Lord, my friend is depleted.
The day after day demands of caring for the man she loves
as his health seems to crumble in her hands
is sucking her dry.
Small victories, huge defeats,
encouraging moments,
discouraging days
see-saw over the arched
frame of her optimism.
But gradually the weight added
to both ends of the teeter-totter
has begun to cut deep into her spirit.
Hold her up, Lord.
Help me today to know how I can
ease the load,
maybe give perspective to
what comes to feel like
a win/lose situation.
Lord, some days it looks like a
lose/lose prospect.
But we both know—
and her husband, my dear friend, also knows—
that under it all it’s really a win/win situation.
Lord, death is not the problem.
It’s the daily grinding away of the dying process
that wears our spirits raw.
Let friendship be a healing balm today.
Let us laugh; laughter heals.
Let us cry; tears bathe the wound
Let us have good conversations
about children, politics, travel,
work, writing and speaking—
good conversation about the stuff of life
that diverts our attention.
Let us reminisce; memory
gives perspective on the present.
Let us pray; prayer teaches us
to relinquish control
to the only One who knows
where we’re all going
and how we should get there.
Lord, thank You for my friend.
Heal her spirit today;
let me be the one to nurse her to wellness today.
Come, Healer of Spirits. Make us whole again.
