With Joy

Caring for another may be one of the hardest things we ever do. It requires us to set aside our own plans, putting a temporary halt to our own involvements.

But, amazingly, we can experience joy in caregiving! It may not seem logical—after all, if we’re caring for someone, it’s usually because he or she is struggling. Yet there is joy to be found, especially if we’ll stop and consider who is cheering us on through the process: Jesus.

Yes, Jesus. Many of the people Jesus interacted with on the Earth had no one cheering for them. They were cast off by society, weak from illness, frightened, poor, and otherwise troubled. But as the Lord cared for them, their lives began to change. They knew that someone was thinking of them with great love and affection.

Caregivers may slip up now and then—but we’re never going to fall down completely, because Jesus is there to cheer us on. May that thought fill us with joy, a joy we can pass on to the people we serve.