Novena to St. Jude

Over the past few months I have come to the realization that I am unable to care for my husband, Lloyd; do my paying job; keep house and care for and train Lloyd's puppy entirely by myself. Since no one, in either of our families, lives closer than a three hour drive, I feel that I am essentially alone in making the decisions that affect me and Lloyd as his alzheimer's disease progresses.

My co-worker, Jim, and I have been talking since before the end of the year about my husband's worsening condition. Jim, a self-described cradele Catholic, told me that I ought to pray to St. Jude. Being raised a Methodist, I believe that we are all saints. However, I have come to believe there are souls whose work continues once they leave the mortal plane. There are many people in this world who genuinely believe that God has granted prayers when they have asked these "saints" for help after praying on their own for long periods of time.

So, I completed a novena (see below) to Saint Jude Thaddeus, whom the Roman Catholics revere as the patron of hopeless causes and despaired of cases. Mostly, I just need God's help to find help, to sort through all the offers available and to make the right choices for Lloyd and myself relating to his health and my own.

Since starting the novena, I found and called the Alzheimer's Association of South Central Kansas, They put me in touch with Home Instead Senior Care, who will provide a home helper licensed, bonded and trained to work with people afflicted with AD. They are to introduce us to Jimmy on Tuesday. He will do light housework, let the dog out (and in) and interact with Lloyd.

This beginning may not be truly miraculous, but just being raised out of depression and procrastination is marvelous. Now that I have reached out, I feel that I—with God's help, assisted by St. Jude, and with aid from friends like Jim and the Alzheimer's Association—can help my husband in his declining years.

This morning's prayer:

I thank You, God, for helping me get through my procrastination to make some decisions. I thank you, St. Jude Thaddeus, for the help you have given in praying with me for God's help. I pray this thank you in the name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Amen

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