To die unto one's self

My dad fell and broke his hip on December 23, 2018. He had surgery on the 24th, then a short stay in the hospital before being transported to a rehab facility. There, he went through physical and occupational therapy but spent most of his time in bed. He's always been a picky eater, but the food at the facility was horrible and so we couldn't really blame him for not eating. He got weaker and weaker. Since he wasn't showing improvement, they told us there was a possibility that the insurance company might send him home, so one day he mustered all of his strength and took several steps for the physical therapist, 38 to be exact, and we thought this would show them that he was trying so he could stay there and continue to get help.
     The facility wasn't perfect; there were only one nurse and one PCT per wing per shift which wasn't nearly enough, so my mom, brother, and I took care of my dad at least as much as the staff did while he was there. But, at least if there was an emergency, we felt confident he would be cared for. About a week after his miraculous 38 step demonstration, the insurance company deemed him well enough to go home. We appealed it but having found out about it late on a Thursday, for a scheduled discharge on a Saturday, we only had one day to try to persuade them. It didn't work. So he was sent home on a Saturday and we weren't prepared. We didn't have enough time to get set up for his return home. There was no Saturday or Sunday delivery for a portable toilet, wheelchair, or hospital bed.  Fortunately, he had a walker. The faceless, non-human, inhumane insurance company, who never saw my dad, had no idea of our situation or how ill-equipped we were to take care of my dad at home. Like so many others, we would have to figure it out for ourselves and learn from our mistakes. When my late husband was discharged from the hospital for the last time, it was kind of the same situation. We were given some companies to contact for this or that but what we really needed was training since we were taking on the roles of nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, bath aide, patient care tech, and transporter.
I wrote another post about caregivers and what you can do to help them last year:

Pray for a caregiver.

     The caregivers that I know of give 150% of themselves to their charge. They are showing everyone around them what it means to be an image-bearer of Christ. To die unto one's self, and give willingly to the comfort of one who can't take care of themselves is to live a Christ-like life. It is a painfully, difficult cross to bear, but one that makes a difference in the life of a loved one.

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

1 Peter 5:2-4 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for a caregiver. They need our prayers as much (if not more) than those they are caring for. Pray for them to have strength and patience. Pray for assistance for them if you can't be there to help. If the caregiver is you, pray to your Father for help and guidance and whatever your needs may be.

I'll post daily reminders on:

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