Precious Lord, Take My Hand: Meditations for Caregivers

by Shelly Beach

Approximately 49% of the U.S. adult population currently shoulders or soon will shoulder elder care responsibilities. For the past seven years Shelly Beach and her husband have been caregivers for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572931957
• ISBN13: 9781572931954
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Discovery House Publishers
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Precious Lord Take My Hand

This book (Precious Lord, Take My Hand)by Shelley Beach has left a visible mark on me as a caregiver for my aging parents. It voiced thoughts that I haven't addressed out loud and helped me to see that the emotions I feel are not my own but experienced by many caregivers including Shelley Beach - an author who has penned her emotional and physical experiences as a caregiver of Alzheimer parents to help others. I recommend this book for those caregivers dealing with Alzheimers illness and trying to understand it's mind altering devastation.

Encouragement for your heart!

Shelly has a way of finding humor in even the struggles of life. This book will bring tears to your eyes while bringing laughter to your heart. Shelly excels at describing the painful reality of caregiving amidst the strength and hope received from the Lord. As a caregiver myself, I am encouraged by her writing. I highly recommend this book.

This book helps you find the Lord's hand!

Shelly Beach has written a book so many of us need. Even after my grandmother and mother-in-law have passed away Shelly's book continues to help me sort out our feelings about the caregiving we shared with our family members. Shelly has a very practical and personal way of writing that helps you see God's hand in every facet of the joys, frustrations and sorrows of caring for a loved one. I have already bought two extra copies for friends who will undoubtedly find help and comfort as they face this journey with their parents. As a director for a small groups ministry in a large church I am also recommending this book for a support group. Sharon Carrns

Tears and Laughter

Precious Lord, Take My Hand, a book of meditations written by Shelly Beach, is a must have book for caregivers. Based on her own experiences as a care giver for her father-in-law, father and mother, Shelly writes with humor and compassion. She doesn't sugarcoat the day-to-day struggles she faces, but shows how trusting God's promises gives her strength for the day she's in. Shelly continues to care for her elderly parents even today so she's not writing from the other side of the issue. She struggles, just as readers do, with the frustrations of caregiving. Because her struggle is present and real, her continued trust in God to provide what she lacks is a powerful example and encouragement to others.

Like a cup of cool water when one is thirsty

I couldn't put this book down! It is not intended to be read in one sitting, as there is room for journaling and reflection at the end of each devotion. Shelly's storytelling, wisdom and inspiration are so compelling, however, that I couldn't wait to read more! If you are a caregiver, you may find yourself saying, "What a relief! I'm not going crazy and I'm not the only one who has experienced what I am going through." Shelly writes with brutal honesty about the nitty-gritty life of a caregiver, tempered with a marvelous sense of humor and deep love for the ones for whom she is caring. It took a great deal of courage to write with this kind of candor. We are invited into her home to witness what day-to-day life is like for caregivers. She "tells it like it is," but she doesn't stop there. Shelly shares what she has learned and how she has grown as a result of caring for her father-in-law and now her parents in her home while working and maintaining a writing life. Her deep love for these family members and her desire to help them live lives of dignity in the face of debilitating diseases is evident in each selection. The key to it all is Shelly's trust and dependence on God in the midst of some pretty tough times. If you know someone who is a caregiver, this book will give you a glimpse into what their life is like. Perhaps it will deepen your compassion for them in this difficult task they have undertaken. You may find some practical ways in which you can support them. The life of a caregiver is often exhausting, so these short selections are like a cup of cool water when one is thirsty. They can be read quickly and are followed by an invitation to reflect on the topic as it applies to one's particular circumstances. It is small enough to slip into a purse, to be read while waiting at a doctor's office. It doesn't have to be read front to back, but can be "sampled" out of order if one has just a few moments to read. I am going to give this book as a Christmas gift to anyone I know who is a caregiver, or who works with caregivers. It is a gem!