriate than you know. Thank you.
Please note NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: priceelizabethc@gmail.com
My old address elizabethcprice@mymailstation.com is being disconnected.
Elizabeth C. Price, 12 Quimby Lane, Atkinson, NH 03811 Tel: 03811
Reblogged this on Sometimes Care Giving Stinks and commented:
A beautiful meditation and blessing.
Asleep I listen, what a perfect title, so very true of all the emotions in the heart of the caregiver, the journey of sorrows. the guilt of even daring to think of yourself, the fear in not wanting the beloved to suffer because of any lack on your part. Yet you are just as broken and have to deal with the inability to “make it all better”…And then the words of the King to give hope and strength and comfort to all. Fr. Nigel this is a truly honest and healing word on a personal level as well as for all caregivers…God Keep you in His work