A Prayer about Complicated Caregiving

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’ Matthew 5:33-34

Heavenly Father, Loving Savior, Helping Spirit,

Today we lift up all of those (including ourselves) 

who are in complicated caregiving situations. 

For some that looks like 

the patient refusing to heed the doctor’s instructions 

to quit drinking, quit eating sugar, start exercising…

the patient who in the past or present 

has called us cruel names, 

or abused the dignity of our bodies, 

physically harming us…

For many it means the

;onging to hear the patient say 

“thank you,”

 “forgive me,” 

“I love you,” 

and/or “I’m proud of you.”

For such caregivers, we pray that they will hear 

your countercultural call to love their enemy 

and pray for the patient who persecutes them. 

For such caregivers we pray that they will see 

their Savior dying on the cross 

for those who persecuted him. 

For such caregivers we pray that they will be strengthened 

and helped by your Spirit. 

For such caregivers we pray that they will hear you 

singing over them in delight, 

calling them your “beloved,” 

naming them as blessed. 

For indeed, our Savior declares, 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).

“Blessed are you the merciful, for you shall receive mercy” (Matt. 5:7).

Father, Son, and Spirit, 

provide the grace and strength 

these caregivers need 

and comfort them with the comfort only you can give.

Amen. 

Read Matthew 5:1-11; 5:43-48.