Month: July 2019

I’m Not Going to Sit and Wait to Die

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler9 Comments

I’m Not Going to Sit and Wait to Die

19.1 My Story

I’m sure my late wife grew tired of me asking, “What did you weight this morning?”

She would dutifully look at me and then give me the number. It was almost always the same weight. Oh, it may go up or down by a pound or two but generally was the same.

One day she replied, “You’re asking my weight to see if cancer is causing me to lose weight. Am I correct?”

Guilty as charged.

Then she schools me. She said, “You’re dying like I am. It may not be cancer that’s getting you. It’s old age. Even though you look a decade younger than your years, Father Time is getting you. The sands that count your days are slipping through the hourglass at an ever-increasing rate — and they’ll run out one day.”

I nodded.

“I am not going to sit on the couch and wait to die! There is no way I’m going to sit on the couch, wasting away. God still has a purpose for me.” She then reminded me she still read her Bible daily, prayed for herself, and interceded for others.

She pointed out that God was renewing her inner person daily. Oh, the body was decaying, aging, suffering the ravaging of cancer, but God had her spirit, and inner parson renewed daily.

My wife was smart. I may have had the formal seminary and graduate school education with a couple of fancy masters and a doctoral degree, but she knew so much more than me from a deeper walk with the Lord in Bible reading, scripture meditation, and time in prayer.

She taught me that we shouldn’t be obsessed with the physical body. The Christian’s faith is far from a fatalistic acceptance of suffering and awaiting death. Every believer in Jesus Christ needs their eyes opened to something else. That something is the continuous restoration of the inner person.

When my late wife was in her final days in hospice care, the incredible calming power of God’s word was apparent. I would read from the Book of Psalms in the Bible to her. The occasional anxiousness she had from the terrible pain she suffered would melt away and transform to calm when the words of the Bible were read. Playing favorite hymns and worship songs worked the same miracle. It reminded me of the way she used breathing techniques to mitigate pain when in labor during the delivery of our children. She was so brave. Her tumor was located in the area of the brain that controlled pain and nausea. Because of the location, normal pain and nausea management medications and techniques did not to work. 

I had witnessed Scriptures’ calming power on the life of a Believer of Jesus Christ for two-plus decades as a full-time minister working with responsibilities with older adults and pastoral care. Many times as I would read familiar Bible verses, the chronically or terminally ill person would transform from anxiousness and fear into peacefulness. Sometimes they even from memory would say or quote the Bible verses with me.

The power of God’s word is incredible.

19.2 Not Losing Heart

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness is learning how not to lose heart and help your loved one not develop a gloom and doom attitude. God’s word helps you to have a confident acceptance of the reality of life. It enables you to keep the faith.

19.3 Bible Verse

2 Corinthians 4: 16 (KJV), “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

19.4 What the Verse Means

Christianity understands the steady decline of the physical body. Though we are rescued from spiritual death and alive with Christ, our bodies remain in the process of decay.

The follower of Christ should recognize that our outer bodies are wasting away. From the moment of birth, we begin to die. It is inescapable unless the Lord Jesus returns first.

The Christian should be aware of increasing inner, spiritual strength. God does not forsake his children, but he gives us growing supplies of grace.

The Holy Spirit works in us as an infinite well of life. We are in a constant process of renewal. The Lord does not allow us to be born again and then ignore us. No, He gives us daily spiritual energy.

May we never forget the physical and the spiritual are part of your life every day.

19.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to not focus on my decaying or diseased body, but to realize that my inner self is being renewed daily.
  • Lord Jesus, help me look to the things that are not seen, not the which are seen.
  • God, help me look to the eternal, not the temporal.

19.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you spending time in God’s word? If not, I encourage you to return to reading your Bible or being today for the first time. You can start with just a verse or two. God will speak to you. 
  2. Are you spending time in prayer? If not, I encourage you to start today. A good beginning would be praying, “God, help me spend time reading your Bible. Lord, teach me to pray.” 
  3. Are you obsessed with your loved one’s physical appearance? Radiation and chemotherapy take a toll. They may lose their hair. My wife had no hair her last five months of life. I didn’t see her hairless head. I saw her beautiful smile and radiant countenance. She was comfortable without a wig and would wear a chemo beanie when she went to the doctor or on days when she was able to go out for a walk or meal. 

19.7 Takeaway

God’s word helps you to have a confident acceptance of the reality of life and enables you to keep the faith.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

Acknowledge God for Real Rest

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Acknowledge God for Real Rest

18.1 My Story

I had been awake for thirty-three consecutive hours. My marathon of being up began on Tuesday when I had awakened at 5 AM. I had gotten up, checked on my wife, showered, and went to Starbucks at 6 AM for my morning writing. From writing, I had headed to the local climate controlled shopping mall where I did my morning walk at 9 AM. Following the exercise, I had an appointment with the dermatologist at 10:30 AM.

I returned home just before lunchtime. I again checked on my wife. She was in her recliner. She said her head was hurting, and she had been trying to call her doctor and me.

Her neurologist had recently reduced her steroids. When the dosage of the steroids had previously been cut, she had felt bad, so the doctor increased the dosage to former levels. 

