This prayer for caregivers was inspired by the following poem from a care receiver. The poem hung in the room my mother shared with another resident at her care facility.

My mother’s roommate never spoke. In fact, she never moved. She was bedridden. Walking into the room, my heart always broke for her. There at her side would be her devoted husband and caregiver.

My mother’s roommate died along with her husband. They had made it into their mid-90s. Their granddaughter, mailed a copy of the poem to my mother. It truly touched me in a deep way, so I wanted to share it. The author of the poem is Owen Darnell.

If you have a loved one who is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, this will be especially meaningful. The Prayer for Caregivers comes after.

A Poem from Care Receivers to Caregivers

Don’t ask me to remember.

Don’t try to make me understand.

Let me rest and know you’re with me.

Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I’m confused beyond your concept.

I am sad and sick and lost.

All I know is that I need you, to be with me at all cost.

Do not lose patience with me.

Do not scold me, curse, or cry.

I cannot help the way I’m being.

Can’t be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you.

That the best of me is gone.

Please don’t fail to stand beside me.

Love me until my life is done.

As a Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader, this poem inspired me to write a prayer for caregivers. If you are not familiar with Stephen Ministry, Stephen Ministers are laypeople – Christian men and women trained to provide one-on-one care to people experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation, or separation due to military deployment. May this prayer be of help if you are a caregiver.

A Prayer for Caregivers

Dear heavenly Father,

Provide the words of comfort I can say.

Provide strength to make it through this day.

I cannot fix things or take control.

I accept this, trust in you, and let it go.

Help me listen and be present through the grief.

When I grow weary, provide me with relief.

May this experience transcend this earthly plain.

Help us find greater meaning beyond just pain.

Heal our wounded places.

Restore us to wholeness.

Provide your peace and loving presence to guide us and to hold us.

In the name of your Son, the Great Physician.

Amen

I’ll end this post on care giving and care receiving with one of my favorite Bible passages, Isaiah 40:28-31, Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

God bless caregivers. : ) If you have a prayer request for a friend or loved one, please feel free to leave it in the comment section below. Also, if you want encouragement on your spiritual path, join my Joy and Flow community. It’s free.

A Great Resource for Caregivers and Care Receivers

Need to take something encouraging to read to your care receiver and to have as a caregiver? Many of our Stephen Ministers and Leaders are using God Notes – Daily Doses of Divine Encouragement. Read how others are encouraged by God Notes. These “notes” that God put on my heart are touching the hearts of many. God Notes is a gift that will keep giving each day of the year. Contact me for discounts of 10 books or more.