Grace for the Unexpected Journey: A 60-Day Devotional for Alzheimer's and Other Dementia Caregivers

by Deborah Barr, Gary Chapman (Foreword by)

Overview

For the weary dementia or Alzheimer's caregiver

If you are a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, you carry a heavy load. On top of having to watch someone you love suffer, you are probably losing sleep, growing frustrated, and struggling with loneliness or even depression. With little to no help and no time for a break, this unrelenting stress is hard to carry.

Whether that’s you or someone you know, the caregiver needs care, too. Grace for the Unexpected Journey: A 60-Day Devotional for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia Caregivers provides that support.

Each daily devotion:

• Is short, ideal for demanding schedules
• Reflects on a relevant Scripture passage
• Features a relatable caregiving story
• Offers a key Scripture for meditation

Debbie Barr is a speaker, health educator, and the author of multiple books, including Keeping Love Alive As Memory Fades (coauthored with New York Times bestselling author Gary Chapman). As a health educator with a deep concern and compassion for dementia caregivers, she saw their need for faith-based encouragement. With compassion and understanding she uses Scriptures to address their practical hardships and spiritual concerns.

When the struggles seem insurmountable, this devotional offers strength. When stress floods in, it points to peace. And when darkness falls, it illuminates hope. Caregivers walk a long, difficult road. This devotional gives grace for their journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802416780
Publisher:	Moody Publishers
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	415,334
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

DEBORAH BARR is an author, speaker, and health educator with a passion for encouraging people to engage deeply with God as they journey through tough times. Her previous devotional book, Grace for the Unexpected Journey written for dementia caregivers, was named "Best Inspirational Book" at the 2018 Digital Book World awards. Strength for the Cancer Journey is her sixth book.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

What's Different About This Devotional Book? 11

A Note to Readers

Who Is a Caregiver? 13

Day 1 The Words of God 15

Day 2 The Unexpected Journey 19

Day 3 Caregiver School 23

Day 4 Why? 27

Day 5 Stay Where You Are 31

Day 6 Jars of Clay 35

Day 7 Irritations 39

Day 8 He Knew 43

Day 9 Cherish What Remains 47

Day 10 Caregiver Anger 51

Day 11 What About Me? 55

Day 12 The Power of Music 61

Day 13 Feeling Guilty 67

Day 14 Gratitude 73

Day 15 I Am 77

Day 16 Ask! 83

Day 17 Everything to God in Prayer 87

Day 18 Bad Day 91

Day 19 Surrogate Family 95

Day 20 Bugs and Oil 99

Day 21 Caregiver Depression 103

Day 22 Love Languages 109

Day 23 Forgotten 115

Day 24 Life: It's So Daily 119

Day 25 Laughter 123

Day 26 Paraclete (The Helper Jesus Sent) 129

Day 27 Christ-Following 135

Day 28 Weary? 139

Day 29 Contentment: Paul's Secret 145

Day 30 God's Masterpiece 149

Day 31 Caregiving: The Movie 153

Day 32 Hangry 157

Day 33 Pruning 161

Day 34 Faithfulness 165

Day 35 In Their Shoes 169

Day 36 Shalom 173

Day 37 Bitter or Better? 177

Day 38 In the Potter's Hands 181

Day 39 Bearing One Another's Burdens 185

Day 40 Live in Peace 189

Day 41 Immanuel 195

Day 42 Feelings and Moments 199

Day 43 Good? 205

Day 44 Spiritual Milk 209

Day 45 The Loss of "Us" 213

Day 46 When Colors Fade 217

Day 47 Unintentional Sins 221

Day 48 Persist 227

Day 49 Do You Have a "Shadow"? 231

Day 50 Anchored 235

Day 51 God's Opportunity 239

Day 52 Tears 243

Day 56 The Spirit Prays for You 247

Day 54 Hesed: God's Faithful Love 251

Day 55 Yes and No 255

Day 56 Temptation 259

Day 57 One 265

Day 58 Silver Lining 269

Day 59 Worry 273

Day 60 Author and Finisher 279

Postscript 283

Alphabetical Listing of Titles and Key Verses 286

Notes 289

Acknowledgments 295

About the Author 296

Editorial Reviews

11/13/2017
In this compassionate and thoughtful devotional guide, Barr (Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade) addresses the wide range of experiences faced by those caring for people with dementia disorders. Short chapters with titles such as “Cherish What Remains,” “The Loss of ‘Us,’ ” and “What About Me?”conclude with brief exercises, hymn verses or scripture texts to ponder, and questions for reflection or journaling. Barr gives constructive guidance on issues such as caregiver depression and the need to advocate for loved ones, as well as suggestions for reframing challenges, such as, “How can you ensure that your caregiving journey makes you better instead of bitter?” Individuals’ stories space out the practical advice and add a human element: “Holly, the only woman he had ever loved, no longer remembered who he was.” Barr’s strong evangelical Christian perspective (one devotion includes an opportunity to “invite to be your Savior”) could be off-putting for some readers, but this book, which includes a foreword by Gary D. Chapman (The 5 Love Languages), provides material that caregivers of many faith traditions may find helpful. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly