Maintain Your Joy as a Caregiver - HOW TO REMAIN JOYFUL

 Be modest. (Proverbs 11:2) We all have limited time and energy. So you will have to set boundaries as to what you can and cannot do and occasionally say no. And that is OK! You are being modest. If others offer to assist you, gladly accept their help. A brother named Jay says: "We can only do so much at one time. Understanding your limits and not going beyond them will help you maintain your joy." 

Be discerning. (Read Proverbs 19:11.) When you are discerning, you are more likely to remain calm when provoked. A discerning person tries to understand why someone is acting a certain way. Understandably, some chronic diseases can cause a person to behave irrationally. (Ecclesiastes 7:7) For example, a person who is normally kind and thoughtful might become argumentative or combative. Or he might become demanding, critical, or hard to please. If you assist someone who has a serious illness, you may find it helpful to learn about his disease. The more you understand his illness the more likely you are to discern that his behavior is because of his condition, not because of who he is as a person. - PROVERBS 14:29. 

Make time to strengthen your friendship with Jehovah. At times, you need to put aside some activities to care for other matters that are "more important." (Philippians 1:10) One of these more important matters is strengthening your relationship with Jehovah. King David made Jehovah's worship a priority. (Read Psalm 132:4, 5.) Similarly, it is important for you to prioritize some time each day to read a portion of the Bible and to pray. A sister name Elisha says: "I am able to maintain my joy by praying and by meditating on comforting psalms. Prayer has been a lifeline for me. I find myself praying to Jehovah throughout the day to stay calm." 

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