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30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents
In 30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents, author and fellow caregiver Kathy Howard offers the encouragement needed as you strive to care for your parents in a way that pleases God and shows them honor and respect while maintaining their dignity. Through Scripture passages, prayer prompts, and Kathy's personal stories, be strengthened in the knowledge that the giver of all wisdom will empower you in the daily moments when you are caught between being your parents' child and their caregiver.
144 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2018
About the author
Kathy Howard
140 books108 followersKathy Howard is a treasure hunter. She hunts for the creamiest chocolate, richest coffee, and cherished stories of faith. She also digs deep into Scripture, mining God’s eternal truths. Kathy has a Masters in Christian Education and has taught the Bible for more than 30 years in a wide variety of venues. Kathy is the award-winning author of 12 books, including “Heirloom: Living & Leaving a Legacy of Faith and the “meaty devotional series “Deep Rooted.” Kathy and her husband live in north Texas. They have three married children, six grandchildren, and one accidental dog. Find free discipleship resources on her website. Connect with Kathy on Facebook, Instagram, and You Tube.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 1, 2018
30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents by Kathy Howard caught my eye both because of our own caregiving journey and because Kathy used to write for Do Not Depart, a group blog I follow.
Kathy opens with a brief introduction sharing caregiving experiences of her husband’s parents and her own. Then each of the 30 chapters begins with a Scripture passage, progresses through two pages of content relating the passage to caregiving, and ends with a short prayer.
Topics include how to still honor your parents when you’ve switched roles, “ugly emotions,” “losing them before they’re gone,” keeping peace with family members in the midst of differing opinions, forgiveness, perseverance, guilt, God’s grace in our weakness, and many others.
One point Kathy made that impacted me was that when we experience regret (over anger, impatience, or whatever), after we confess it to the Lord and receive forgiveness, we can release feelings of guilt and shame. God’s goal for those feeling is “repentance, restoration, and renewed usefulness (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). God never uses our past mistakes as a weapon against us. Instead, He desires to use them as a catalyst for our personal growth and change” (p. 65).
Another point I wish I had thought of was helping our parents deal with what they’re going through: loss of independence, failing bodies, upheaval in their living situation, death of plans and dreams, inability to participate in activities that have always brought them pleasure before, adjustments to new situations. By sharing God’s Word and truth with them, in a sympathetic rather than a preachy way, we can encourage their faith and help them renew their hope.
The format of this book is not an exhaustive treatise, but rather a friend sharing help, support, and information.
When you’re in the midst of caregiving, there is nothing quite like talking to or hearing from another caregiver who understand by experience all that’s involved. Kathy’s book provides that fellowship and encouragement and always points to the God of grace.
Kathy opens with a brief introduction sharing caregiving experiences of her husband’s parents and her own. Then each of the 30 chapters begins with a Scripture passage, progresses through two pages of content relating the passage to caregiving, and ends with a short prayer.
Topics include how to still honor your parents when you’ve switched roles, “ugly emotions,” “losing them before they’re gone,” keeping peace with family members in the midst of differing opinions, forgiveness, perseverance, guilt, God’s grace in our weakness, and many others.
One point Kathy made that impacted me was that when we experience regret (over anger, impatience, or whatever), after we confess it to the Lord and receive forgiveness, we can release feelings of guilt and shame. God’s goal for those feeling is “repentance, restoration, and renewed usefulness (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). God never uses our past mistakes as a weapon against us. Instead, He desires to use them as a catalyst for our personal growth and change” (p. 65).
Another point I wish I had thought of was helping our parents deal with what they’re going through: loss of independence, failing bodies, upheaval in their living situation, death of plans and dreams, inability to participate in activities that have always brought them pleasure before, adjustments to new situations. By sharing God’s Word and truth with them, in a sympathetic rather than a preachy way, we can encourage their faith and help them renew their hope.
The format of this book is not an exhaustive treatise, but rather a friend sharing help, support, and information.
When you’re in the midst of caregiving, there is nothing quite like talking to or hearing from another caregiver who understand by experience all that’s involved. Kathy’s book provides that fellowship and encouragement and always points to the God of grace.
May 21, 2018
Such a great resource. The author does such a great job at touching on so many areas of Caring for Aging Parents. In the world we are in today there are lots of children taking care of their parents as they age and the areas that have to be dealt with are massive.
The author does a great job at offering help and understanding in these areas. She starts each day with a prayer and she ends each day with a reflection question and a prayer.
I would recommend this to anyone who cares for the elderly in any way. The author offers such wisdom on how to deal with these areas and also help the elderly keep some dignity as they grow old. Oh that one day I would have the someone extend to me the grace, tenderness, and honesty she talks about.
The author does a great job at offering help and understanding in these areas. She starts each day with a prayer and she ends each day with a reflection question and a prayer.
I would recommend this to anyone who cares for the elderly in any way. The author offers such wisdom on how to deal with these areas and also help the elderly keep some dignity as they grow old. Oh that one day I would have the someone extend to me the grace, tenderness, and honesty she talks about.
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April 23, 2018Struggling to navigate the parent/child role reversal? Kathy Howard’s new book, 30 Days of Hope When Caring for Aging Parents, explores God’s Word to find hope and encouragement for the wide range of physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges the adult child caregiver may experience. Each of the 30 devotions – which can also serve as a guide for a daily quiet time – includes a Scripture passage, a real-life illustration, biblical commentary/application, and questions for reflection.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews