Pastor Sam Crosby
San Saba's First Baptist Church
October 29, 2019
My wife, Jan, had knee replacement surgery two weeks ago. She is healing nicely, though still in a lot of pain. She goes through a regiment of therapy, ice and medicine on a daily basis. Truthfully, she has been a great patient. Truthfully, I’m not a great caregiver. My philosophy is that it will help your knee to heal if you will get up and retrieve your own water or medicine. I have convinced myself that my best help to assist in recovery is to provide as little help as possible. As you might have guessed, that is not her opinion!
She recently texted me and then called me on the cell phone in the middle of the night to ask for help. Unfortunately, I left the cell phone in another room and was oblivious to her need. I was busy meeting my need, which was sleep. I received a loving but firm rebuke for my negligence. We navigated through the trial and I have kept the phone by my side ever since.
Giving care can be tough. I even laughingly thought about a new ministry in our church – Caregivers Anonymous. Caregivers could come together for prayer and encouragement. The truth is that there are already ministries like that in larger cities. Long-term care can be draining and demanding. Many families face circumstances in which a member needs 24 hour care. Such families need our prayers and help.
Every parent of small children is a caregiver. In our men’s Bible study this morning the subject of bad dreams surfaced. One drowsy father of a newborn observed, “I just want to sleep long enough to have a bad dream.” The joys of children come with long hours, constant demands and some sleepless nights. Pray for those parents and offer help. The caregivers sometimes need care themselves.
Caregiving goes beyond just physical needs. Jesus certainly provided food, healing and encouragement to people, but His greatest burden was for their souls. Every Christian in some way is a caregiver for souls. The author of Hebrews described the church leaders as those who “watch out for your souls, as those who must give account” (Hebrews 13:17). He went on to say in the same verse, “Let them do so with joy and not with grief…” The implication is that some people are easier to care for then others. This is true both physically and spiritually.
Parents are caregivers for the souls of their children. Parents are the pastors and priests of their home. In fact, the greatest responsibility of parents is the spiritual nurture of their children. I mean, what does it profit a child to gain the whole world and lose his or her soul? (Matthew 16:26).
Look around you today and be sensitive to the needs of people both physically and spiritually. Consider how you might help bear someone else’s burden. This is what Jesus came to do as the great Shepherd of our souls.