Miss Benita assumed this is all that was needed.

Now she couldn’t figure out how to use her cell phone. Fear and concern overwhelmed me. Doctors were contacted, medications changed with an immediate doubling of the steroids, and sleep overcame her. 

She did not wake up until after 8 PM.

She didn’t know me when she awoke. She couldn’t tell me what day or month it was. 

When I asked if she knew the time she answered, “blue?”

We headed for the emergency room at the hospital where only four months earlier, she had a brain tumor removed. 

I was up all night. My three children took shifts being with me. Around 9 AM on Wednesday the doctor told me the brain tumor had recurred. He said another surgery would only add a few weeks to maybe two months maximum to my sweetie’s life. He said your options are surgery or hospice. With hospice, you have days to weeks at best.

Miss Benita and I had previously spoken on what to do if the brain tumor recurred. I followed her wishes and chose hospice. I called my children, my brother, her sisters, my minister, and my best friend informing them of the situation.

The next step was to move her from the intensive care unit to an intermediate care unit where they worked on stabilizing her and helping her regain her faculties. It wasn’t until late in the day that she was moved from ICU to a room. During this time, my oldest son arrived on the scene. My best friend was there with me, as well.

It was nearly noon on Wednesday before I somehow managed to drive home. Instead of sleeping, I prepared the house for the arrival of my wife’s sisters who were coming in from out of state. I had my sons schedule to shuttle them from the airport to the hospital.

At one-thirty on Wednesday afternoon I tried to sleep. I slept less than ninety minutes before waking up and returning to the hospital.

When I got back to the hospital, my oldest son and best friend lectured me on the need for rest.

It was late in the day on Wednesday before the massive amount of drugs given my wife took hold and had her where she was conscious, could talk and understand.

I shared with her what was happening. The trust she had in me showed in her eyes and on her face. I still remember her response.

She said with a nervous smile, “I knew the Melanoma Cancer was going to kill me. I didn’t realize it was going to kill me today or in the next few days. I believed I would make survive at least until the end of the year. I hope I live long enough to see Jason (our son) graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in May. Thank you for not letting them cut on me. Thank you for loving me enough to let me go by honoring my wishes.”

I nodded.

She squeezed my hand and added, “I’ve always been in God’s hands. He has this. Trust Him. I do.”

I went home around 7 PM that evening and cried out to God. I hurt. I was exhausted. I remember having Psalm 46:10 come to mind, “Be still and know that I am God …”

I got in bed and started recalling Bible verse after Bible verse. I had worked with the children in my church for nearly two decades in a program called “Bible Drill.” The program’s purpose was Scripture memory. I had memorized the verses along with the children.

Those same verses came to mind, calmed my spirit, and helped me to sleep.

I also was listening to spiritual songs that praised God. The songs calmed my nerves and spirit. I had to slow down enough to experience God’s presence.

18.2 Slow Down and Know God

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness is slowing down and knowing God. As we live with the daily challenges of caring for a person with an ongoing disease, it is essential that we get adequate rest. 

This respite is both physical and spiritual. Psalm 46:10 tells us to slow down, that is to be still and know I am God.

18.3 Bible Verse

Psalm 46:10 (KJV), ” Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

18.4 What the Verse Means

Psalm 46:10 is a famous verse for comforting ourselves and others. While the passage encourages the reader to rest and relax in God as well as reflect on who God is, the Scripture is a wake-up call to be in awe of God. 

The verse was written in the context of a time of trouble and war; therefore, we should consider the words with that context in mind. Back in Psalm 46:1, we were told that  “God is our refuge and strength.” Psalm 46:10 is telling us to wake up, stop fearing, and acknowledge who our God is. As we care for our loved one, we too should take the time to acknowledge who God is.1

18.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to be still and know You more intimately, and to feel Your presence.
  • Lord Jesus, please help me to slow down and even stop when necessary to get to know God.
  • I pray that I would find rest in the adequacy of God.

18.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you getting enough rest? You cannot care for someone twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You need assistance. 
  2. Are you slowing down where you can hear God and feel his presence? 
  3. Ask God to help you rest, have the help you need, and to experience his presence. 

18.7 Takeaway

We need to take time to acknowledge God. God provides rest for us.

1 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-verse-be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god.html

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

How to Accept God’s Hope

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How to Accept God’s Hope

17. 1 My Story

On Thursday, April 2016, I had a surprise in the interoffice mail. The big envelope came with an apology attached on a Post-it Note from the information technology vice president’s executive administrative assistant. She expressed her regrets for not getting the dispatch to me sooner.

She shared that she had it “for a while, but hadn’t gotten it to me with all going on in IT.”

In the delivery was a wonderful gift of a necklace for my wife. The gift was  from a coworker of mine. It had the word HOPE on it.

Thank you, Cynthia Mitchell, for thinking of my wife, buying and sending her the necklace. The silver piece of jewelry was beautiful. It put a smile on my sweet wife’s face. The necklace with its one word message was a reminder of the hope through Jesus Christ we all have available.

