Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • AE - 2 years ago
    When a woman is married and has a son who needs her at all times, should she take care of all the elderly in her family also? She took care of her Elder daddy until death. She is getting older and in need of care herself. What does a person do when it starts affecting a woman's marriage? I have always thought we are to care for our family and do all we can for them. This woman's health isn't as good as it was. What does God expect of us? In this situation?
  • GiGi - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Hello, AE

    Perhaps this woman should seek help from her husband and/or those outside the home for some things, especially if she is in poor health. We each have a limit as to what we can bear at certain times in our lives. I would pray for God to lead someone to offer help in this situation.

    My parents had 10 children. So, I can guarantee that both were tired and tried at times with the responsibility and work of raising a large family with very limited income. My mom had a nervous breakdown after the 7th child was born and had to be hospitalized for a short time. Our aunts and uncles each took a few of us into their homes during this time. She was 30 years old at the time.

    Other than this time, my mom did the work of a housewife and mother for 40 years until all were over 18 and out of the house. My dad died a few years prior to this time (after they were married 38 years. My youngest sibling was 17 years old at the time.

    My parents worked hard all of this time. There was not much leisure time for them over the years. Summers were spent gardening and canning vegetables and fruits. Often my mom was either pregnant or caring for a young infant when all this work was happening. us older kids helped with the canning and housework. There was plenty of laundry, lots of diapers, and meal preparation that we all learned to do when we were old enough to do so.

    I admire my mom so much. I learned early on in marriage to consider what my mom was doing at the age is was at the time, especially when I felt overwhelmed. I would realize that I only had three children to look after, not 10, and I knew that God gave my mom lots of strength and good health to be able to do what she did. Considering the life my mom lived would put my mind in perspective and stop my complaining. But in some ways I experienced things my mom never did. My sons were often ill as infants and young children, often needing antibiotics to clear up sinus/ear infections or bronchitis. So, each is different
  • AE - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Thank you for your help. Strange, my daddy had a nervous breakdown. More than one. We also raised tobacco and a big garden. There was always work to do. I'm glad I had that raising. It's just my brother and me. Since my daddy's passing, things are very different. I try to be there and help as much as possible. My grandma will be coming to stay with me for a little while. That's precious, I look forward to it. We had hay, corn. Lots of things we raised on the farm. Pigs, cows. Bless your Mother. I can't imagine having 10 kids. Women were tuff then. I like to think I was. Time has taken a toll though. Thank you for replying. God Bless.
  • GiGi again - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Yes AE.

    God made women tough enough to bare many children. It does not matter what century or generation. But our lives are so much more complicated with things outside of the home in our generation that it is hard to imagine having a large family. But those women who did mostly stayed home and were housewives and mothers, worked extremely hard, often suffering loss, cared for extended elder family members until their passing without so many of the amenities we have in our homes now.

    Imagine giving birth in the home or even in the field, as happened often, and still needing to care for your newborn infant, toddler, preschooler, and school age children soon after birth without plumbing, running water, and electricity! Cooking on a wood stove, baking own bread, butchering own chickens, plucking them and preparing them for dinner. I just remember these things because I had a grandma and great grandma that grew up like this and they both raised large families.

    But even so, I am not meaning to minimize your situation at all. Raising an autistic child is a tough go, too. I will pray for you.

    Dear heavenly Father, I ask You today to lift up AE with strength and peace of mind amidst this trying time for her. Help her to learn how she can best manage these demands on her life and time in the most loving way. Build her up in her faith in You and have mercy on her when she feels overwhelmed. Provide needed help for her in ways that are truly helpful. Give her joy in raising her son and in caring for those who are aging. May her grandmother be a huge blessing to her as she comes for a stay. We ask these things of You, Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
  • AE - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Your right, my grandma ohhh that sweet lady. I don't know the times I have seen her go to the chicken pen and get her one, take to the wood that wasn't split and start the preparation of the best fried chicken ever. I was Blessed to be raised on a working farm. Pigs, cows, corn, hay every thing that could make our lives easier. Big garden. I appreciate your prayers.
  • Free - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Dear grace sister "AE"

    She must make sure and keep herself clean in thoughts words and deeds. Without her, they will be lost. So she need to eat and also receive Spiritual nourishment so that she have something to go on. This is the first, we are not to destroy the temple of God, are we? 1 Corintihans 3:17 And the branch that believes in Him is valuable, as long as the branches bear fruit :) John 15:2

    You have to decide this for yourself, but as far as i know the world, it does us no good! Because then our thought comes to utilization and it seems very worldly.

