June 18 - The World's Hardest Job

Read Romans 15:1-15

Context: Paul has been telling the Romans how Christians act in different situations, including submitting to authority, loving one another, and accepting those whose faith is weak without passing judgment.

Text:
1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."[a] 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b]on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name."[c] 10Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."[d] 11And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples."[e] 12And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."[f]
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Romans 15:3 Psalm 69:9
Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision
Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43
Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1
Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10
taken from www.biblegateway.com

Being a caretaker is a rough job, whether it is full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary. It is also a thankless job, and sometimes that makes it all the more difficult. Sometimes those who are aged or ill are not always thinking straight and they don't focus on the burden of care-taking, only on their immediate needs that aren't being met fast enough or in the 'right' way. Words can be uttered in frustration that leave the caretaker feeling hurt, incompetent, and unappreciated; similar words leave the person being cared for feeling like a burden and an imposition.

Jesus says that he takes on all of these hurtful insults (too bad they have to brush across our psyche's first!). You can almost imagine a comic strip where someone speaks, then Jesus just picks up the speech bubble and wads it up in his hands. We are human, and we will say things we regret as well as hear things we wish we could forget. God wants us to accept one another as we are...and that includes ourselves! If we can see past the pain and suffering of one who needs care and past our own exhaustion and frustration, we will see two people who are cherished by God...and who might need a break from each other.

If you are a caretaker, please find ways to take a break. You cannot comfort and care for another person effectively when you are exhausted. Of course no one else will be able to do the work as well as you can since you have worked out many problems, but they could sit with the person for a few hours (or even overnight) so you can take a well deserved break.

My prayer for you today is the same as Paul's:
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.