When we moved my wife into in-patient hospice care, she asked I get the HOPE necklace and put it back on her. She usually wore it all the time but it was off because of series of MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans she had during the hospitalization that resulted from the recurrence of her brain tumor.

Cynthia’s act of kindness continued to give my wife comfort and hope until her last breath. Cynthia, thank you. You’re a beautiful woman inside and out with a caring heart. I was blessed to work with you before I retired. Thanks again.

My wife asked to be buried wearing the necklace. I honored that wish. My wife never lost hope. As death approached her faith never left. While she would have been glad for a miracle cure of the Melanoma Cancer, she had her hope in Jesus and approached her death with the excitement of a school girl going on a trip to Disney World. She couldn’t wait to get on to heaven and to see Jesus. She never mentioned fear, just anticipation.

An interesting side note was when my wife was in in-patient hospice care getting stabilized enough where she could come home for her last days, her register nurse was named Hope. She had hope with her to the end.

One last thought — A simple act of kindness like a card or a thoughtful gift can touch a person’s heart in ways you will never know. If God prompts you to do an act of kindness, please follow through because you may never realize the impact of the hope you’re sharing.

17.2 Accepting the Hope Available through God

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness is accepting the hope available through God. Everyone needs hope. Job 11:18 tells of the hope we have available in God.

17.3 Bible Verse

Job 11:18 (KJV), “And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.”

17.4 What the Verse Means

Like my wife, you can feel secure because of the hope you have in Jesus Christ. While you will continue to experience life’s difficulties, you need not have a gloom and doom or why me Lord attitude.

Your outlook concerning the future should be optimistic because nothing will ultimately be able to harm you or keep your loved one, if they are a Believer in Jesus, from their heavenly destination. You have a firm faith and assurance of your final victory, because of God’s love He has shared with You in the Bible’s promises which respect the life that now is, and that Heavenly future which for the Christian is the eternal destination.

This knowledge allows you to lie down on the bed and sleep at night in peace and quietness, having nothing to fear.

17.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father, we feel secure because there is hope because of You. Help us to claim that promise.
  • Because of the hope and security that we have in You, we can rest and sleep in peace. Thank You for restful sleep.
  • Lord Jesus, help us to rest in You.

17.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Do you have hope for the future? I am talking of the hope that’s available through knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. See Appendix A for information on how to become a Christian. 
  2. As a caregiver, you’ll grow tired and weary. You will have times you doubt that you can face another day of taking care of your family member or loved one. Thank God for the hope that you and your charge have through Christ Jesus. 
  3. Ask God to give you the same level of peace he gave my wife. 

17.7 Takeaway

Jesus Christ is the true source of hope.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Taken by the author.

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

How to Give Your Fears to God

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How to Give Your Fears to God

16.1 My Story

My spouse paid the bills each month. Yes, we had a budget and discussed our financial priorities, but she wrote the checks each month and made the electronic payments. We were an old school couple and had a joint checking account.

I had a basic understanding of what bills were due each month but did not know if they were paid electronically or by check. I also did not know the account numbers, contact information, and the like. I was ignorant in these areas.

My spouse clung onto the bill paying. I asked her to tutor or mentor me where I could have some transition if the time came where I had to assume responsibility. She told me if she turned the bill paying over to me she was giving up on life. She added that it was the last thing she was holding on to do. She held on tight to financial responsibility. 

I pleaded with her to show me her system. Finally, less than two weeks before she went into hospice care we talked seriously about finances and bill paying. She started to teach me her system and provide the much-needed information to me but then she just stopped. She said the checkbook is here.

Her next words took me by surprise as she said, “I can’t do this. I can’t talk to you about the bills. You’re a brilliant man and will be able to figure this out. I’m sorry. You’ll have to deal with it when the time comes.”

I didn’t scream or yell. I didn’t even roll my eyes. I remember thinking that Miss Benita had more confidence in me than I did. I felt scared, helpless. I wondered what I would do and how I would do it when I suddenly had to pay the bills.

I also said a silent prayer. I wish I could tell you it was spiritual, but I asked God why she wouldn’t help me. I recall immediately hearing the still small voice of God. In my mind, I heard LOVE YOUR WIFE. She doesn’t need upsetting; she needs to feel my love through you. I’ll help you find the answers you need.

Gulp, I turned my fears over to God, trusted him, and to my amazement am still getting it all figured out. All bills have been paid on time. I have developed my routine. Instead of all the worst case scenarios that ran through my mind. I am wasn’t traumatized. I am surviving.

16.2 God’s Comfort is Available to You

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness is understanding God’s comfort is available for you. He will help you with your fears.

Have you ever been overwhelmed by your thoughts of how you will be able to handle or manage your loved one’s chronic illness? Have the “what ifs” overtaken you? Are any of your thoughts confused and even torturing you with the cares and fears about the future?

Psalm 94:19 tells us that God’s comfort delights our soul. His promises, contained in His word (the Bible), and the memory of our past experiences of His care and kindness to us, afford us comfort. They can restore our discouraged mind.

16. 3 Bible Verse

Psalm 94:19 (KJV), “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”

16.4 What the Verse Means

When we are fearful because of considering various possible outcomes and scenarios, listening to ungodly counsel from well-meaning friends, or just drowning in self-pity, we need to return to the Lord for real rest and comfort.

God’s comfort satisfies my soul. Focusing and meditating on His Word and teachings comfort me and delight me. True satisfaction only comes from God’s Holy Spirit!

Only God can truly remove our fears and give us His perfect peace.

16.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father I confess too often my thoughts are filled with various and confusing ideas. Protect me from the negative thinkers and their contrary counsel.
  • Lord Jesus, I admit sometimes being tortured with cares and fears about my future due to my loved one’s chronic illness.
  • God Almighty, I praise You because Your comfort delights my soul.
  • I have heard Your promises taught in Sunday School as well as heard them preached in church and have read in the Bible. They comfort me. Your promises remove the fear. Psalm 56:3 (KJV) says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
  • Lord, the memory of my experiences of Your care and kindness to me, affords me such comfort as they restore my at times discouraged mind.

16.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Turn your worries and concerns over to God. Take a piece of paper and write down five worries you have. When you finish writing your five fears say out loud, God, the concerns I have written I now turn over to you. Crumble the paper and throw it into your trash can. 
  2. Do not focus on your worries and fears. Instead, thank God that for your ability to provide some care and comfort for your loved one. Remember, sometimes the essential support you provide is being there with them. I call it the ministry of your presence. 
  3. As I type this, I am praying for the person who is reading these words needs. Know that at least one person has prayed for your needs, cares, and concerns in advance. God ew from the beginning of time that you would have this appointment with caregiving. Maybe that’s why I felt impressed to pray for you as I typed this morning. 

16.7 Takeaway

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

 

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Taken by family on October 20, 2017.

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

Love Me Enough to Let Me Go

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie KeplerLeave a comment

Love Me Enough to Let Me Go

15.1 My Story

I still recall the conversation. Rarely have I hated having such a talk. I am forever glad we had the conversation.

“Jimmie, we need to talk,” said Miss Benita. I glanced in her direction. While her natural smile and joyous attitude were on her face, it was the seriousness in her voice that caught my attention.

I also realized we needed to talk, RIGHT NOW. Being married to the same person for over forty years helps you understand when she says we need to talk; she means we need to do it NOW.

I didn’t take time to get or doing anything. I gave my wife my complete attention.

“What’s on your mind,” I said as lovingly and supportively as I could. I wanted Miss Benita to know I had her complete attention, and whatever was on her mind was the most critical thing in the world to me. If it was her concern, it was my concern.

“You know I am about to start the radiation treatment on the area of my head where the neurologist removed the brain tumor.”

I nodded.

“When the tumor recurs, and it will recur, don’t you go letting them cut on my head again. I don’t want any more surgeries. Them cutting on me isn’t going to save me. Jesus already saved me when I was a girl.”

“So you’re saying –” I started.

“I’m saying, love me enough to let me go. It’s going to be okay for me. I’ll be in heaven with Mama, Daddy, Willie, and Grandma before the hospice people get my time of death called in,” she said with a calm and peace of mind that can only come from God.

“Oh, okay,” I said, suddenly choking out my words.

“Don’t go being selfish. Let me go to heaven. Love me enough to let me go. You and the children will be okay. I’ll be seeing you all again when you get to heaven. Even the kids that aren’t attending church or living for the Lord are going to be there. We trained them up the best we could, we shared Jesus with them, and even when they or you aren’t living for the Lord, you’re still saved. I know you know that. Like you, they each accepted Christ and knew what they were doing.”

I nodded.

Then she quoted from memory Romans 14:8 (KJV), “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

I teared up.

She added, “Best I can figure, the Lord is leaving you here to write about Him and point others to Him. You need to keep writing religiously. Don’t go chasing any Stephen King or Ray Bradbury dreams of fame and fortune. If you honor God, he’ll honor you. You know that. You taught me that.”

I grabbed a Kleenex.

“The book of devotions you wrote (Prayers for the Chronically Ill) to help me will help others. Write something for those people like you, the ones who are caregivers. You have as hard a job taking care of me and the household as I have been the terminally ill patient. Just keep pointing people to Jesus. We both know Jesus is the only hope anyone has. Now promise me you won’t let them cut on me anymore and that you’ll write to lead people to Jesus and help Christians grow in their faith.”

“I promise,” I said as I held her hand and then kissed the back of the hand to seal my pledge.

Eight weeks later, the tumor recurred. At the recurrence, I was given two options. Option one was surgery, which would extend life a couple of months at the most. Choice two was hospice.

“I need your decision about which option you will choose. I need it now. The operating room is available now and then not again for several days. Several days will be too late. What do you want to do?” asked the neurological surgeon.

Miss Benita’s word reverberated through my head, “Don’t go being selfish. Let me go to heaven. Love me enough to let me go.”

“No more surgery We chose hospice,” I said. And then I cried. Loving your wife enough to let her die and go to heaven is hard. Loving someone this much also breaks your heart. I know. Making this decision broke my heart. I realized death was at my wife’s door.

15.2 We Are the Lord’s

Part of caring for a person with a chronic or terminal illness understands we are the Lord’s.

Today most people live for themselves and live for the moment. This lifestyle is different from how a Christian should live.

The purpose of the Christian life is to do the Lord’s will and promote his glory by our life. Glorifying God with your life doesn’t mean you cannot have fun. On the contrary, it allows you to have fun without regrets.

15.3 Bible Verse

Romans 14:8 (KJV), “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

15.4 What the Verse Means

The purpose of the Christian life is to do the Lord’s will and promote his glory by our life. A Christian should do this because they belong to God. Not only do we belong to God in this life, but we belong to him even as we are dying and after we die.

The passage provides a reminder that the soul does not cease to be conscious at death. We are still the Lord’s.

Even when the body is in the grave, we are the Lords. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) reminds us, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

15.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father if I live, I live to the Lord. Help me live to the Lord. May You be glorified through my life.
  • Lord Jesus if I die, I die to the Lord. Help me to die to the Lord. Help me to remember that even in the grave I am Yours.
  • I proclaim to the world whether I live or whether I die, I am the Lord’s. Thank You, Lord, for the security I have as a Believer in the Lord.

15.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you living every day to point people to Jesus? If not, ask God through prayer to help you live for Jesus.
  2. Are you spending time reading God’s word? Remember, a regular time of reading the Bible will help you as a caregiver. It will strengthen and refresh you spiritually.
  3. Who do you know in your loved one’s circle of friends that need to know Christ as Savior? Begin praying for God to soften their heart.

15.7 Takeaway

We are the Lords.

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

 

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Image by ElisaRiva from Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

Where to Look When You Are Seeking a Safe Place

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler5 Comments
Taken on October 20, 2017, Miss Benita is smiling as always. She loved being with her sisters and being in the mountains.

Where to Look When You Are Seeking a Safe Place

14.1 My Story

I remember Sunday, December 3, 2017, well. Miss Benita had not been feeling well for the previous two months.

It had started in early October when she worked a week of nights doing a stock reset. She worked retail for the big box store headquartered in Arkansas. I recall her commenting that she usually didn’t occasionally mind working nights. 

This time was different. My wife lacked her usual energy. It was a real struggle for her.

We spoke after her first night of work. With genuine concern, she said the bosses were messing up. Specifically, she mentioned they had printed signs that had left off the last two or three letters of words. 

She wasn’t happy with my one-word response of “really.”

She said that when she mentioned it to the manager on duty, he acted as if she was crazy. Even as she insisted something was wrong with the sign, the manager on duty said the signage was okay and ignored her comments. She was told to keep working.

A week later she flew to Denver, Colorado for a week of rest with her two sisters. They met at her older sister’s home in the metropolitan Denver area.

Her younger sister flew in from Tennessee to join in the reunion. Miss Benita had made it clear my presence was not needed or wanted for this week. The time in Colorado was to be a special week for her with her sisters.

While in Colorado, my wife got sick. It was her normal nausea, vomiting, and something new, a headache. She went to see a doctor.

The physician told her to take to her nausea medicine and let her doctor know about this spell when she returned home.

Once home, the symptoms lessened. Miss Benita did not see her doctor or call the oncologist. She had a PET scan scheduled in a few days with a follow-up visit to the oncologist so she would let the doctor know at that time.

She saw the oncologist at the scheduled appointment in early November. The PET Scan was just a full body scan. They did not scan her head.

The body scan did not show any Melanoma Cancer. It only showed the other cancer she had (yes, she had two different types of cancer), the neuroendocrine carcinoid. It had not changed. She mentioned to the doctor the nausea spell on her recent trip to Colorado.

The oncologist commented that while flying and high elevation caused issues in persons with brain tumors, her last brain scans six months earlier had not shown any cancer in her head or body. He mentioned if she didn’t have the neuroendocrine carcinoid which had been a cause of her tummy distress for years, he would think the Melanoma Cancer had spread to the brain.

He decided to schedule a brain scan. After the paperwork’s processing, the insurance company’s initial denial, resubmission of the forms, and final approval it was planned for the week after Christmas.

By the Friday after Thanksgiving, Miss Benita was having severe nausea issues. With her doctor’s office closed for the holiday, she went to an urgent care facility seeking relief. She passionately declined me taking her to the hospital’s emergency room fearing they would hospitalize her. 

The urgent care facility encouraged her to see her primary care doctor on Monday and to call her oncologist to update him.

Miss Benita felt better on Monday. She decided against going to her primary care doctor. “I can’t run to her every time I hurt, or I would need to move in her office,” she said.

She was feeling better when at home by keeping the lights turned off, and the windows closed with blackout curtains. Any television or music had to have the volume turned low.

At this time she also mentioned to me that my latest book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” wasn’t edited very good. She says some sentences aren’t complete. It just seems like words are missing, especially at the end of some sentences.

Her words had me remembering her comments on her store signage from early October.

I double checked, and the book’s editing was excellent. Miss Benita became frustrated when I showed her nothing was wrong with the editing. 

If I moved the page, the missing words would magically appear for her to read.

I asked if she was having vision problems. She again mentioned the signage at work from back in early October with letters and words missing.

