A Season of Caring Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Caregiving can start with a few check-ins, then turn into a full-time reality before you even have words for it. We sit down with Carol Evans, a mom, business owner, and fellow podcast host, as she shares the tender and difficult story of caring for her mom through a short, intense battle with pancreatic cancer. When symptoms looked like ordinary aging until a stage four diagnosis changed everything, Carol found herself balancing love, urgency, and the painful truth that an adult parent can still refuse help. We talk honestly about the day-to-day stress of family caregiving: the “push or pause” decisions, the discomfort of advocating to medical professionals when your loved one says “I’m fine,” and what it feels like to manage updates, appointments, and end-of-life care while trying not to lose the relationship. Carol also reflects on palliative care and hospice care, how resistance can tie a caregiver’s hands, and why having a knowledgeable support team can make the difference between panic and steadiness. Faith is woven through the whole journey, especially when spiritual routines collapse under exhaustion. Carol shares how Lamentations became a lifeline for grief, and we explore the reality of dying that movies rarely show, plus the healing that can come from hospice education and grief counseling after loss. If you’re walking through caregiver stress, anticipatory grief, or the guilt that sometimes follows death, you’ll find language, perspective, and hope here. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us what part of caregiving you’re in right now.

Send us Fan Mail You can love your family and still feel crushed when no one shows up to help. When you are the one making the calls, managing the appointments, handling the emergencies, and carrying the emotional load, loneliness can turn into resentment fast. We name that pain without shame, because those feelings are human and common for family caregivers, especially when siblings stay silent or relatives assume you can handle everything. We also get honest about the hidden cost: resentment promises relief, but it drains your strength, colors your relationships, and makes caregiving even heavier. From a Christian caregiving perspective, we turn toward the God who sees, anchoring hope in Scripture and in the reminder that your worth is not measured by how much you do or how well you hold it together. Then we get practical. I share a reframing tool that changes the tone of support: asking for help as an invitation to something meaningful. You will hear clear examples you can use right away, plus simple strategies for processing emotions, journaling, building a wider support system, communicating specific needs, and setting boundaries that protect your health. We close with a call to forgiveness that releases resentment’s grip and helps you keep moving forward with peace and purpose. If you know a caregiver who feels unseen, share this episode, subscribe for more encouragement, and leave a review so more family caregivers can find hope and real help.

Send us Fan Mail Caregiving can look brave on the outside while you quietly fall apart on the inside. We sit down with Mia Godfrey, a certified life coach, speaker, and author, to talk about the 11 month season she spent caring for her sister after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. With her sister in Montana and life based in Tennessee, Mia navigates relocating, caregiving, remote work, and the relentless reality of being “on” day and night for a loved one and four little kids who still need normal life to keep moving. We talk honestly about caregiver guilt and why it can feel impossible to ask for help. Mia shares how watching her mother care for her father shaped her belief that real love means self sacrifice, no breaks, no needs, and no tears. Together, we name what caregiver burnout feels like and why support groups, community, and simple permission to say “I’m drained” can change everything. If you’re caring for a parent with dementia, a spouse, or a sibling with cancer, you’ll recognize the pressure to do it all and the fear of being seen as weak. Mia also offers a powerful reframe: the most important caregiving is often presence, not perfection. Holding a hand, brushing hair, reading the Bible, noticing the sunset, and reminding someone they are not a burden can matter as much as medication schedules and tasks. We close with the practice that carried Mia through grief and exhaustion: gratitude for small, real gifts like breath, strength, and even dirty dishes you “get to” do. If this conversation helps you feel less alone, subscribe, share it with a caregiver friend, and leave a review so more family caregivers can find hope and practical support.

