It all started with a little girl named Brighid. She was born on June 7, 1997, three months prematurely with her fragile life hanging in the balance. Family friend Sona Mehring was running point for the family to communicate updates. Calling everyone was time consuming and this was in the pre-social media days. There must be an easier way to get the information out!
Quickly, Sona created a website through her IT company called Patient Internet Link. Today, it’s known as CaringBridge. The company creates a personal website for each patient where updates can be shared. When Sona retired in 2017, 743,516 websites had been created for patients with over 2.1 billion visits to those sites. Today, CaringBridge hosts clients from all 50 states and 195 countries.1 Using the service is free and the site is ad free. CaringBridge is supported by donations and foundational grants. Clients are not solicited for anything.
On the company’s 25th anniversary, they launched World Caring Day. “World Caring Day is a global event held annually on June 7 to celebrate the power of personal connections and the impact of social support for those facing health challenges and the loved ones who care for them.”2 The day reminds us to think of those who are struggling with health issues as well as those caring for them.
Caregivers need support as much as those who need the care. They are run ragged and spent emotionally. Seldom will they complain or voice their tiredness. Their caregiving is an act of love. However, they are often overlooked as you see the person for whom care is being given with compromised health.
Our hearts break for the children with cancer or birth defects, those who have had strokes and are suffering from paralysis, individuals who have experienced severe trauma from accidents, and the adults battling some form of cancer or disease that has infiltrated their bodies. But what about those caring for an elderly parent or spouse who has dementia or Alzheimer’s? What about the ones caring for an elderly person whose body has ceased to function correctly and their “independent living” is more dependent than others might realize. The care is 24/7/365 and there is often nobody else but the caregiver to lend a hand.
Caring about others is part of the Christian makeup. It’s in our new nature. 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 says, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (23) And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (24) For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: (25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
I’m sure that we care about the hurt of others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. But what do we do to SHOW that we care? How do we demonstrate to them that we have a genuine concern for their welfare and wellbeing? The National Day Calendar suggests that we can show are concern by:
- Asking how someone is doing with intent and meaning. Asking someone how they are to find out what is going on in their lives shows you care.
- Being mindful of the needs of others. Being alert and sensitive to what triggers your loved ones can help them navigate the shifts in their mood.
- Reconnecting online to catch up with your friends and family living far away or with those you haven’t spoken to in a long time reopens relationships.
- Making time for your loved ones. We know everyone gets busy but don’t become
a stranger to your friends and family.
- Writing a note. You’ll be surprised by how big of an impact little notes of encouragement can have on the mood and well-being of others.3
Let’s add one more to the list and never forget the power of prayer. Praying directly with the individual or a random text message that says, “You’ve been on my heart and I’m praying for you!” does so much to encourage others.
As 1 John 3:18 tells us, we need to love in “deed and in truth.” Put some action behind those kind words of caring.
1https://www.caringbridge.org/about-us/history/
2https://www.caringbridge.org/wcd/
3https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/international/world-caring-day-june-7
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.