Godly Gals ~ Joanne Sher

A decade ago, when I heard someone was ill or struggling in some way, I felt bad. I said I’d pray—and sometimes I did. I’d often offer to help that struggling person–and most of the time I’d follow through. But that was generally the extent of it. My focus was on the person in the predicament, and there’s nothing unusual, or wrong, about that.

But in 2003, I got a different perspective. You see, my wonderful husband got sick. He needed major surgery. And I learned that he wasn’t the only one who struggled.

Often, the ill person gets a lot of attention. And that is wonderful. He needs the support. But the caregivers and family are also struggling.

Maybe this sounds selfish, coming from one of those caregivers. Perhaps I’m sounding like the hostess of my very own pity party. But know this: watching your loved one battle with difficulties, and helping him to get through it, is a lot of hard work. And often times the help that folks think to give geared solely to the “sick one.”

You can’t imagine what balm it was to me when someone asked how I was doing. When friends offered to clean my house, pick up my groceries, or pray with me. When I had a meal brought to me, even when my husband was in the hospital. When someone watched the kids so I could give my husband the undivided attention I wanted to.

And now, whenever I hear of someone who is suffering through illness, I pray not only for the one who is ailing, but for his family. My heart aches for the caregivers—for those who are walking through the illness with their spouse or child or parent. Of course, I still pray for the one who is ill, but my passion is for the one who stands beside.

So the next time you hear of a friend, relative, or acquaintance who is going through a health trial, remember to lift not only the sick one, but the family to the Lord. You can be God’s comfort, strength, and hands and feet to the entire family. 

Come alongside ALL of them. They, and you, will be blessed.

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Joanne, you are such a sweet encourager!  You continue to share your heart so openly and honestly with everyone you come in contact with and I just love that about you.  Thank you for shining a light on the caregivers in our world as well.

Sweet sisters, I pray you are encouraged each and every week when you stop by to visit with these incredible Godly Gals.  They are Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith in action and I am truly honored to call each of them friend.

There are so many more of you that have a story to share and I’d love to chat with you about it.  Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith is showing Romans 12:1-2 in action…”Taking your everyday, ordinary life and placing it as your offering to Him.”

If you’ve ever thought about sharing a piece of your world here, then I’d love to challenge you to take that first step and shoot me an email at melsworldministry {at} gmail {dot} com.

There are also some of you who have taken that first step and received the submission guidelines, but for some reason or other you haven’t sent anything in yet.  For you I’m going to ask you to seek His direction about what you should share, then start to write…it may be exactly what one of our sweet sisters needs to hear.