A caregiver gets cared for
Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2024 Blog #28
July 14, 2025
A caregiver gets cared for
I have been a caregiver since I can remember. I think that my family trained me for this. Our family had a dog and my sister, and I were responsible for caring for him. Somehow, she always seemed to get out of caring for him and it became my exclusive job. At holidays, we entertained a number of widows and maiden ladies. It was my job to make sure that they had everything that they needed.
My older sister and I were both expected to be hospital volunteers in high school. It wasn’t a question. When we entered high school, my mother handed each of us applications to volunteer at Christ Hospital in Jersey City.
As I reflect back on my 41 years of ordained ministry I realize how much of my ministry was caregiving. I have cared for the sick, the elderly, and even a few folks suffering from mental illness. I guess that I was trained for this when I was still a youngster.
A short time ago I was forced to transform from a caregiver to a care receiver. It was not easy. On the eve of my vacation, I felt fine at 9:00 am. By 10:00 am I was in pain. By 10:30 I could no longer function and called my doctor. Soon I was in the emergency room receiving treatment and stayed in the hospital for the better part of three days.
Over the course of these days, I was mostly bed-ridden and was the one that was cared for by an entire hospital staff. It was not easy for me to be confined to a bed and dependent on caregivers. How does a caregiver manage as one who needs care?
After arriving home, I realized that I was still being cared for. A number of folks at the Community Church of Glen Rock, contributed toward sending me meals from Market Basket, which is a high-end deli nearby. I was once more in the position that was opposite of caregiving.
When a caregiver makes this transition, the caregiver is reminded of some truths in life.
1. None of us are superheroes. There are times when we need the help of others.
2. To assume that we will never need the help of others is a bit narcissistic. The world does not revolve around us.
3. By experiencing these moments of dependency, we become better caregivers because we know the feelings of those that we care for.
4. Such moments help us to walk more humbly with God as they humble our egos.
5. Such moments let us know how precious life is. Life is short and we must never take good health for granted.
6. It is good to be grateful for life and health. Neither of these are guaranteed
I am grateful to the staff of Hackensack Medical Center for their fine care.
In addition, I am grateful to my brothers and sisters at the Community Church of Glen Rock for their fine caregiving of me during and after this medical emergency. Thank you, folks. I do hope that this unfortunate incident will make me a better care giver and something good will come from this.
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