Send a text A sudden stroke can upend a life in minutes, but the real story unfolds in the long, uneven days that follow. We sit down with Lana Wilhelm—retired nurse, author of Stroke and the Spouse and Stroke and the Caregiver—to explore the hard truths and hopeful practices that carry caregivers from shock to steady ground. Lana speaks candidly about how medical expertise couldn’t prepare her for the emotional terrain of caring for her husband, the isolation that arrives after the hospital crowds thin, and the invisible deficits that make stroke recovery so misunderstood. Together, we unpack what the world often misses: not all progress is visible, “doing well” in public can mask deep daily strain, and protecting a loved one’s dignity can chip away at your own reserves. Lana offers a compassionate reframe from caregiver to care partner, urging teamwork and clear boundaries that honor both survivor and supporter. We talk about finding purpose in small goals—like the first clean stir of coffee—using gratitude to retrain a fear-driven brain, and building a community that speaks caregiver fluently. Expect frank reflections on anger at God, the imperfect practice of surrender, and the surprising peace that follows when control loosens its grip. If you’re navigating stroke recovery, dementia care, or any long-term caregiving season, this conversation brings practical strategies and soul-level validation: advocacy tips for clinic visits, ways to counter isolation, and rituals that create resilience day by day. We also point you to concrete resources, including Lana’s books on Amazon and the Stroke Caregiver Connection, designed to answer real questions gathered from thousands of families. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help other caregivers find a lifeline. Your story matters—and you don’t have to carry it alone.

Send a text Caregiving can feel like carrying a secret storm—so many decisions, so much love, and a kind of grief that doesn’t wait for goodbye. We open up about the real weight caregivers hold and how faith, practical wisdom, and honest reflection can turn that weight into steadier steps. Rayna shares her journey through years of caring for a mom and dad with Alzheimer’s, naming the hidden losses, the relentless pressure to get it right, and the slow, surprising growth that follows when we surrender what we were never meant to carry. Across this conversation, we name layered grief—the missed moments, shifting roles, and the parts of yourself that go quiet when life gets hard. We also unpack pressure: family expectations, cultural shoulds, medical complexity, and the inner critic that never sleeps. You’ll hear how to distinguish conviction from condemnation so you can be responsible without living as if you must control every outcome. Scripture anchors the path, reminding us that Jesus wept, that grace meets weakness, and that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. We then turn to growth without platitudes. Growth doesn’t cancel pain, but it does shape patience, endurance, compassion, and a deeper dependence on God. You’ll learn how to honor parents without losing yourself, why boundaries are part of true honor, and how love can be both tender and wise. Rayna offers five practical steps you can use today—naming losses, releasing borrowed pressure, asking for specific help, building a small rhythm of rest, and redefining success around presence and the next right step. We close with reflective questions to help you process what hurts and notice where hope is already at work. If this conversation helps you breathe a little easier, share it with another caregiver who needs encouragement. Subscribe for new episodes and leave a review so more caregivers can find these stories of hope. Your next right step might start here.

Send a text What if the behavior that broke your heart was actually the brain asking for help? In this episode Rayna sat down with author and advocate Lori Jones to explore the hidden contours of Huntington’s disease, where genetics, uncertainty, and everyday caregiving collide and uncover the small, human choices that change everything. Lori grew up in an HD family, later becoming a legal guardian for her father through care homes, hospital handoffs, and hospice. She opens up about the emotional math of pre-symptomatic testing, the weight of a 50% genetic risk, and why learning about CAG repeats and symptom variability can bring clarity without stealing hope. We also trace powerful parallels with Alzheimer’s: early psychiatric shifts that go unnoticed, late diagnoses that miss the window for treatment, and the hard truth that behavior often reflects brain change, not character. The heart of this conversation lives in the stories. A care home director who said we get creative and meant it. A third-shift art student sketching while Lori’s dad savored ice cream, reconnecting with the artist he once was. A retired neurology chair arriving with a paper bag of fries, earning trust one salty bite at a time and clearing a path for much-needed meds. These aren’t grand gestures; they’re precise mercies that honor personhood and make care sustainable. Lori also names the quiet undertow of relief: survivor’s guilt after testing gene negative. Her way through was service- organizing Team Hope fundraisers, writing Spared: A Memoir of Risk and Resolve, and speaking anywhere to help caregivers find language and community. If you’ve ever felt isolated, triggered, or unsure how to de-escalate fear-driven moments, you’ll leave with practical tools, compassionate reframes, and a reminder that you’re not supposed to carry this alone. Listen now, share this with someone who needs it, and tell us: what small act made a big difference in your caregiving? If this conversation helped, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on so more caregivers can find hope and practical support.

Send us a text Caregiving can arrive gently maybe even without noticing or like a storm: sudden, disorienting, and unplanned. We explore how to find steadiness inside that swirl by remembering your why—not as pressure to push harder, but as an anchor that keeps love durable and presence kind. Rayna opens up about stepping into her father’s care after a health crisis, why a facility wasn’t the right fit, and how her family built a home-based plan that honored his active life. The result required miles on the road, a reworked career, and more intention than she thought possible—and it also offered a deeper, truer understanding of what honoring a parent looks like when it isn’t tidy. Across the conversation, we unpack how intentional living transforms a demanding season: being present where your loved one is, planning for rest, naming limits, and inviting help. We talk through the identity squeeze caregivers often feel, and how boundaries protect both your health and the relationship you’re trying to preserve. The heart of the episode is the evolution of the caregiver’s why—how expectations give way to reality, grief reshapes purpose, and God often invites us from doing to being. Instead of chasing outcomes, we learn to abide, to let faithfulness guide the next right step, and to trust that unseen growth is still real growth. You’ll hear practical reflection prompts to re-center your values, along with scripture that grounds hope when results don’t change. If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting or asking for help, this is a warm permission slip to choose sustainability over exhaustion and love over urgency. Subscribe for more stories and tools for family caregivers, share this with someone who needs encouragement today, and leave a rating or review to help others find the show. What is your why right now—and how is it maturing?

Send us a text Caregiving doesn’t wait for perfect plans or tidy feelings. Pat invites us into the real work of loving a spouse through frontotemporal dementia—spotting the first behavior changes, pushing for a doctor who actually listens, and choosing calm care over empty checkboxes. Her story isn’t about fixing the unfixable; it’s about dignity, advocacy, and the courage to do what works when conventional paths only add stress. We walk through the moments that reshape a life: when Alzheimer’s meds made everything worse and she had to say no; when mowing the lawn became a sacred ritual that kept Don grounded; when the grief that started years before goodbye finally demanded attention. Pat shares how therapy and a short season on antidepressants gave her the steadiness to process layered losses and return to prayer with honesty. A late-night caregiver post even prepared her for Don’s cluster of seizures just hours later, a startling reminder that provision can arrive right on time. Along the way, we talk about invisible grief, stigma, and how to measure love without tying it to outcomes. Pat offers the kind of clarity caregivers crave: you cannot do this alone, and you don’t have to. Receive help early. Set routines that soothe. Release the guilt that tells you there was a perfect decision you missed. After loss, she found hope again in remarriage, a blended family, and a new home—proof that life after caregiving can be tender and bright. If you’re shouldering change you didn’t choose, this conversation offers practical wisdom, faith-filled perspective, and hard-won peace. Subscribe, share with a caregiver who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these stories of hope.

Send us a text What if the hardest part of caregiving isn’t the tasks, but letting go of control? We sit down with writer and caregiver advocate Jackie Freeman, who walked a rare dual path: caring for her father through Alzheimer’s while supporting her husband through a seven-year battle with glioblastoma. Jackie’s story is equal parts tender and practical, revealing how small choices—like waiting an extra 30 seconds so her dad could process—can restore dignity, reduce conflict, and deepen connection. Across this conversation, we unpack the shift from fixer to faithful companion. Jackie shares how a medical notebook keeps chaos in check, why “Perry’s time” became a north star for memory care, and how reclaiming friendships gave her husband purpose beyond illness. She reframes hospice as a gift that expands support and protects the caregiver’s strength, opening windows for church, study, and simple breaths of fresh air. We talk about love languages relearned during treatment, the power of validation over correction, and how presence, not perfection, becomes the truest expression of love. Faith runs through every scene, from breath prayers in the bathroom to journal entries that trace grace across the hardest days. Jackie’s warmth and candor offer both permission and a plan: accept help, invest in respite, and choose rituals that nourish the soul. If you’re carrying the sacred weight of caregiving—whether you feel unseen, exhausted, or just in need of a new rhythm—this conversation offers practical tools and hope you can use today. Subscribe for more stories that blend honest caregiving wisdom with spiritual renewal, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement right now. Your review helps more caregivers find the support they deserve.

