I truly believe after my sister died suddenly of a heart attack age 49 on Aug 10 2013 and left me to care for my sweet demented mother alone has really made me wonder why God left me alone and what purpose it serves. I and my sister are RNs I mean we're I still am..I tried to do the right things by mom and thought her care would be better in a long term care and by her not being care for properly has now traumatized me and I want to quit my job at the hospital and get a home health job so I can be home earlier...I'm scared to death to place her anywhere because of the beyond substandard treatment she received in the nursing homes..so here I am alone mom may come home today if not accepted by the care facility I picked out for her..mom is pretty much bed bound because of her declining health..I'm going to try to get her hours back from Medicaid for her caregiver and sign her on to hospice...I called her case manager for Medicaid who took care of her before she was placed and left her a message about mom returning home..I feel as if God doesn't even hear my prayers that God forgot mom and I, what little family I have left do not care and don't even respond to my texts about how bad mom is being cared for...it's like I'm all alone in this world and where is God he took my sister who I loved and would help me through this...where is God? Does he hear my prayers?
"I asked for Strength ... and God gave me Difficulties to make me Strong.
I asked for Wisdom... and God gave me Problems to Solve.
I asked for Courage .... and God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love... and God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors...and God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted...
I received everything I needed...
Trust in God "
No, I absolutely did NOT lose my faith...in fact, I called on it. And I called on when I recited scripture verses from memory to my late mother, whose home I had to move into 400 miles away from my home.
Btw, I love your user ID! At first, I didn't catch onto it. Then I said "genius!!!"
I just wanted to send you my love and support. I know its hard. Try to hang in there and keep going forward the best you can. I know its hard when others are not stepping up. Its only natural to feel alone. But please know we are all here to listen and support you in anyway we can.
As Ecclesiastes 9:11 tells us that time and chance happens to all of us. I am so sorry you lost your beloved sister, please don't blame God, when the imperfections of the flesh overwhelm us and we die, it isn't God, it is this imperfect world we live in and our own imperfect bodies. God provided the means to everlasting life through the resurrection. Please don't turn against God, these things are not his fault.
I have thought the opposite.
I was born and raised in a Catholic household but the Church and I do not see eye to eye on a few important subjects so I have been away for a while.
That said all during my Husbands journey with Alzheimer's and probably Vascular Dementia I have trusted that He knows what He is doing. We have had discussions. (one frequent one was to just let my Husband die peacefully in his sleep sooner rather than later)
But every time a "problem" arose a solution presented itself. Yes I searched for solutions so they did not come as a bolt of lightning nor did I hear a whisper in my ear but I do believe I was led to the solution I needed at the time.
I also believe that my journey with my Husband imparted me with much knowledge that I am now able to pass on to others. As I have said often, "my Husband taught me a lot, not things that I wanted to know but I am grateful to know"
I believe you have to be open to things, embrace what is happening and make the best of what is given to you. (sounds odd I know but you can't change the course of things so you have to adjust)
And as strange as it sounds I appreciated the 10 years I had with my Husband after he was diagnosed. I had 10 years to say good by, to watch this man leave me. It gave me 10 years to grieve his loss. By contrast I would have been unprepared had he gone off to work one morning and I get a call that he was killed in an accident, or he had a heart attack, stroke or other devastating. life ending moment. I do not think I could have handled that as well as I did the 10 years watching him go bit by bit. That may be selfish on my part though. And that brings me back to the conversation with God that he take my Husband sooner rather than later. He took the love of my life when we were all ready.
In fact, the closest I’ve ever found has been the 1977 movie Oh God with George Burns playing God. Below are two sets of quotes that have always helped me:
“Jerry Landers: People are always praying to You. Do You listen?
God: I can't help hearing. I don't always listen.
Jerry Landers: So then You don't care.
God: Of course I care! But what can I do?
Jerry Landers: What can You do? You're God!
God: Only for the big picture. I don't get into details.”
And
God: “I know how hard it is in these times to have faith. But maybe if you could have the faith to start with, maybe the times would change. You could change them. Think about it. Try. And try not to hurt each other. There's been enough of that. It really gets in the way. I'm a God of very few words and Jerry's already given you mine. However hopeless, helpless, mixed up and scary it all gets, it can work. If you find it hard to believe in me, maybe it would help you to know that I believe in you.“
My MIL has lived with us for 10 years. She has suffered from vascular dementia for the past 2+ years. She is 94. There are times when we are so weary, not from the work involved, because she’s actually pretty easy to care for still, but from the drudgery. She’s weak and unstable enough that she can’t be left alone. We found the expense of hiring someone to stay with her on Sunday we’ll worth it in order to have fellowship and find encouragement. It may seem like we have it easy, since my husband and I are retired and share the work, but there is a mental and emotional component to her care that becomes very trying at times due to the history of family dynamics. I have to continually place my trust in God to work out the details and trust Him with the results.
Do you have a support system in place for YOU? Are there others who can come alongside you and help brainstorm solutions? Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Most important of all, ask God what He’s trying to teach you through all of this.
Be assured, dear one, that God has not forgotten you. He loves you and cares about every single thing you’re going through. Praying for strength, peace, and wisdom for you during this time.
Being the spouse means I am NOT eligible for $$ but as you're the daughter, you should be eligible for $$ for taking care of your mother. I'm sorry, I really have no idea who you need to call - start with Medicaid and keep asking questions. You might even find an answer here at AgingCare. It isn't a tremendous amount of money but I believe it is $1500+ monthly - twice my social security. I wish we spouses were eligible.
Since you're still working, I can understand your feelings of abandonment. I'm sure I would feel the same in your position. Thankfully, even with my dad, I was already "retired" so I was able to cope.
Keep praying honey, even if not the answer you hope for. And if a crazy idea pops into your head - this could be God trying to tell you what to do - follow through. I give God a problem and then come online and "low & behold" I find an answer.
Try to recognize the small miracles and stay strong in your faith cause when this is all over you will look back and understand. God does love you and if you don't turn your back on him (and even if you do) he will be faithful.