Parenting with Chronic Illness
Raising Children When You’re Sick
Parenting with chronic illness brings countless challenges, but there is abounding peace and overflowing grace surrounding every limitation as we learn to lean on Jesus step by step.
About Parenting
Parents want to be active, caring for, protecting, teaching, and training their children. Parenting with chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and/or disability can be a real challenge. Often parents feel guilty, weary, anxious, depressed, lonely, and sad.
More than 60% of the world’s population lives with one or more chronic illnesses.
Reportedly about 20% of the population lives with mental illness.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:15-16 NIV)
PARENTING WHEN YOU ARE CHRONICALLY ILL
Find hope, encouragement, and practical resources for your unique parenting journey. The daily trials of parenthood are magnified when we are chronically ill, but there is also untold grace and an incredible future planned for us and for our children. Discover refreshment for your soul and heart-touching stories for your heart as you parent with chronic illness.
CHRONIC PARENTING
Parenting with chronic illness can feel like trying to climb a mountain while carrying a mountain. Despite the many challenges, God will never leave our sides. Our children were given specifically to us, and we were given specifically to them.
The unique circumstances of parenting with chronic illness can leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
From diapers, bottles, and play dates to guiding a wayward teen, parenting is a complex and beautiful privilege. To be entrusted with the heart and soul of another human being is a gift from God, but parenting is far from easy, regardless of our circumstances. It humbles and challenges us in ways we never thought possible, pulling our emotions in vastly different directions, while draining our physical and mental energy.
What happens when we can’t change the diapers or prepare the meals or drive our kids to school?
Perhaps pregnancy and birth flared an underlying illness and we are now powerless to care for our little ones. Maybe we’re afraid to open our eyes each morning because just the thoughts of the days’ tasks are overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless.
How do we intentionally shape the hearts of our children when we can’t even get out of bed?
Where do we turn when our little ones need our loving guidance, but we’re in the hospital?
How do we get our children, fed, bathed, clothed, and their emotional tanks filled up when we are not even able to meet own needs?
Guilt and shame can also creep in as we see what other parents do with their children, but no matter how we feel, we are not alone.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
Welcome to a community of fellow travelers on this parenting journey. Come and find rest for your soul and hope that is rooted in the truth of God’s Word.
RAISING CHILDREN WHEN YOU’RE SICK
While every parent and child are different, Chronic Joy believes Christ is the solution to our struggles and is the healing for our pain. We don’t have all the answers, but we can encourage one another to pursue Christ with our whole hearts, and to trust Him with the tender souls of our children.
We are exactly who God made us to be, wonderfully made and created in love to parent our children. God will show us how, lighting each step along the way.
Here you will find:
- easily accessible tools
- fantastic free printables
- encouraging images
- engaging books and Bible studies
- inspiring posts, prompts, and prayer guides
HOW TO BE A GODLY PARENT WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
In order to become godly parents, we must first submit and commit to a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Romans 10:9 NIV)
Jesus loves us enough to save us through His death and resurrection, and therefore we can love one another, including our children, no matter the circumstances.
With the unconditional love of the Father in our hearts, we can pour into our children the love, joy, and salvation found in Jesus, guiding them on the path to life.
Being a godly parent isn’t determined by how much we can give our children or from the skills we have. It grows from a place of surrender and dependence on God, who loves our children even more than we do.
With Christ, whatever we are able to do—whether big or small—is sufficient.
’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
PARENTING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS • FOUR KEYS
1. Understand Your Limitations – With chronic illness comes limits, both physical and mental. Give yourself grace and be encouraged that no matter what roadblocks you face, you will never face them alone.
2. Embrace Community – Find a community to plug into for practical support. This can include family, friends, neighbors, church members, or support groups.
- Are you in need of prayer? Stop by the Prayer Pond and let us know how we can pray for you, #PrayItForward by praying for the other requests.
- Check out our Free Printables and hand-curated Parenting Books
- Scroll through encouraging quotes and images
- Practice Proactive Parenting – Love covers all! Our gracious God can take even the tiniest spark of hope and initiative to cultivate character and purpose in our children’s hearts. God asks for a willing spirit, then asks to let Him do the rest.
