Since we saw how long Abraham and Sarah longed for a son, and the trouble that came when they tried to fulfill God’s promise on their own, it is rather surprising when we see just a few chapters later that Abraham almost sacrifices this child of promise. We cannot read this story without wondering at the fear and faith that had to be battling within him. Yet, he chose to follow God’s command because he had learned the character of God.

Advent is a season of waiting. We wait for God’s promises to unfold and we wait for Christ’s coming. As family caregivers, we can relate to this intimately. The road ahead often seems unclear and we struggle to see beyond our circumstances.

Here we see an opportunity for humanity to begin again in union with God. The first thing Noah did after his family and the animals left the ark was build an altar to the LORD God and make a burnt offering from every clean animal. “And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man…”

Here is the darkest moment in history. The serpent tempts and the people listen, then act. Their eyes are opened to good and evil, but instead of being wise like God, they only know the shame of disobedience. And for the first time, when the LORD God is heard walking in the garden, they hide.

As Advent unfolds—a season of wonder and hope—we need to turn back to the beginning of the story. God’s story of love for his creation begins in that first week with the way he shaped every living thing under heaven with intention. He breathed life into humanity. Each person, including you and the one in your care, bears the image of our Father.

For the last decade, my family sat together every evening of Advent and read our Jesse Tree lesson. Then, the kids would take turns hanging the daily ornament on the tree.

Recently I was called for jury duty. It was an interesting experience hearing from the judge and lawyers as our group of potential jurors were questioned about our backgrounds, including whether or not we knew the witnesses to the crime.

My family has had some good laughs this week as we have discussed what our ideal Thanksgiving meal would be. Turns out that we like a lot of the traditional side dishes, but not turkey. We have made it all kinds of ways—different brines, roasting, smoking—but no one except my mom wants it.

As I prepare for our Thanksgiving meal, it occurs to me that I should add my home to my list of things for which I am grateful. Recognizing the blessings in my life has been a simple task this week, but profound. How often we take the mundane for granted and we miss some of our greatest blessings.

I am thankful for the privilege of serving family caregivers. Not everyone understands what it is like to be responsible for another person through countless doctor’s appointments, turning their home into a small hospital, and committing themselves to round-the-clock care. I have been there, but I didn’t always know what I was supposed to with that information.

Gathered around my Thanksgiving table this year will be my teenaged kids, my husband, and my mom. Each unique and special in their own way, but today I want to talk about being thankful as a mother.

As Thanksgiving approaches, my heart is full of the blessings God has woven into my life. I already shared about my thanks for the word of God and for salvation through Jesus Christ. Today, I am thankful for my spouse.

There aren’t a lot of things in this world that are guaranteed, certainly not when it comes to healthcare and caregiving. Have you ever heard a doctor promise with 100% certainty the outcome of a surgery? If you did, he was foolish or incredibly arrogant. But there is something that we can have assurance in, our freedom in Christ.

Have you ever wondered where your instruction manual is for caregiving? Maybe the one for raising children or for your marriage? You already have it at your fingertips. The Word of God is able to tell you the things that you need to do as an individual so that you will know how to act in all circumstances.

Raise your hand if you still remember the song “The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock?” I admit it has been a minute since I have had little kids underfoot. But I still remember all of the wonderful songs (and hand motions) that I would sing when my kiddos were little. This song was always a favorite—probably because of the ‘crash’ the kids got to act out at the end.

Caregiving can be an isolating experience. Moments of doubt creep in when we have no one around to encourage us to stay rooted in the Word of God or to pray. Add in a dash of frustration, a pinch of exhaustion, and it is a recipe to wonder if we are beyond the compassionate care of God.

There are times as a family caregiver that we feel stuck. We don’t know which way is forward, we feel cornered by impossible situations, and we wonder when the pressure will be alleviated. Then fear makes us wonder if God is still working in our lives.

When it comes to family caregiving, we were very blessed. We lived very close to the hospital, had family ready and willing to help care for my healthy kids, and we never went without our basic needs being met. Despite these benefits there was still conflict.

Caregiving brings out the best in us. It can also bring out the worst, if we are being honest. Fatigue, frustration, guilt and impatience can start to take over for compassion, love, and kindness. You may even find yourself thinking, “I shouldn’t behave this way…I should be stronger…I should be more patient.”

Family caregiving often brings us to a place where we wonder if we can go on another day. Fear whispers “What if I can’t keep doing this?” and in our weakness it is easy to give in to the worries and exhaustion. How we go forward in these moments is important.