Send us a text Enjoy the 3rd most listened to episode of 2025 with Joy Kats: What if the door you begged to open was actually protecting you for the work only you could do? That’s the tension we walk through with author and speaker Joy Kott as she traces the path from a failed kidney match to three sacred months caring for her father in his final season, and then to a later donation that finally connected. It’s a story of timing, trust, and the quiet courage to serve when plans fall apart. We start with the shock of a sudden diagnosis—congestive heart failure uncovered after a back injury—and the unplanned shift that made Joy her dad’s primary caregiver. She brings us inside the home, the garden he loved, and the daily tasks that demanded both grit and gentleness. One tender moment—washing his feet after a hospital stay—reshapes old distance into real connection. The practical becomes spiritual: preserving dignity, noticing small joys, and learning to say I get to where I have to once lived. Then the plot threads tie together. The earlier “no” to donation meant Joy had the strength and time to walk her father all the way home. Months later, another need surfaced, and this time she was the match. Along the way, we talk about living without regrets, finding purpose in detours, and holding onto Jesus when fatigue and grief threaten to empty the cup. For caregivers, faith leaders, and anyone navigating elder care or chronic illness, this conversation offers honest encouragement, real-world perspective, and hope that nothing is wasted. If this story moved you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more caregivers find practical hope.

Send us a text Caregiving rarely color‑codes itself on our calendars. One day you’re navigating an adoption that looks nothing like the tidy plans you imagined; the next day, you’re juggling a teen’s complex needs alongside aging parents in the hospital. Mandy Horne, a registered nurse and board‑certified health and wellness nurse coach, joins me to share how a late autism diagnosis reframed years of confusion, opened doors to therapies, and restored hope for her family. We talk about the difference a diagnosis can make—not as a label to hide behind, but as a key to access care, educate a village, and reset expectations. Mandy shares the hard parts without flinching: sleepless nights, aggressive moments where her husband shouldered the physical load, and the invisible cost of running on empty. Then we trace the surprising arc of her son’s senior year, where supervised medication changes and a clear call toward ministry sparked a transformation. His YouTube and TikTok outreach is growing fast, and together they’ve launched “Jesus and Autism,” a candid space for families hungry for encouragement and truth. Threaded through every chapter is a simple practice: surrender beats striving. We trade perfection for flexible habits—micro‑devotions, worship on the go, and five‑minute breath prayers that fit real life. We explore how to build a supportive church community, why “savor the ordinary day” is a lifeline, and how grace for yourself can be the pivot that keeps a home steady. If you’ve felt sandwiched between generations, if you’re waiting on clarity, or if you need language to explain what your family carries, this story offers both practical steps and a steadying peace. Listen now, share this with a caregiver who needs it, and leave a review to help others find hope in their own season of caring. Subscribe for more stories, tools, and faith‑filled support.

Send us a text A small change in behavior can rewrite a life. When Pat began noticing Don’s unusual decisions, lost words, and shifting patterns, the search for answers led to a Frontotemporal Dementia diagnosis—and a decade-long lesson in love, agency, and faith. We unpack the realities of FTD’s behavioral variant, why it’s often misread in midlife, and how a caregiver’s voice can and should shape care. Pat explains how she learned to opt out of stressful, unhelpful appointments, advocate through atypical medication reactions, and build routines that gave Don dignity. Sometimes the right choice is the one that brings peace, even if it looks different from the standard path. We also go straight at the grief most caregivers carry but rarely name. Loss begins long before the goodbye. Pat shares how stacked losses overwhelmed her plans and how therapy—and for a season, an antidepressant—helped her function, feel, and keep going. Faith remained a steady thread, from a midnight caregiver post that prepared her for Don’s sudden seizures to the quiet conviction that help would meet her at the moment of need. Along the way, we talk about practical strategies: protecting the caregiver’s health, choosing physicians who see the whole family, and honoring routines that soothe, like Don’s daily mowing that brought calm even on hospice. The heart of this conversation is freedom from guilt. You can’t alter the disease’s destination, but you can shape the journey. Pat closes with hard-won wisdom on accepting help, inviting community into the home, and measuring success by presence and kindness rather than outcomes. And she offers a hopeful coda: life continues, love expands, and gratitude can return. Listen for validation, guidance, and a gentle nudge toward living without regrets. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a caregiver who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find these stories.

Send us a text Caregiving rarely unfolds the way we imagine. Catherine joins us to trace a decades-long journey that started in childhood waiting rooms and led to the moment her father was diagnosed with Huntington’s at 80, long after her mother’s dementia and medical challenges had reshaped daily life. What follows is a candid, hope-filled guide to planning one step ahead, inviting family into specific roles, and choosing dignity over control when everything changes faster than your systems can keep up. We dig into the hard transitions—selling homes, moving parents in, and turning a new house into a familiar haven with small details that calm the nervous system. Catherine shares how “hire for fit, not ability” became a lifeline: the right caregiver isn’t just technically skilled, they connect, ask better questions, bring humor, and meet emotional needs that checklists miss. From entering the world of dementia instead of correcting it, to medication strategies like adding one drug at a time and tracking side effects, you’ll hear practical tactics you can apply today. We also talk about finances with compassion: transition access early, preserve reassuring rituals, and keep dignity at the core. Family dynamics get real here. Catherine explains how she “threw away the scale” of who did most, invited relatives into clear roles they could sustain, and let go of bitterness when help didn’t show. Woven through is a steady rhythm of faith—listening, being known, and following the next right step—that turns midnight crises into moments of presence and care. If you’re navigating aging parents, juggling distance, or staring down another unexpected change, this conversation offers grounded wisdom, gentle humor, and tools you can trust. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help other caregivers find these stories and strategies.

Send us a text What happens when the child you love suddenly can’t face the day—and the usual fixes don’t work? We open up about a mother’s unseen caregiving: guiding her son through anxiety and depression after a cross-country move collided with the uncertainty of COVID. The story moves beyond clichés, touching the raw places—shame when friends don’t understand, judgment from well-meaning people, and the weary loop of doing “all the right things” without a breakthrough—until a quiet yes to counseling, community, and a carefully chosen low-dose medication turned the tide. We talk candidly about how faith and mental health care can work together, not against each other. You’ll hear what it looks like to advocate at school, track real progress, and hold steady when improvement comes in fits and starts. The spiritual arc is honest and personal: praying on the closet floor, realizing God loves the caregiver as much as the child, and releasing control with the words, “I’m writing his testimony—stop trying to steal the pen.” Along the way, small markers of hope begin to shine: a safe church home, notes from attentive teachers, an eighth-grade tribute to kindness, and a seventh-grade “Waymaker” testimony that reframed the pain with purpose. If you’re navigating child anxiety, caregiver burnout, or the gray space between prayer and practical help, this conversation offers tools and comfort: how to discern when chemistry is part of the problem, why persistence in seeking support matters, and how a simple nightly gratitude practice can re-anchor a family. We also share Shelli’s upcoming Bible study, “Rise: How to Get Back Up After Life Knocks You Down,” built on Ezra 10:4 and designed to help you take the next faithful step from the valley to solid ground. If this spoke to you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review so others can find these stories of quiet, steady resilience.

Send us a text What if the hardest season of your life became the place where wonder returned, marriage deepened, and purpose took root? That’s the heart of our conversation with caregiver and author Cathy Bennett, who spent nine years walking alongside her husband Michael through ALS—and found a new kind of faith and community in the process. We open with the practical realities few outsiders see: the wheelchair, the Hoyer lift, the accessible van, the heavy “operator” tasks you never trained for but learn because love insists. Then we sit with the isolation that caregiving often creates—especially when a pandemic narrows your world—and we name why generic advice isn’t enough. Cathy explains how faith and solidarity among caregivers change the emotional math, easing the bitterness that can grow when you carry the load alone. She shares a powerful arc of belief as Michael, a lifelong tinkerer and nature buff, reconnects with God through the complexity and design he saw on screen. Along the way, marriage is reshaped by humility and gratitude; two driven people learn surrender and find their bond unexpectedly better, not smaller. There are vivid moments of provision—a long-stalled cabin sale clearing the way to build an accessible home at exactly the right time—and there’s the quieter provision of a new calling. Cathy begins to write in the margins of caregiving, eventually crafting a devotional organized around fifty emotions caregivers know by heart. She launches a faith-based caregiver community where short devotions and prayer meet the needs of time-pressed listeners, offering daily encouragement without fluff. We also get practical: how to invite people into your real life so they can truly help, why worship music can reset the hardest hour of the day, and how to “tighten the loop between guilt and grace” after inevitable slip-ups. If you’re caring for a spouse, parent, or friend—or supporting someone who is—you’ll find a rich mix of story, strategy, and hope. Subscribe, share this episode with a caregiver who needs strength for today, and leave a review to help others discover these stories of faith, resilience, and real-world care.