I suggested we tell this to the managing oncologist and schedule an eye exam. We called and left a message with the oncologist answering service. I also scheduled an eye exam for her later in December.

A few days later, on Sunday, December 3, 2018, we attended Sunday morning worship and Bible study. Miss Benita commented that in spite of the loud music, the church is the one place she feels perfectly calm. She added that her upset stomach vanishes when in worship services at church. A remarkable peace seems to wrap its arms around her. She feels normal, well, and her heavenly hope engulfs her.

On the afternoon of Thursday, December 7, 2017, Benita called me from the doctor’s office parking lot. She had driven herself there from her day job. Now I was needed me to help to get her from the car to the doctor’s office. She added it had taken her at least ten minutes to get the cell phone to work right where she can call me for help. She was rattled and confused.

I was scared and worried. All my scenes and intuition were screaming; this was bad. I dashed to the parking lot, which was just a mile from my house. 

She saw the doctor. The physician immediately sends her for an emergency CT Scan of the head. The physician whispers to me that she is sure Benita has a brain tumor. She says she will have the scan expedited. She is convinced this is very bad.

The CT Scan confirms a large brain tumor.

Miss Benita and I pray. The CT Scan people have us in a conference room where we have a speakerphone that allows the primary care physician to explain the results. The lady at the CT Scan facility is crying the entire time. The doctor tells the scan showed a brain tumor and we need a category one certified brain trauma facility ASAP. Immediate surgical intervention is required if she is to have a chance of survival.

We go immediately to Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas. It is a certified brain trauma facility.

The surgical neurologist removed a malignant Melanoma Cancer tumor. 

The managing oncologist tells me if we had known of the brain tumor Miss Benita shouldn’t have flown in October and certainly should not have gone to high elevation in the Rocky Mountains.

The size of her tumor leads him to believe she had it in October, and being at elevation caused her sick spell that month while in Colorado. He said in getting records from her primary care doctor helped him get the total picture. Miss Benita had mentioned vision issues, just the primary care, not the oncologist. 

The oncologist said her flying and going to very high elevation probably caused brain swelling. Being at higher altitude caused her being sick in Colorado. The brain swelling reduced when she was back home at a lower height of 595 feet, and she felt better.

Well, I could go on and on with what ifs. What ifs lead to regrets. Regrets can lead to despair and depression. I felt and still feel I let my wife down by not talking to the doctors and making sure they had the total picture.

Please, don’t go down regret row. You won’t enjoy the journey or the destination.

The bottom line is as my spouse’s illness worsened it seemed that the only time she was in a state of nirvana was when she was in church, listening to Christin music, or reading or having Scripture read to her. I’m not saying what will work for you or your loved one. I am testifying to the Lord being Miss Benita’s stronghold and her place of peace and comfort.

Her experience also shows how difficult diagnosing and treating a disease can be.

14.2 We Need a Safe Place

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness realizes that sometimes we need a safe place. We need a place of refuge. A Christian has such a safe place of refuge in God. 

The same God who was powerful enough to create the heavens and the Earth and who could destroy the world with the flood in Noah’s day is compassionate, kind, and charitable. He is an unquestionable harbor of protection to those who worship and serve him. He is good. Because of his goodness, the Believer is never ignored or deserted by him. God accepts, keeps, and preserves the Believers of Jesus Christ.

14.3 Bible Verse

Nahum 1:7 (KJV), “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

14.4 What the Verse Means

But though God is steadfast in his power, yet He is merciful, gracious, and benevolent. God is a sure refuge and protection to those who know Him as their Savior, worship Him, serve Him, and put their trust in Him. He knows and pays regard to all such so that they are never overlooked or neglected by Him. As such, God approves, owns, and preserves us.

14.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father I praise You for Your goodness.
  • Thank You for being my stronghold in the day of trouble.
  • Thank You for never neglecting me.
  • Thank You for Your provision.

14.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Are you going to the Lord God in your day of trouble and every day? 
  2. Remember to read God’s word regularly. There is comfort in God’s word. What book of the Bible or passage are you currently reading? 
  3. Are you treasuring the days you have with your loved one? How? Enjoy the day, whether good or bad, it is the only one you have. Enjoy the day. Enjoy your loved one. 

14.7 Takeaway

God is an unquestionable harbor of protection to those who worship and serve him.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Taken by family on October 20, 2017.

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

Do Not Lose Heart

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Do Not Lose Heart

13.1 My Story

My wife was excited when the eleven months of taking the prescription chemotherapy medications ended.

I was expecting her to do a happy dance and to go celebrating her accomplishment. Instead of a time of rejoicing, it became a solemn watershed. She was tired of the handful of pills she took multiple times a day and the way they controlled her life and schedule.

“Jimmie, I will never do chemo again. I know you’ll support my decision,” she said with the authority and resolve of a drill sergeant barking orders.

I looked at her. I’m sure she saw the questioning, the disappointment, the lack of understanding in my face. I knew better than to question her decision. Her mind was made up. Challenging her decision would bring her to tears. Confronting her choice would breach my commitment to her.

