Finding Hope and Humor in the Hardest Places

If you've ever wondered how to hang on—much less laugh—while caring for someone you love, this episode of Hope for the Caregiver is for you. I recently joined Dr. Jessica Peck, known to her listeners as Dr. Nurse Mama on American Family Radio, for a conversation about faith, humor, and the realities of caregiving. We talked about my new book, A Caregiver's Companion: Scriptures, Hymns, and 40 Years of Insights for Life's Toughest Role, and the lessons Gracie and I have learned through her 98 surgeries, chronic pain, and the daily challenges that come with four decades of caregiving. You'll hear how I've found strength in Scripture, laughter in the hardest places, and peace in trusting God when nothing makes sense. We discussed what it means to be healthy while caring for someone who isn't—and why I believe healthy caregivers make better caregivers. I also shared one of the most powerful moments of my life: Gracie singing "In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified" while nurses worked on her open leg wound—and later, singing hymns with Joni Eareckson Tada over FaceTime. Those moments reveal what the world can't understand but what believers know deeply: even in the ICU, there is hope. I close the program at the Caregiver Keyboard with one of my favorite hymns, "Near to the Heart of God," and the story behind its writing—a reminder that even in sorrow, there is a place of quiet rest near to His heart. If you're a caregiver—or love someone who is—I invite you to listen, share, and visit HopefortheCaregiver.com  for more resources, music, and encouragement.