Send us a text Do you ever feel weighed down by guilt as a caregiver—second-guessing your choices, comparing yourself to others, or wondering if you’ve done enough? In this heartfelt episode of A Season of Caring Podcast, Rayna Neises gently reminds us that faith and guilt do not belong together. Guilt shadows many caregivers, whispering that they're not doing enough or that needing rest makes them selfish. This burden weighs heavily on already exhausted hearts, creating distance from the very grace needed most during challenging seasons. Drawing from Romans 8:1, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," we explore why faith and guilt don't belong together. When guilt creeps in—whether from losing patience, feeling inadequate, or believing you should somehow do more—it's essential to recognize this isn't God's voice. While conviction gently draws us toward growth, guilt traps us in shame. The key question becomes: "Does this thought bring me closer to God's love or push me farther away?" Like autumn leaves that must eventually fall, guilt needs release. Caregiving has its seasons—intense periods, waiting times, and eventually seasons of loss. In each one, God provides specific grace for that moment. Rather than dwelling on yesterday's perceived failures or tomorrow's worries, focus on the present where divine grace meets you exactly as you are. I've created a free Fall Seasonal Rest Rhythm mini-series with three guided audio practices to help you pause, breathe, and remember God's presence even in overwhelming moments. These simple tools remind you that you're more than the guilt you carry, and that peace is available in every season. Download this free resource at aseasonofcaring.com/fallrest and take a step toward living with the freedom God intends for you—even in your season of caring.

Send us a text What happens when a healthcare professional becomes the patient, then becomes a family caregiver? Manjeet Singh's remarkable journey offers a powerful perspective on caregiving that few can provide. Manjeet joins us to share his transformative path from being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 20 and losing his colon to becoming a registered nurse with over 15 years of critical care experience. His story takes a deeply personal turn as he recounts caring for his mother during her battle with a rare brain tumor—a seven-month journey that reinforced his belief that caregiving requires both professional skill and profound love. "We cannot pour from an empty cup," Manjeet reminds us, highlighting the paradox that caregivers face: dedicating themselves to others often at the expense of their own wellbeing. Drawing from his professional expertise and personal experience, he introduces his revolutionary S.L.E.E.P framework—a practical approach to holistic wellness covering Sleep, Limits (boundaries), Vitality, circadian rhythm, and hydration. What makes his approach so valuable is its simplicity and integration with natural rhythms, making it accessible even within the constraints of demanding caregiving roles. The conversation takes a spiritual turn as Manjeet shares the intimate moments of reading scripture and holding his mother's hand during her final days. These poignant memories underscore his philosophy that caregiving isn't just about completing tasks but about being present with genuine love—echoing Mother Teresa's wisdom that "it's not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing." For caregivers struggling with burnout or losing sight of purpose, this perspective offers renewed meaning and connection. Ready to transform your caregiving journey? Manjeet is offering podcast listeners free access to his wellness program for up to five family members at healthcareheroes.global. Listen now to discover how to care deeply for others while nurturing your own wellbeing.