I prayed for God to give me wisdom before I replied. I heard myself say, “You have decided never to do chemo again. You request me to support your decision. Is that correct?”

“Don’t be so clinical. Please, do not treat me like you did the children when they were young,” she said deliberately with an attitude almost spitting each word at me.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I was just restating what you said to make sure I heard you correctly.”

“You heard me. Our body isn’t made to take these treatments. You can’t imagine how horrible they are.”

I just looked at her and listened as she continued talking.

“I’m not saying I want to die today. I don’t want to die. However, I know that I have an eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven, waiting at the end of this horrible journey. No pain, no suffering, a new body, a grand family reunion with my family and your mother (my mother was deceased, my dad would live another three months). It’s only because of the final destination that I can continue with this journey with the Melanoma Cancer. Living with cancer is hard. It’s terrible.”

13.2 Not Losing Heart

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness is not losing heart. Your maintaining a positive attitude helps you to provide the best care. Keeping an optimistic view helps maintain our outlook from an eternal perspective.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 verse, God is pointing out we should view all earthly adversity in comparison with our future heavenly glory. When we do this, we should be strengthened to endure our human trials.

13.3 Bible Verse

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (KJV), “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

13.4 What the Verse Means

While our bodies (outward man) grow old and suffer from diseases, our spiritual side (inward man) is renewed daily. Too often, we only focus on the things we see in this present life. We need to also focus on the spiritual, that is the things that are not seen but given to us by God as a future promise. 

We see this with our “spiritual eyes.” It takes belief. A part of faith is believing that what God has promised he will undoubtedly bring to pass. I have confidence in God’s word and promises.

13.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to focus on You, my loved one’s final destination and never to lose heart.
  • Lord Jesus, help me remember that while my loved one’s outer body is perishing, yet their inward body is being renewed daily.
  • God, I realize the chronic illness my loved one is facing won’t last forever but is working in them and me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
  • Lord God help me to not look at my loved one’s circumstances which are temporary but to look on the things that are not now seen, but eternal.

13.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Lord Jesus, help me have the courage to see my loved one’s situation from their point of view. 
  2. God in Heaven, help me to support their choices. 
  3. Father, help me to listen to my loved one. 

13.7 Takeaway

It is helpful to maintain our perspective toward our loved one and caregiving from an eternal perspective.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Image by dalnimi oh from Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

Happy Independence Day

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Independence Day (colloquial: the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain and were now united, free, and independent states.[1] The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2, but it was not declared until July 4.[1]

Photo Credit: A Fourth of July fireworks display at the Washington Monument. Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (DC) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA). Camera Operator: SSGT. LONO KOLLARS – This media is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6413316.This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States. File: Fourth of July fireworks behind the Washington Monument, 1986.jpg. Created: 3 July 1986

1 “What is Independence Day in USA?”. Tech Notes. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.

How to Have Real Prosperity

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler3 Comments

How to Have Real Prosperity

12.1 My Story

My wife and I saw the same dermatologist. She is the physician that initially diagnosed Miss Benita’s Melanoma cancer.

Following my wife’s initial Melanoma cancer surgery, I scheduled an appointment to get myself checked. I needed to stay in good health.

At the follow-up appointment, I shared I had a biopsy of a spot in my mouth. The result of the biopsy was oral lichen planus. I was referred to my dermatologist by the oral surgeon for follow-up treatment.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. 

The dermatologist told me she knew I was under excessive stress with Miss Benita’s cancer treatment. She asked if additional events were happening in life that was causing me stress.

I shared the added stress I was under from caring for my 89 years old father. I said it also didn’t help that my long-term day job had just completed a significant reduction in force and reorganization. I was still employed and experiencing the changes of doing more with less.

She said what I knew. “Stress is everywhere in your life.”

Just days before Miss Benita went into hospice care, I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease. The gastro endocrinologist said while there is no known cause, he was assuming since I had the oral lichen planus and that I was under excessive stress with Miss Benita’s cancer treatment that the pressures of life were a major contributing factor.

My point is the stress of caregiving may impact you physically. I do not give medical advice. This book is not intended as medical advice. If you are having health issues, see your physician for medical advice.

However, for you to provide the best care for your loved one, you need to also care for yourself. I saw my physician. She helped me to be able to keep on keeping on and continue to be a caregiver for my spouse.

12.2 Real Prosperity is in the Lord Jesus Christ

Part of caring for a person with a chronic or terminal illness realizes our real prosperity is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s passage speaks of our mental health and general well-being.

12.3 Bible Verse

3 John 1:2 (KJV), “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

12.4 What the Verse Means

John, the author, is addressing Gaius. John wants Gaius to prosper and have good health equal to his spiritual health.

For your information, in the Book of 3 John, Gaius is John’s friend. Gaius was known for his hospitality to traveling preachers, for being faithful, loving, and walking in the truth.

12.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father I pray that I may prosper, that is to be healthy physically and fiscally. Why? Not to be rich but to care for my family and pay my medical bills.
  • Lord Jesus, I pray that I would be in physically good health and that my health would mirror my spiritual health.
  • I pray for rest and peace of mind.

