“Help me”. When physical energy is extremely low and life’s burden is heavy, verbal requests are condensed to the most powerful, heart wrenching simplicity. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat with someone facing end of life when the simple request “Help me” is repeated.
As a caregiver I have had the honor of taking care of and meeting many people of many different faiths.
Our lives are so enriched by listening to stories, experiences and traditions of different cultural belief systems and religions. I try very hard to honor each individuals beliefs and show great respect for family wishes and traditions.
The common thread that flows through each experience is that of Love. Love is the great universal connection we all share and we all need.
Divine Love shines through with a beauty, purity and selflessness that is recognizable no matter what “label” it may come wrapped in. As the sweetness of sugar is the base for candies of endless recipes and names, Divine Love is the common ingredient in countless religious denominations and beliefs.
Inspiration and Wisdom will always find us when we ask for it. It does not have to be requested in lengthy prayers.
There are so many songs that contain so much encouragement and inspiration. I am sharing two of my favorites below.
The simple request “help me” reminds me of the song from the Sidewalk Prophets : Help me find It
Help Me Find It
(The Sidewalk Prophets)
I don’t know where to go from here …..
It all used to seem so clear….
I am finding I can’t do this on my own….
I don’t know where to go from here
As long as I know that you are near
I’m done fighting
I’m finally letting go
I will trust in you’
It never failed before’
I will trust in you
If there’s a road I should walk
help me find it
if I need to be still give me peace for the moment
whatever your will
whatever your will
can you help me find it
I am including the song below I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. This group will be coming to York PA for a free concert. The link to more information and tickets for the event can be found by clicking here look for York PA west york middle school August 26
Another favorite is Come as you are. Teaching us to forgive ourselves for not being perfect and to reach out for guidance and support in making better choices.
“Come As You Are”
Crowder
Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Many years ago my heart was awakened to the fact that when you allow God to take complete control of your life and genuinely live with complete trust in God with no fear of the world, amazing things do happen before your eyes. Although it may not always be completely as we would have planned it, when living “In and With The Lords Love” you need not fear!
I am feeling as though I need to tell you of an event that happened to me long ago when some may say that my heart acted with reckless abandon but the Lord “had my back”. I was working midnight to morning hours in a residential care home. This position was an awake overnight in a home where 4 individuals lived who needed support. There was a knock at the door about 1:30 AM and I answered the door finding a person who told me that her car had broken down asking to use the phone. I didn’t think twice about it, when she asked to use the phone to call her husband I left her in.
Soon after leaving her in she began to act suspiciously and raised some red flags to me. My intuition began telling me that she was there to rob the residents. She began telling me that she had worked at the home in the past, asked many questions, and asked to wait inside until her ride got there.
Because I had that internal alarm going off and I was sure she was dishonest, I immediately put all the keys to any money, valuables or medicine of the resident in my pocket. I very cautiously protected their belonging and was very comfortable in her company even though I felt sure she was being deceitful.
While she was making her call a resident woke and joined us. When my attention was distracted from her she went through my purse and took my wallet. She then asked me to use the bathroom. When I escorted her to the location of the bathroom she then commented about the renovations we had made since she was employed there. Asking details what is this door too and so on. This fact proved to me that my suspicions were right! She later came out of the bathroom and continued to chat and visit with me.
She seemed to sense that I was suspicious of her so she changed the story of why she was there. She then when into an elaborate story of how her husband beats her and she used to come there and they would give her shelter. The story went on, she stayed longer, and even asked me to make her a sandwich when she seen the resident getting himself a sandwich. Before she left the house she made one more request of me. She asked if I could get her a sweatshirt or something to put on because it was cold out. I immediately knew this request was simply to get me to leave the room, because my instincts still did not trust her Instead of leaving I offered her the Jacket I was wearing. She tried to put it on but it was to small. She then left. As she left I told her I would say a prayer for her and watched her cross the yard. I truly did say a prayer for her.
The next morning when the AM staff came in I relayed the incident to them being sure to tell them that I was sure she was looking for cash but I kept the keys on me and made sure she was not able to roam freely. I then collected my things and returned home.
Later that day I received a phone call from my bank telling me that someone picked up my wallet that had been thrown out along a nearby street! She had taken my wallet and went shopping at the local 24 hour store and then in the morning went to the bank and cashed a check for the remainder of the funds. She also had my drivers license and even though our appearances were as drastically different as possible they allowed her to cash the checks.
Police were called, and because she stayed so long and talked with me she was very easily identified by those who worked with her previously, and by me in a photo array as well. I had no cash along that night (other than 50 cents in the pocket of the jacket I tried to give her) but because of the way things transpired I was not harmed in any way and all of the money that she had taken through cashing checks was returned to me by the bank.
The bank had her photo, the signature on the checks were not even a close resemblance of mine and they admitted that it was their mistake for not looking at her identification to compare our photos. The police later told me that she was out on probation when she did this and the time before when she stole a check and cashed it she had signed her name to it.
After all of this transpired I was very upset and angry and as I was explaining the story to a coworker I stressed that I waved goodby to her and even went in and said a prayer for her! “Carmela, I think it worked” she said. “All is well ,no one is harmed and everything is coming right back to you!” The Lord “Had my back” 🙂
That was many years ago and although I did come across her picture not to long ago, I have not heard how she is doing. I wish her nothing bad and I truly hope that she has changed for the good.
Be faithful and do not fear-
Isaiah 8:9-10 9. Raise the war cry you nations and be shattered!
Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered!
10. Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted: propose your plan,
but it will not stand, for God is with us .
We can not control what other people do or how they chose to live. The only thing we can do is LIVE IN LOVE and Pray for other people.
Here is one of my favorite songs from The Sidewalk Profits
Carmela Snelbaker 