3. Prayer – Lift everything up to Christ, including the heartbreaks and the celebrations, the questions and the worries. Keep a prayer journal or find a prayer partner to help boost your prayer life. Prayer is as unique as snowflakes with untold ways to converse with our Savior.
- Develop a Prayer Care Plan
- 50 Prayer Journaling Prompts
- Explore Let’s Pray, a dozen different ways to pray
- Chronic Joy Prayer Prompts (Is there a better way to link to these?)
- Books on Prayer
OUR CHILDREN NEED JESUS
Our children are a gift from God and He gave them specifically to us to love, nurture, and protect. While chronic illness may rob us of some of the everyday joys of parenting, with God’s help, we can give our children the one thing they truly need: Jesus.
There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love. Charles Stanley
Parents Need Time with Jesus
For A Mother's Soul
May God shower His blessings on all mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, mothers-in-law, and mother-like figures in the world. May He give grace and strength for all your days.
Story Matters
Creatively Express Your Story
We can feel isolated and powerless when living with chronic illness, but what if your story begins to bridge those barriers? What if your story offers a glimmer of hope to someone standing at the edge of hopelessness?
Biblical Purpose
Understanding our God-given purpose is the reason something exists or was created, the reason we act or choose not to act, it encompasses intentions and objectives.
Build An Ebenezer
Remembering God's Faithfulness
God’s people built Ebenezers, touchstones of help, to anchor them in truth in the midst of frightening, painful, difficult, or challenging circumstances.
Prayer for Parents with Chronic Illness
Chronic illness is hard. Often finding and/or being a part of a community as a parent with chronic illness can be even more challenging.
Parenting Posts
Jesus and the Children: A Mother’s Remembrance
Then Jesus took each one of the children, and laying His hands on them, He blessed them. How gently, how kindly, and how tenderly he treated them! What a joy to this mother’s heart to see how much He loved the children! What a lesson to us as parents to love our children, never to push them aside.
Chronic Parenting: Modeling Godly Character
As we strive together to raise our children to be men and women of godly character, let us praise God for giving us all we need to achieve His will, no matter our limitations.
If You Ever Need to Talk: Finding Comfort and Empathy
Parents of chronically ill kids are the best people. They’re the best at encouraging without offering advice, at listening without trying to one-up with their own story. And they’re the best at offering empathy that comes from having walked a similar road. I could learn from these parents.
Even More
Featured Books
Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children
Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Discover help and guidance for raising your kids to take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions.
Learn how to instill the kind of character in your children that will help them lead balanced, productive, and fulfilling adult lives.
Families Where Grace Is in Place: Building a Home Free of Manipulation, Legalism, and Shame
Jeff VanVonderen
This book is a practical and insightful discussion on living a graceful life and building a strong and happy home using God's tools.
The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance
Gary Smalley, John Trent & Kari Trent Stageberg
Children of every age long for the gift of “the blessing” — the unconditional love and approval that come from a healthy relationship with their parents. This life-changing gift is essential for instilling a deep sense of self-worth and unshakable emotional well-being. Offering solid, practical advice and a fresh perspective on making this gift a bigger part of our families.
The Power of a Praying Parent
Stormie Omartian
Why Leave Your Child’s Life to Chance When You Can Give It to God? Stormie and her husband spent 20 years raising their children…and more than 40 years praying for them. Now, in 32 short, easy-to-read chapters, she shares how you can pray through each stage of your child’s life, from early childhood to adulthood. Learn how to put your child’s life in God’s loving hands.
The Amazon buttons are affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, Chronic Joy will receive an affiliate commission.
Self-Care Saturdays or Any Day
Little Moments of TLC for YOU!
Caring for our own hearts isn’t selfishness; it’s how we begin to love.
“Caring for our own hearts isn’t selfishness; it’s how we begin to love.” (John Eldredge)
Today, grab a blanket, get comfy, and watch your favorite movie.
