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“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalms 46:10 Sometimes the hardest thing for a caregiver to do is be still. Because caregiving rarely stops. There is always another need. Another appointment. Another decision. Another worry quietly sitting in the back of your mind. We become so used to carrying, fixing, planning, and showing up for everyone else that stillness can almost feel uncomfortable. But maybe “be still” isn’t God telling us to do nothing. Maybe it’s His reminder that we don’t have to do everything. We don’t have to have every answer today. We don’t have to know how the next chapter will unfold. We don’t have to carry tomorrow while we are still trying to make it through today. Sometimes faith looks like moving forward. And sometimes faith looks like sitting quietly before God and saying: “Lord, I’ve done what I can. The rest is Yours.” Whether today feels heavy, uncertain, exhausting… or whether life is going beautifully right now, the invitation is the same: Be still. Remember who God is. Remember who is ultimately in control. And allow your heart to rest there for a moment. Caregiver, you spend so much of your life holding things together for others. Today, may you give yourself permission to loosen your grip just a little… and let God hold you too. 🤍 🙏 What are you trusting God with today? If you feel comfortable, share it below. Maybe we can carry one another through prayer.

The spiritual principles of caregiving emerge when the practical foundations of person-centered care are viewed through a lens of faith, vocation, and sacred relationship. When these foundational aspects are aligned with the eight Picker Principles of Person-Centered Care, they are widely recognized as defining what matters most in the experience of those who receive care. These are: clear information, communication and support for self-care; continuity of care and smooth transitions; involvement in decisions and respect for preferences; attention to physical and environmental needs; emotional support, empathy and respect; involvement and support for family and carers; effective treatment delivered by trusted professionals; and fast access to reliable healthcare advice. When these practical principles are examined spiritually, they yield a corresponding set of spiritual principles that orient the caregiver’s heart, intention, and daily practice. These are not abstract ideals but lived disciplines that sustain both the one who gives care and the one who receives it. 𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 Clear communication and emotional support become the spiritual practice of being fully present. Caregiving is not merely the transmission of information or the management of symptoms; it is the ministry of presence. In the Christian tradition this echoes the Incarnation itself—God with us. The caregiver learns to offer steady, non-anxious presence that communicates: “You are not alone in this.” 𝟐. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 Smooth transitions and continuity of care translate into the spiritual principle of covenant faithfulness. Care is not episodic; it is a sustained commitment that mirrors God’s steadfast love. The caregiver remains when others fade, holding the story of the person across changing circumstances, institutions, and stages of decline or recovery. 𝟑. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞-𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 Involvement in decisions and respect for preferences become the recognition that every person, regardless of cognitive or physical capacity, bears the image of God. Spiritual caregiving therefore protects agency, honors residual strengths, and refuses to reduce the person to their diagnosis or dependency. Dignity is not conferred by the caregiver; it is acknowledged as already present.

I want to share something a little personal with all of you. I am beginning preparations for a medical mission to Mindanao, Philippines in June 2027, and this will be the first medical mission I’m helping coordinate. And if I’m being truthful, I’m nervous. Actually I’m downright scared. There are so many people to care for, so many details to coordinate, and so much responsibility that comes with trying to serve a community well. The medical team, medications, supplies, travel, logistics, funding, partnerships—it can feel overwhelming when I think about everything that has to come together. Maybe some of you understand that feeling. As caregivers, we often step into situations because someone needs us—not because we feel completely prepared. We carry responsibility, worry about the people depending on us, and sometimes wonder whether we have enough strength, time, or resources to do what needs to be done. That is a little of what I’m feeling right now. But I also believe there is something powerful about a community coming together around a shared purpose. So today, I’m not asking for anything other than your prayers. Please pray for wisdom as we plan. Pray for the right people to come alongside us. Pray that the medications, supplies, resources, and funding we need will be provided. Pray for protection over everyone who will serve. And most importantly, pray for the children, families, and communities we will have the privilege of caring for. My prayer is simple: God, help us serve well. Help us love people well. And help us remember why we said yes in the first place. This mission may be happening thousands of miles away, but the heart behind it is something we understand deeply in this community: Caring for another human being matters. ❤️ If you’ll keep this mission in your prayers over the months ahead, leave a 🙏🏽 below. And please share—what can our community pray for you about today?

❤️ Depression and Caregiving: We Must Care for the Mind Too When someone you love has cancer, caregiving can become your entire world. You wake up thinking about medications. You go to sleep listening for movement. You worry about the next scan. The next treatment. The next bill. The next symptom. And somewhere in the middle of caring for everyone else, you can begin to disappear. Depression in a cancer caregiver is not something we should ignore or simply tell someone to “push through.” There are practical, evidence-based things we can do to help. And some of them can begin today. ❤️ Every Care Plan Should Protect Three Things ❤️ The patient’s dignity 🛡️ The patient’s health and safety 💪 The caregiver’s physical AND emotional health You cannot separate emotional health from caregiving. Depression can affect: • Sleep • Energy • Concentration • Memory • Motivation • Relationships • Physical health • Ability to make decisions • Ability to provide safe care Caring for the caregiver is part of caring for the patient. 🔄 Depression Can Create a Withdrawal Cycle Depression often whispers: “Stay in bed.” “Don't call anybody.” “Nothing will help.” “I don't feel like doing anything.” So we withdraw. We stop doing things we once enjoyed. We stop seeing people. We stop exercising. We stop going outside. And the less rewarding activity we have in our lives, the worse we may feel. Then depression tells us to withdraw even more. We have to interrupt that cycle. 🎯 Behavioral Activation: ACTION BEFORE MOTIVATION One of the most practical and well-supported approaches is called behavioral activation. The idea is beautifully simple: Don't wait until you feel motivated to act. Act—and allow motivation and mood to follow. Research in caregivers has found meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms with behavioral activation. This does not mean pretending to be happy. It means deliberately putting small pieces of life back into your day. 📝 Step 1: Track What Affects Your Mood For several days, make a simple note of: