Overwhelmed? (Yes, I'm Talking to You!): Inspirational Poems and Insights for the Caregiver, Superhero and Those Who Find Themselves in the Ever-Changing Seasons of Life!

By Sheila Bingham Jones

Seasons of life happen to all of us at one point or another. Sometimes change occurs sooner than we expect and lasts longer than we imagine. There are times when our days, circumstances, people and life in general overwhelm us and we find ourselves in need of some encouragement and hope. Most of all, we need a reminder that we are not alone in this journey and that God has not forgotten us. In “Overwhelmed?”, the Author offers that encouragement. Drawn from her own experiences and that of others, she takes an honest look at the challenges of caregiving, busyness and the overwhelming feelings of trying to juggle it all. She also explores when life takes you down an unexpected path. It is her prayer that through the insights, journal peeks, and poems she has identified with you and captured your heart in some small way.

So, from one Superwoman to another, from one Caregiver to another, one Overwhelmed heart to another-Go ahead! Take a glance and see if somewhere through the pages of this book you see a glimpse of yourself, your circumstances or that of someone you know.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Dec 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489738530

Sheila Bingham Jones

Sheila Bingham Jones is a personal and professional Caregiver who understands caregiving, loss and grief. She cared for her husband and father simultaneously and experienced their deaths within fifteen months of each other. Sheila was recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article which focused on caring for elderly clients during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Book preview

Overwhelmed?

(Yes, I’m talking to you!)

Inspirational Poems and Insights for the Caregiver,

Superhero and Those who find Themselves

in the Ever-Changing Seasons of Life!

Sheila Bingham Jones

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Copyright © 2021 Sheila Bingham Jones.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

Scripture marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked (KJV) taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®,

NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan.

All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version

are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

LifeRich Publishing

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in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-3854-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3853-0 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date:  06/29/2022

Contents

Dedication

Special Thanks to My Family

Additional Thanks

Introduction

Section One: I Need Help!

Come Aside, My Dear Child

Breathe

Demands

RESPITE

Section Two: You Matter!

I Notice

Where Were You?

My Child

Section Three: Seasons

Aging is Such A Process

Anxiety And Depression

Please Be Patient with Me

They Call Me A Widow

Tribute To Mom

My Dearest Mom

The Crossroad of Next

Brief Checklist

Endnotes

Commonly Used Caregiving Terms

Additional Resources

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DEDICATION

Mom, I can’t believe I’m changing my dedication from In Honor of to now In Memory of. Just a few weeks ago, my book was scheduled to be published once some minor changes were made. You saw the cover and liked it. And now, unbelievably so, I am adding you to the section with daddy and WC. So mom, here we go:

In Memory of:

My Mommy, Christine Bingham who unexpectantly transitioned to heaven on Friday, December 31, 2021. Thank you for giving me permission to be transparent about the seasons of your life.

From time to time, you would ask me what I was going to do with those poems, especially, They Call Me a Widow. Thanks Mom! I finally did something with them.

My Daddy, Samuel Bingham, who truly loved his little girl and showed me what a man of integrity and honor looks like.

My Husband, WC Jones, whose love, laughter and life filled my heart with so much joy.

***

To my client and friend, Norma, who despite a stroke, displayed such grace, class and determination.

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Until we meet again…

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Special Thanks to My Family

To Samuel, Reaver and Anthony (William)- My big brothers, counselors, protectors… shall I go on?

Thank you for your love, for always being there, for dispensing advice and for taking such amazing care of your baby sister. I’m so thankful for the journey we have shared through the years, especially for the privilege of loving and caring for Mom and Dad through the later seasons of their lives!

To Mary, Avis and Dee. You are not Sisters-in-law but Sisters! Thank you for your love, friendship, and for your kindness in letting your husbands care for their baby sister.

Thanks, my brothers and sisters for your encouragement and support with this project. I’m forever grateful!

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Additional Thanks

There are those special people who prayed with and for me, held me accountable to finishing this project, refocused me when I became distracted with responsibilities and who edited my manuscript and offered significant insight and input. I am so appreciative to you for your support. So please allow me to name a few:

Arveal, Gwen and Portia, thank you for your friendship, sistership, prayer support and constant gentle nudges when I dragged my feet. It’s finally finished!

Cousins Deborah and Jackie and to Toni for your editing skills and your encouragement to walk down the path God has for me.

Anthony and Sherry, your perspectives and insights helped immensely in redirecting my focus.

Greg, thank you for being mom’s prayer