Do you have a favorite movie? A favorite genre? Grab a blanket and your favorite snack, settle in, and enjoy your favorite movie.
Send a fun little care package to someone you love.
Today, have a little fun gathering sweet surprises to pack and ship to someone you love.
Challenge your brain with a riddle or word puzzle.
Today, challenge your brain with a riddle or word puzzle. Download a puzzle app. Read a book of riddles. Google “riddles and answers.” Text a riddle to your son, daughter, grandchild, or friend. Laughter is good medicine!
Treat yourself to a piece of good chocolate, a bouquet of fresh flowers, a new books, or a great cup of tea or coffee. You’re worth it!
Take a moment to celebrate you today – your heart, your character, the image of the One you’re made in. You are treasured. You are loved. You are delighted over with singing — for YOU are a child of the One True King.
Sit in the sunshine for a few minutes today.
“Sunlight cues special areas in the retina, which triggers the release of serotonin.” (Rachel Nall, RN, BSN, CCRN) • Step outside and boost your body’s “feel-good” hormone today.
Snuggle up with your pet.
“In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:10) • Snuggle up with your beloved pet today. You’ll both be glad you did.
Write a short (3-4 sentence) review for your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, small business, book, blog, podcast, radio show, or non-profit today.
Your words matter! Today, write a short review of your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, small business, or non-profit. Let them know what you love! It will mean more than you know.
Relax with an audiobook.
Find a comfy spot and enjoy an hour or two engaged in a great audio book.
Read these verses over yourself today. You are…Enough, Strong, Capable, Chosen, Never Alone, Always Loved.
You are so loved! — even if you don’t feel it today. Why? Because you are God’s – made in His image, breathed into life, redeemed by His Son.
Write a letter to a friend or loved one today.
#PenToPaper is one of our favorite programs! Today, encourage a friend or loved one by sending a card or letter. Need some inspiration — or a free stationery starter set? We offer both!
Listen to a TED Talk.
Why not listen to a TED Talk today? Are TED talks unfamiliar to you? TED Talks (18 minutes or less) started in 1984 and now include thousands of speakers on hundreds of topics in more than 100 languages.
Build a jigsaw puzzle. It improves mental health, short-term memory, and visual processing.
“God’s will is like a jigsaw puzzle, you won’t be able to see the whole picture until all the pieces are together.” (Danny L. Deaube’) • Build a puzzle. Let each piece remind you of the myriad details God is orchestrating in your life.
Steep and savor your favorite flavor of tea today.
“You are the God of the universe Who hears everyone, sees everything, and commands the world. Yet at the soft whisper of my voice, You turn Your ear to me and savor every word I say as if it’s the only thing You have to do.” (Kendall Hiatt)
Today, pour yourself a cup of tea, find a comfy sat, and call a friend. You’ll both be blessed.
Pour yourself a cup of your favorite hot coffee, tea, or cocoa, settle into a comfortable chair under your softest blanket, and call a friend. You’ll both be blessed.
Write encouraging messages on sticky notes.
Take a few minutes to write a short encouraging message to yourself on a sticky note. Then hang it where you’ll see it often because YOU matter!
Dance with language. Dream with words.
“I write about joy because I know sorrow…I write about gratitude because I am thankful – for all of it.” (Kristin Armstrong) • Friends, today let the words hit the paper. Pick up a pen, open the floodgates, set them free.
Have a good laugh.
“Humour is … a prelude to faith; laughter is the beginning of prayer.” (Reinhold Niebuhr) • Friends, laughter is a gift. Unwrap it.
Enjoy the simple pleasure of cloud watching.
Today, enjoy the simple pleasure of cloud watching. Notice their movements across the sky, their speed, their shapes. What do you see?
Prioritize and Minimize • Simplify your To-Do List.
Prioritize and Minimize • Simplify your To-Do List. Today, make space for what matters. What is necessary? What can go?
Sing along to your favorite music today.
