Deborah Barr - Grace for the Unexpected Journey: A 60-Day Devotional for Alzheimers and Other Dementia Caregivers

Grace for the Unexpected Journey provides valuable advice and encouragement for anybody who cares for someone with dementia. Perhaps most importantly, its a great reminder of how our Father wants to carry us and our loved one through dark and difficult times.

JIM DALY,president, Focus on the Family

These devotionals understand me and all the Scripture is so applicable to this pain.

GRACIE,spouse caregiver

These devotions will surely be a blessing to those caring for loved ones with dementia. We are excited to share Debbies book with our clients, their families, and our caregivers.

NORM AND PATRICIA POTTER,owners, Griswold Homecare of Winston-Salem

Debbie truly understands the caregivers journey and writes with depth and insight into the many emotions and feelings of caregivers. The different perspective of this devotional is refreshing as well as comforting. A must read for anyone providing care for someone with Alzheimers disease or related dementia.

DEBBIE PILSON,director, DAYbreak Respite Care, Centenary United Methodist Church, Winston-Salem

Daily doses of Gods Word gave me the strength, wisdom, and courage I needed to face each day as I lost my husband to Alzheimers disease. In Grace for the Unexpected Journey, Debbie Barr weaves together practical advice with biblical truths to inspire, uplift, and encourage those who have the heartbreaking responsibility of caring for a loved one with dementia.

KIM CAMPBELL, wife of Glen Campbell; founder of CareLiving.org

As our population continues to age, we are increasingly faced with challenges like Alzheimers and those who suffer from iteither because they themselves have this debilitating disease or because they are caring for someone who does. All too often this journey leads caregivers to feelings of isolation, inadequacy, frustration, and grief. Debbie Barrs devotional can change this part of the journey by giving permission to slow down and be authentic with ourselves and with those around us. More than that, it gives us the space to be real with God as we cry out in anguish. Instead of offering simple answers, this devotional validates the pain we face while still offering hope. I encourage anyone caring for someone with cognitive decline to open this book and find fresh air.

HEATH GREENE, clinical licensed psychologist; executive director, Associates in Christian Counseling; assistant teaching professor, Wake Forest University

2018 by
DEBORAH BARR

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CSB are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible, and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Emphasis to Scripture has been added by the author.

Some names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Edited by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse

Cover and interior design: Erik M. Peterson

Cover image: Image 265836 / Stocksy United Photography

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Barr, Deborah, author.

Title: Grace for the unexpected journey : a 60-day devotional for Alzheimers and other dementia caregivers / Deborah Barr.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017040147 (print) | LCCN 2017045307 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802496331 ISBN 9780802416780

Subjects: LCSH: Caregivers--Prayers and devotions. | Alzheimers disease--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Dementia--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Classification: LCC BV4910.9 (ebook) | LCC BV4910.9 .B36 2018 (print) | DDC 242/.4--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017040147

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W alking with my mother on the dementia journey has given me a deep empathy for caregivers. To watch the unraveling of the tapestry that was once the picture of life, health, and vitality is painful. The photo is now marred with dark blotches and tattered memories. I remember the sadness I felt as I watched Moms memory fade. However, it was my own memories of how she cared for me when I was young and how we shared life together as adults that gave me the will to keep walking with her to the end of the road.