Caring Well

Who do you turn to when you have nothing left to give?

Caregiving is a core value in the African American culture. And African American women of faith often fill that role—for elderly parents, sick children, and other members of their community. Yet no one is fully prepared for the reality of disrupted schedules, unpredictable needs, and many sleepless nights that come with caregiving.

Jeanne Porter King shares 90 devotions written from her own experience as a caregiver for her mother to encourage you to take time to care for your whole self. In three sections that address caring for your spirit, soul, and body, each devotion ends with a reflection question and a self-care activity to help guide you on your caregiving journey.

Draw from the perfect source of strength by seeking Scripture and prayer to sustain you. Your faith is ready fuel for the self-care you need as you look after others!

1. Opening Credits
2. Introduction
3. Section 1: Enhancing Spiritual Well-Being Devotion 1: The Spiritual Life
4. Devotion 2: God's Grace Is Sufficient
5. Devotion 3: Take Heart
6. Devotion 4: Listen for the Still Small Voice
7. Devotion 5: You're Invited
8. Devotion 6: Sing a New Song
9. Devotion 7: Never Too Busy to Pray
10. Devotion 8: The Model Prayer (Part 1)
11. Devotion 9: The Model Prayer (Part 2)
12. Devotion 10: Blessed to Be a Blessing
13. Section 2: Drawing from the Culture Devotion 11: It Takes a Village
14. Devotion 12: The God of Our Ancestors
15. Devotion 13: The Legacy of Care
16. Devotion 14: The Faith of Our Mothers
17. Devotion 15: Know That You Know
18. Devotion 16: Caring in the Light of God
19. Devotion 17: Lift Our Voices and Sing
20. Devotion 18: God of Our Silent Tears
21. Devotion 19: Black Joy
22. Devotion 20: Self-Care as Black Resistance
23. Section 3: Personal Well-Being Devotion 21: The Power of I Am
24. Devotion 22: I Am the Light
25. Devotion 23: I Am the Salt of the Earth
26. Devotion 24: I Am an Overcomer
27. Devotion 25: I Am Accepted in the Beloved
28. Devotion 26: I Am the Beloved of God
29. Devotion 27: I Am God's Handiwork
30. Devotion 28: I Am Valuable
31. Devotion 29: I Am Resilient
32. Devotion 30: I Am Enough
33. Section 4: Relational Well-Being Devotion 31: Look in the Mirror
34. Devotion 32: One Anothering
35. Devotion 33: The Power of Agreement
36. Devotion 34: The Gift of Presence
37. Devotion 35: Faithful Praying Friends
38. Devotion 36: Giving Care Precedes Caregiving
39. Devotion 37: The (W)holy Kiss
40. Devotion 38: The Right Perspective
41. Devotion 39: Boundaries (Part 1)
42. Devotion 40: Boundaries (Part 2)
43. Section 5: Mental and Intellectual Well-Being Devotion 41: On Mindfullness
44. Devotion 42: Caregiving Is Like
45. Devotion 43: Admit It
46. Devotion 44: Don't Give Up
47. Devotion 45: Renovate Your Thinking
48. Devotion 46: Respect Your Limits
49. Devotion 47: Comment Yourself
50. Devotion 48: Make the Invisible Visible
51. Devotion 49: Bend, Don't Break
52. Devotion 50: Fix Your Thoughts
53. Section 6: Emotional Well-Being Devotion 51: Be Response-able
54. Devotion 52: God Cares about You
55. Devotion 53: God Cares about You
56. Devotion 54: Combatting Compassion Fatigue
57. Devotion 55: No Condemnation
58. Devotion 56: Self-Compassion
59. Devotion 57: When You've Had Enough
60. Devotion 58: God of the Valleys
61. Devotion 59: Catalyzing Anger
62. Devotion 60: The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
63. Section 7: Physical Well-Being Devotion 61: Your Body Is a Temple
64. Devotion 62: Take a Break
65. Devotion 63: The Lord Watches over You
66. Devotion 64: The Power of Sleep
67. Devotion 65: Laughter Is Good Medicine
68. Devotion 66: Walk It Out
69. Devotion 67: Get Moving
70. Devotion 68: Breath Deeply
71. Devotion 69: Eat Right
72. Devotion 70: Pace Yourself
73. Section 8: Vocational Well-Being Devotion 71: Won't Break My Soul
74. Devotion 72: Called to Care
75. Devotion 73: Don't Try to Do Everything
76. Devotion 74: Focus on This One Thing
77. Devotion 75: Harmonize Your Life (Part 1)
78. Devotion 76: Harmonize Your Life (Part 2)
79. Devotion 77: The Tyranny of the Urgent
80. Devotion 78: Working Together in Love
81. Devotion 79: Learn to Be Content
82. Devotion 80: Protect Your Energy
83. Section 9: Environmental Well-Being Devotion 81: Make Room
84. Devotion 82: Create the Environment
85. Devotion 83: The Power of Flowers
86. Devotion 84: Grace for the Perfectionist
87. Devotion 85: Clear the Clutter
88. Devotion 86: The Time to Organize
89. Devotion 87: Let It Go
90. Devotion 88: Don't Let Distractions Distract You
91. Devotion 89: My Space
92. Devotion 90: Fill the Room with Aroma
93. Acknowledgments
94. Closing Credits