Send us a text What happens when a self-described "overachiever" and "fixer" faces the uncontrollable challenges of caring for multiple loved ones with serious illnesses? Jackie Freeman's powerful story reveals the beautiful transformation that can occur when we release our grip on control and embrace faithful presence instead. Jackie grew up believing she could handle anything life threw her way. As she puts it, she was raised during the height of the feminist movement with the message that she could "bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan" – essentially managing everything through sheer determination and competence. This mindset met its match when her husband was diagnosed with brain cancer (surviving seven years beyond his six-month prognosis) while she simultaneously supported her father through Alzheimer's disease. Through raw honesty and surprising humor, Jackie shares the profound shift from believing "everything was mine to do" to recognizing her limitations and finding strength in surrender. One of her most beautiful insights comes from what caregivers at her father's memory care facility called "Perry's Time" – the practice of giving her father space to process information at his own pace rather than rushing him. This approach transformed not just her father's care but Jackie's entire philosophy of caregiving. The conversation explores practical wisdom for the overwhelmed caregiver: creating a medical notebook, finding small moments for spiritual renewal, accepting help from others, and discovering unexpected blessings even in loss. Jackie's perspective on hospice care is particularly enlightening, framing it not as "giving up" but as embracing support that allows both patient and family to live fully in whatever time remains. Most movingly, Jackie reveals how caregiving ironically healed her marriage by reversing their love languages – her husband, whose love language had been acts of service, was now receiving service, while Jackie, who valued quality time, was now giving service. This role reversal created deeper understanding between them and opened space for meaningful connection even amid tremendous challenges. Whether you're currently caregiving or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers hope that even in our most difficult seasons, we can find purpose, connection, and unexpected grace. Connect with Jackie's resources and books at JackieFreemanAuthor.com.

Send us a text What happens when caregiving forces you to confront your most painful memories? For Susie Lewis, caring for her parents became an unexpected journey toward freedom and healing. Susie shares the contrasting experiences of caring for her mother with terminal cancer for 30 days in her mother's home, and later having her father live with her and her husband for four and a half years. While these seasons brought their unique challenges, they also offered profound gifts of restoration and growth. The conversation takes a powerful turn as Susie reveals how caring for her father—who had inflicted "almost every form of abuse" during her childhood—triggered past trauma but ultimately led to deeper healing. When a physical therapist's simple statement about her father not being able to be left alone triggered feelings of being trapped, Susie found herself having a breakdown. This crisis opened the door to Christian counseling and addressing wounds she'd carried for decades. Through beautiful anecdotes—like learning to crochet with her dying mother and laughing together when her mother became tangled in pools of yellow yarn—Susie illustrates how caregiving's difficulties are often intertwined with its most precious gifts. That final crocheted basket remains one of her most treasured possessions, and the skill has allowed her to create baby blankets for all fourteen of her grandchildren. For those currently walking the caregiving path, Susie offers wisdom earned through experience: write down memories you think you'll never forget, and prioritize simple forms of self-care. "If you do not take care of yourself, you cannot take care of your loved one," she emphasizes, suggesting that even ten minutes outside walking and praying can provide essential renewal. Listen now to discover how staying the course through caregiving's challenges can lead to unexpected freedom, healing, and the fulfillment of honoring parents in profound ways. Susie's story reminds us that God weaves relationships into our lives precisely when we need them—often before we even know we'll need them.

Send us a text "Who am I outside of caregiving?" This question haunts many family caregivers as they navigate the all-consuming journey of caring for a loved one. Drawing from my personal experience of caring for my father with Alzheimer's for 14 years, I unpack the struggle to maintain our sense of self when someone else's needs dominate our days and decisions. Caregiving has a way of rewriting your identity without permission. Suddenly, you're an advocate, a nurse, a scheduler, and an emotional support system—but somewhere in that transformation, crucial parts of yourself can slip away unnoticed. I share how I realized I had stopped journaling, reading before bed, and connecting with friends—not just activities I'd lost, but pieces of my identity quietly disappearing. The path to reclaiming and protecting your identity starts with confronting the myths that trap us: the belief that doing anything less than everything means we're failing; the notion that we should just press pause on ourselves until caregiving ends; and the guilt that whispers self-care is selfish. These lies keep us from the truth—that we are whole people whose worth transcends our caregiving role. Through practical strategies like creating a personal manifesto based on core values, establishing healthy boundaries, and dedicating even five minutes a week to nurturing dreams, caregivers can maintain connection with their authentic selves. Remember, caregiving doesn't define you—it's a season in your life, not the entirety of who you are. Whether you're in the thick of caregiving or transitioning to life afterward, your story continues to unfold. Download the free core values worksheet from our show notes at seasonofcaring.com/podcast and begin reconnecting with the heart of who you are today. Your identity matters, your dreams still have purpose, and you are so much more than the care you provide.