Prayer For Caregiver
God, we ask you for patience today. We know there is more to this holy virtue than we are able to understand. The painful practice of patience is far from easy, but its product is good. No matter the strife and humbling we have to endure as caretakers on this earth, we pray today that all we do leads those we care for to You. Help us be alert to pride when it threatens to steal our peace and godly confidence, knowing You have equipped and purposed us perfectly to achieve great things for Your Kingdom.
Though we can't see the whole of Your plan for our lives, help us to patiently trust You, especially through painful seasons and hard-fought battles. Let our love reflect Yours, patience and steady.
In Jesus' Name, Amen
Creator God,
thank you for the sacredness of this ministry to be a caregiver. It is truly one of the most challenging and gratifying opportunities in my life. The days I want to return to a sense of normalcy are the days that my spirit needs to be fed. In the midst of caregiving, I turn to you to fill my soul with what is needed for the moment. Only you know the path that is marked out as I walk this journey with my loved one. Help me to trust you. May my caregiving be a blessing to the one I love and thank you for the blessing I have received as their caregiver. You are the source of all life and grace and I cannot do this alone.
Amen.
God of Providence,
I need to remember that I am called upon to only do what I can. As I care for my loved one, grace me with the trust to rely on you as each day unfolds. Give me the strength to be strong in those times when my loved one becomes weaker and needs increased care. Give me clarity of vision for him/her as their own ability to think clearly eludes them. When my own vision is clouded by fatigue and frustration, give me respite moments so I will regain new energy to provide the care needed.
God of Justice,
empower me to be generous as I share in caregiving for my loved one. Let me give to him/her out of a place of abundance so their spirit will be nourished. Help me be a voice for ___________ when society discounts or minimizes theirs. In those moments when my spirit is dry and my body is tired, empower me to seek help so that I can deliver quality care and respect at all times.
God of Mercy,
some days I need mercy for myself as much as for the one I am caring for. Can I forgive myself for not doing everything perfectly? Can I forgive my loved one for not remembering to be safe as he/she strives to maintain his/her independence? Can I be forgiving when my fear of losing them conflicts with their fear of losing their independence? It is then when I need patience to walk gently with ___________. My fear for the unknown future causes me to be reactive at times. Help me trust your plan for him/her. Teach me to embrace the fragileness of the human body and to let go of expectations I have toward ___________ who needs my assistance. Whatever I do for another, I want to wrap it with kindness, compassion and authenticity.
God of Love,
as a caregiver, I need the grace to be loving even when I do not love all that I am asked to do. It is extremely difficult to watch the one I love slowly lose their ability to care for self and to witness their pain of illness. More is demanded of my time and sometimes there just doesn't seem to be enough of that in the day to tend to all that needs to be done. Help me prioritize my day with being present to ___________ as I care for his/her needs and wants. Ultimately, at the end of the day when I lay my head on my pillow, I want to say I lived this day with love.
Lord, help me remember I am doing your work.
Help me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.
Help me to live out and embody the fruit of the Spirit showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Enable me to see them through your eyes.
Help me to have compassion as you did and to follow your example.
Ease my burden and provide times of rest and refreshment.
Give me the energy necessary to fulfill my tasks.
Grant me the strength and extra grace to be able to handle things I might not normally be able to handle.
Help me not to lose my joy and give me moments of laughter.
In moments of frustration help me to be slow to anger and to refrain from letting any anger or frustration give a foothold to the devil or lead to any sin.
Comfort me as I mourn what I have lost.
Fill me up with your love so that I'm so full that your love overflows out of meI do not have the sufficiency to pour this out of my own supply so I need YOUR supply.
Thank you for supplying all of my needs according to your riches in glory through Christ Jesus.
Help me to just be your conduit and means through which you work and help me to remember that it's you THROUGH me.
Thank you for trusting me with this role of caring for another.
HEALER OF SOULS AND COMFORTER OF THE WEARY, HELP TO LIGHTEN THE BURDEN OF FAMILIES WHO ARE CARING FOR THEIR SICK LOVED ONES.
Accompany them on their journey and ease their anxiety and fears. Surround them with the love and strength of others, so they may experience the healing presence of the communion of saints. We ask this through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and in the name of your Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. AMEN.