Italian Fairytales

             My Grandma told me that St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as “the Little Flower”, was our family patron saint, and if I prayed to her, said the novenas, she would shower me with roses, to let me know my prayers would be answered. I am not sure if this is an “Italian-American thing“, or if American children hear such stories, but I love St. Therese and I believe. I have only prayed to her for intercession a handful of times, but I am telling you, the most random roses would appear, and my prayers were answered. I am reading her story, the Story of a Soul, and I find it inspiring. St. Therese said, “What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love.”

                Caregiving is not about doing a great deed, it really isn’t. It’s about great love. I’ve heard stories where a Caregiver’s motives were questioned, was he doing it for the money? Or was she doing it out of guilt? I can tell you firsthand that there is only one reason alone to do what we do, and it is simply love. Even if someone became a Caregiver with ulterior motives, maybe money or otherwise, I can assure you that they wouldn’t be able to last a minute. Love overcomes and any other motive could not sustain. It’s just too hard!

                If you’re intention is to do good and you make the effort every day to get up in the morning and be the best you can be, take care of your loved one, and do the right thing to the best of your ability, everything will fall into place. God is on your side and will meet you half way to move mountains to make sure you have what you need to get through all of it.

                I believe in the power of prayer. You don’t have to believe in saints, or even God or Jesus, but I have always had faith in a higher power that guides my every decision and helps me navigate my way through life, and that faith has pulled me through a lot of dark, challenging times. God works for me. God works for you too.