    The world has no care for me either, it's probably pretty normal and feel that way. But remember Martha and Maria. Martha struggled and i can believe she got quite tired and even exhausted. While Mary received spiritual food. Luke 10:38-42 The best way is the Spiritual, although one must also take worldly chores occasionally, one can always Glorify God in what one does.

    God bless u and yours in Jesus Name, love u in Christ. Romans 7:1-6 and Romans 8:11
  • AE - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Thank you, I appreciate your response. I didn't really know if ppl would answer me. I've been a caregiver most of my life and I have loved it. I will do until I cannot.
  • Chris - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Hi AE. A woman who is a wife & mother, indeed, a vital person in the make-up of the whole family, ordinarily will see to it that all her family are well looked after & their needs attended to. Yet, can one woman fulfil all the family's needs, especially when she has a son, other elderly family members, & her own marriage being affected? I don't believe that the Lord expects that one person should so over-extend herself that her own health & marriage should suffer. I know that God will give that extra grace & strength to help her persevere, especially combined with her own desire & womanly inclinations to give her all to her loved ones, but there has to be a limit. One cannot be expected to do more than one is able to give, whether at the workplace or in the home.

    Not knowing who the other members of the family are, even among close friends, I would think that these people cannot sit idly by & allow one person to bear all these pressures & responsibilities. I realize that often people are oblivious to the hardships of others, maybe giving excuses about their own problems or workloads, or not wanting their free time to be lost to another, but the family must come together to discuss the problems & apportion out responsibilities to those who can assist - this sharing of the workload will in itself greatly re-vitalize the woman's state of mind & well-being; one person shouldn't have to carry the load by herself. I'm assuming that no government help is available or there's no entitlement in this situation.

    If all else fails, I would seek to set priorities for those nearest to her that need her assistance; their cleanliness, sustenance (meals), & health needs are most important. House cleaning, running errands, etc. are less important. I share this having had a similar experience, very small in comparison (for over 5 years) with my elderly father-in-law till he passed on. I gave him full care - he could do nothing for himself. Please don't let this lady burn out.
  • AE - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Thank you so much!!!!! Your kind words are appreciated so much. I don't want to burn out, I will keep trying my best to do what I scan. I just can't do it all. My son has Autism and he needs me too.,
  • Giannis - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Dear AE

    It is a funny thing with us Christians that we read in the Bible about a God who heals, so many examples for disabled people that run to Jesus for help and got what they asked for, for a God who never changes, we talk about those things in our congregations, in our Christian companies .. but when it comes to us ...we hardly believe that that can happen to us.. isn't that true? Well God says that we are wrong. God can heal us too. Lets go to Him with Faith and Trust and we will be surprised with what we will see. Go to Jesus. He is not dead, He is up in the skies watching you, His kid, and prepared to answer back ..just go and keep going untill you receive God's gift to you...Jacob didn't let God go before he got what he wanted from Him. You have an autistic son, another woman in the Gospel had a dead son, what did Jesus say to her? " Don't cry" Why my Lord not to cry? Because your son will rise from the deads. Yours as well. Amen

    GBU
  • AE - In Reply - 2 years ago
    Amen!!! Doctors told me my son would never walk, talk, read or write. I said you must not know my God. He does everything they said he would not. Doctors said my Mom would die from the bone cancer she had almost 30 years ago. They were so wrong. My daddy, they said he was on his deathbed. I had Faith and God answered my prayers within minutes. I know what miracles God can do. I'm so Blessed in so many ways.



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