Sharon Leino: Adapting to Challenges with Flexibility & Faith

Stories of Hope in Hard Times

Sharon cried when her husband was told he was going to go blind, but she learned to adapt to caregiving with imagination and flexibility as she faced each challenge with faith, hope and God.

Episode Discussion Points

• How she became an amateur silversmith
• When her husband was building homes for Habitat for Humanity during his retirement, she began writing
• When her husband started having vision problems it took them a while to get a final diagnosis that he would eventually go blind.
• How they got medical help for his condition, but were also proactive in trying to get him trained so that when he did go blind it wouldn’t be such a tragic shock
• The importance of taking care of yourself when you are a caregiver so you don’t get worn out
• When she was anxious--The process of learning to lay your problems at Jesus feet (at the cross) and leave them there—not to go back and “chew on them.”
• Part of truly giving our burdens to God is learning to trust Him—and so it is a process of learning to work at it a bit at a time with God’s help.
• Part of abounding in hope is remembering that sometimes we don’t get the miracles we want, but watch for the miracles God sends. Will wanted a miracle of the healing of his sight, but got a miracle of peace and the understanding that he would see again in heaven.
• Having a “knowing hope” of things we know will happen in heaven eventually
• Even when you have hard things enter your life you can still find things that bring your joy, so be creative and find things you enjoy by trying different activities.
• How we need each other and weren’t meant to do it alone.
• If you are feeling alone, serve others!
• After her husband died, she wondered what her purpose was, and she figured out that she could help and serve others. Now she serves the church and the poor in her community.
• “You don’t ever have to be lonely if you reach out and help others.”
• The story behind her book “Scaredy.”
• The doors that have opened to help her publish her book
• Scaredy is about a 10-year-old boy facing his bullies. He and his friend end up in a fantasy world which teaches him self-confidence to help him conquer their bullies.
• Using imagination and fantasy can help children learn to problem solve, which is a skill we all need to use in life.

Advice for Caregivers

• Be good to yourself
• Take time to read and pray daily
• Go on outings by yourself or with a friend
• Forgive yourself for making mistake. You are only human.
• Take time to be alone
• Do things that renew you and your spirit
• Be flexible and modify your caregiving needs to meet the constraints of your family (ie: if you like shopping maybe you can also learn to shop online).
• Stay connected to God because he can help you to manage the emotions of the changes in your life. (This takes practice, so be patient with yourself when you feel like you have failed).
• Plan fun activities you can still do
• Set up weekly time for you to get away and get a break by building a network of friends to help you.
• It is okay to take overnight getaways without them and leave them with someone you trust.

Favorite Bible Verses

• Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
• Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Connect with Sharon

• Website: https://www.sharonleinoauthor.com/
• Buy a copy of Scaredy here.

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Transcription

You can find the transcription of today's episode here: https://www.tamarakanderson.com/podcasts/sharon-leino-adapting-to-challenges-with-flexibility-faith