To care for another is a beautiful sacrifice, but it can also feel draining and exhausting. In order to care for others, we must first care for our own spiritual and physical needs so as to better serve those entrusted to us.

Caring for a loved one often requires physical, emotional, and spiritual sacrifice, including considerable demands on our time and energy. Accompanying someone in sickness, aging, or another difficulty can feel more challenging than enduring the hardship ourselves. How do we balance looking after a family member or friend with maintaining our own well-being?

“We cannot give what we do not have.”

Caregiving is an exercise of mercy, allowing us to share in the compassionate Heart of Christ. In order to transmit the love of God to others, we must be united to him. We must be good stewards of the gift of life God has given us by taking care of our spiritual and physical health. In doing so, we are better equipped to serve and love those around us.