We sing because all of creation sings. Job 38:7 reminds us that “the morning stars sang together,” and Hillsong United worships with the words, “If creation sings Your praises, so will I.” Today, join all of creation and sing!
Watch the sunset.
Today, as the sun begins to set, consider these verses: “You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.” (Psalm 65:8b)
Write down 3 things you like about yourself.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a child of God, the image-bearer of the King. You are so loved! Today, write down three things you like about yourself, how God created you, and who you are in Him.
Celebrate ordinary moments and unexpected victories.
Today, celebrate a small, often-overlooked victory. Did you get out of bed? 𝕍𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪! Did you take a shower? 𝕍𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪! Did you make dinner? 𝕍𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪! Every single, small, ordinary victory is a precious step forward.
Star Gaze • “He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” Psalm 147:4
“You are a God of winds and tides. Of journeys and storms and navigation by stars and faith.” (Lisa Wingate) • Look up into the night sky, and remember that “He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” (Psalm 147:4)
Today, find three things to give away, throw away, or recycle.
Sort through a stack. Clear off a counter. Clean out a closet. If you aren’t using it, be a blessing to one who will.
Listen to a sermon on-line.
What better way to care for yourself today than by listening to an on-line sermon? Rest your body, captivate your mind, and engage your heart.
Engage your hands!
Engage your hands today! Pick up a spade, thread a needle, grab a hammer and nails, plunge your hands in the dirt, or wave to a neighbor you haven’t seen much this spring. Engage with your world.
Pack a picnic lunch and eat it indoors.
Today, pack yourself a picnic. Enjoy it in a chair beside the window, on a blanket on the lawn, at a local park, or relaxing on your bed. A picnic is a reminder of simple summer days. Relax. Refresh. Enjoy.
Spend 10 minutes looking at 5 beautiful things around you.
“Beauty is God’s handwriting … drink it in, simply and earnestly, with all your eyes; it is … a cup of blessing.” (Charles Kingsley) • Today set a timer. Look for five beautiful things. Thank God for them.
Scroll through old photos.
Page through a photo album today or pull out your phone and scroll through your photos. Reminisce. Remember. Thank God for every treasured moment.
Treat yourself to good poetry today.
Today, read a few lines from your favorite poem — or savor some of the most beautiful poetry ever written: the Psalms. “…for me, the Psalms express the same delight in God which made David dance.” (C.S. Lewis)
Beautiful music is the art of the prophets.
Today, turn up the music and let it fill your soul. (Love notes from God)
Today, declutter your wardrobe, junk drawer, or coat closet.
“The more we remove the clutter from our lives, the more we’ll have space and time to spend with our Father.” (tounearth.com) • “Jesus modeled a very simple life.” (Rick Warren)
Donate to your favorite charity and tell them why.
Today, donate to your favorite charity and tell them why. Sharing your “why” is a huge and often-unexpected encouragement.
Do something delightful for someone you love today.
“Surprise and delight and connection are remarkable.” (Seth Godin) • Today, surprise and delight someone you love. It will strengthen and deepen your relationship.
Lace up your shoes and go for a walk today.
Lace up your shoes, step out the door, and walk around the block, through your neighborhood, or even up and down the aisles of your favorite store today. Every step makes a difference.
Bake and enjoy homemade cookies fresh from the oven.
The smell of cookies fresh from the oven is a warm and welcoming invitation to breathe deep and savor the love. When was the last time you baked simply to enjoy the fruit of your labor? Maybe today is the day!
Snuggle up and nap.
Sleep is self-care too! Today, lie down, snuggle up, and close your eyes. Sleep is good for the mind, body, and soul. Savor a nap.
Spring: the music of open windows.
Take a few minutes today and step outside or gaze out a window. Notice the birds or the budding trees, listen for spring peepers or children at play, feel the sun’s warmth or the gentle breeze. As you breathe in God’s beauty, thank Him for today
Pray for someone who is hurting.
“Prayer is one of God’s most gracious gifts, a powerful way to care for others. In prayer, we pull close those who are far away. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath – we cannot live without it.” (Tim Jennings)