🔥 Refuel | Issue #32
A Newsletter from Faith + Gasoline
📅 Subject: “The Lesson Worth Repeating”

💙💙Welcome to all the new readers—our Refuel community has doubled!💙💙

🛠️ Welcome to Refuel

Hey fam,

Some life lessons are worth repeating.
They come back around, not because we didn’t “get it” the first time, but because each season of life gives us a new perspective on the same truth.

When I first wrote on this topic, it connected deeply with many of you. Since then, many new people have joined our journey, and I felt called to share it again—fresh, deeper, and hopefully even more encouraging.

Because here’s the truth: we are getting closer to a new year, and with that, many of you will become full-time caregivers.

🚗 Story from the Road: “The Weight of Small Wins”

I remember standing in a season where everything felt heavy—money stretched, caregiving constant, and the future unclear. I prayed for big breakthroughs, but what came instead were small wins.

Brunch with friends.
A kind word from a co-worker.
A good night’s sleep after weeks of exhaustion. (Thank you, CBD!)

At first, those wins felt too small. But looking back, they were the foundation God was laying under me. Each “little” thing was proof that I was not forgotten, not forsaken, and not finished. And there were many nights I felt forsaken. I had never even used that word before, but my mom would be up, rambling through her closet for hours and turning on every light, just to eat some Cheez-Its. I was miserable and mad - I had to go to work in the morning. I would pray she not wander outside of the condo and try to sleep for four or five hours.

She had major anxiety, and now I can guess it was a clue to the beginning of her Alzheimer’s evolving.

And when I look at where I am now—new doors, new opportunities, new peace—I realize it was the accumulation of those small wins that carried me through. And God delivered some miracles, and I am grateful every day.

👀 Noticing When a Loved One Needs Help

Another lesson worth repeating: pay attention to the quiet signs in the people you love.

So many caregivers I’ve spoken with said the same thing—“I didn’t realize how bad it was until it was almost too late.”

Loved ones don’t always ask for help directly. They may:

Sometimes it’s pride. Sometimes it’s fear. Often, it’s both. But noticing those little cracks early can make all the difference.

👉 If your gut tells you something is off—lean in. Ask. Offer. Step in sooner rather than later. It’s not about taking control, it’s about walking alongside. But don’t expect them to ask you for help!

📊 Why Repeating the Lesson Matters

🔄 Life is Cyclical
We’ll face hardship more than once. Revisiting the lesson reminds us we’ve survived before—and we will again.

🌱 The Waiting Isn’t Wasted
Periods of waiting aren’t punishment. They’re preparation. That seed in the ground is still alive, even if you don’t see it yet.

💡 Resilience Is Built, Not Born
Strength doesn’t just appear—it’s forged in the fire of challenges. Repetition grows resilience.

🙏 Gratitude is Fuel
When you notice the small blessings, you build a mindset that’s ready for bigger ones.

Caregiving is a battle. And you won’t win. But it feels amazing to know you came through for the people who were counting on you. It’s a joy I can’t explain.

⛽ Quick Refuel: ✅ 5 Reminders for Tough Seasons

✅ 1. Celebrate small wins. Write them down so you don’t miss how far you’ve come.
✅ 2. Ask for help. You don’t need to carry the weight alone—community matters.
✅ 3. Protect your peace. Guard your mind from constant negativity (news, people, even your own thoughts).
✅ 4. Notice the signs. If your loved one is slipping, don’t wait until a crisis hits—step in with compassion.
✅ 5. Keep moving. Even a small step forward is still progress.

📌 Takeaway:
What feels small today becomes the fuel for tomorrow. You’ve already survived 100% of your hardest days—that’s a perfect track record. And noticing the little things—in yourself and in others—can prevent tomorrow’s crisis.

📘 Recommended Read:
Refuel: The Caregiver’s Handbook — the perfect starter resource for navigating caregiving with strength, wisdom, and faith.

📢 Know someone who needs this message? Forward this newsletter or share the subscribe link:
👉 Refuel by Faith + Gasoline

💙💙 Community is the new currency 💙💙

Storms don’t define you. They refine you.
Keep the faith. Keep walking. Your breakthrough is closer than you think.

Go be great. 🚀💙
Love you.

With faith & fuel,
Judith A. Culp