12.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Do you have any medical concerns about yourself? List your concerns. Also, seek medical attention to your concerns as soon as possible.
  2. Are you getting adequate sleep? If not, talk to your health care professional for advice. 
  3. Are you eating properly? Seek the help of your health care professional if you have questions. 

12.7 Takeaway

Real prosperity is knowing Christ as Savior.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

How to Trust God

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie KeplerLeave a comment
The picture is of Benita Kepler with the Atlantic Ocean behind her. The photo’s date is Thursday, August 11, 2016. The location is Rye North Beach, New Hampshire. She is wearing her signature smile as well as compression lymphedema sleeve and gauntlet (glove). I always told her the gauntlet (glove) made her look like a rock star referencing Madonna’s fingerless glove look from the 1980s.

How to Trust God

11.1 My Story

In August of 2016, my wife Benita and I took a lengthy “bucket list” trip. In our forty plus years of marriage, she had never been to the northeastern USA. She had heard stories from my early teens when I lived in New England as a military brat. She also had never been to New York or the middle Atlantic states.

The trip wasn’t easy. Even with my wife’s terminal Melanoma cancer, her employer initially said no to her being off work for multiple weeks of vacation even though she had sufficient accrued vacation days. My day job also lacked compassion. We both found the situation frustrating as we had more days of leave accumulated than needed for the trip. Finally, both employers agreed to let us off work.

The trip required a small refrigerator for the car as her chemotherapy prescription medications needed refrigeration. The large lymphedema therapy machine had to be unloaded and loaded each day along with scheduling time for her to do an hour’s therapy per day.

Many days it would be as later as 10 AM before we were able to get checked out of our hotel. Most days we were checked into the hotel by 5 PM. When you drive those few hours in a day, it takes a long time to travel the over 2,200 miles from Dallas, Texas to Northern Maine.

Out lengthy trip included stops at cool places like Niagara Falls, and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory just outside of Burlington, Vermont. We visited university campuses like Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Bowdoin College, Brown, Yale, Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee Universities, and their libraries. She saw where I attended junior high school in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The State of Liberty and New York City, and Philadelphia were included on the agenda. We also went to Gettysburg, the Hershey Chocolate Factory, and all the Washington, DC sites.

We skipped the National Football League Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, Basketball Hall of Fame, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She said I could go back to those places after she was gone as she had no interest.

The journey ended back home attending a concert by her favorite singer, Kenny Rogers.

The trip was hard for her. She was so glad we made it. She told me she appreciated my patience. She knew I was up hours before her. I sat still patiently while she slept and rested. I also sat reading when she did the lymphedema therapy. She always had control of the television remote device in the hotel. The TV was never turned on when she was resting or asleep.

I got very tired of hauling the luggage, medicines, and medical equipment into and out of the hotels. I admit that. I couldn’t trust the bellhop at the hotels to treat the medical equipment with the tender loving care it needed. The only time I entrusted the machine to one, I found disconnected hoses and a power cable that had fallen off and were in the middle of the hallway.

The entire bucket list trip was an adventure in trusting God. What if we had trouble with her chemotherapy medications while 2,500 miles from home? We did, and God cut through the red tape to take care of it.

My attitude, trust in God, and love for my wife somehow allowed me to navigate the journey He had for my loved one and me. He’ll do the same for you.

11.2 Trusting God

Part of caring for a person with a chronic or terminal illness is trusting God. When dealing with a protracted disease, sometimes it is tough to maintain focus or have peace of mind.

The person battling the ailment often finds themselves dwelling on what is happening to them physically, fiscally, and wondering if they’ll even have a future. It can be hard.

As a caregiver, you may feel like all you do is manage schedules and provide taxi services. You find yourself longing for the good old days before the illness took over your life.

Isaiah 26:3 gives us hope as it tells us peace of mind is available. The way to peace is to focus on God, not your problem. It is to trust God. I’ll repeat it, trust God.

11.3 Bible Verse

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV), “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

11.4 What the Verse Means

The key word is trust. We have a requirement to trust God. Trusting in God, that is when our mind is focused on Him, not our troubles, allows us to be kept in God’s perfect peace.

11.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father help me to keep my mind steadfast on You.
  • Thank You for the peace of mind that can only come from God.
  • Lord Jesus, help me to take my refuge in You.
  • God, I know You are the only hope my loved one has in battling her chronic illness.

11.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Name one area where you need to let go and trust God.
  2. Are you thanking God daily for guiding you through the daily challenges? If not, do so now and every day.
  3. Are you genuinely trusting God? Ask God to help your unbelief and lack of trust in and for all things. 

11.7 Takeaway

The key word is TRUST in God. Trusting in God allows us to be kept in perfect peace.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: The photo was taken by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. The picture is of Benita Kepler with the Atlantic Ocean behind her. The photo’s date is Thursday, August 11, 2016. The location is Rye North Beach, New Hampshire. She is wearing her signature smile as well as compression lymphedema sleeve and gauntlet (glove). I always told her the gauntlet (glove) made her look like a rock star referencing Madonna’s fingerless glove look from the 1980s.

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

To receive a notification when “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. is available and to get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler, please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.