Parenting with Chronic Illness • Practical Tools
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.
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)
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)
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)
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. May He give grace and strength for all your days.
Promises for Parents
Parenting is hard work and parenting children with chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, or disability adds unique and sometimes difficult challenges. But what we do every day matters, for it is eternally significant.
YOUR Biblical Purpose
Purpose is the reason something exists or was created. It is the reason we act or choose not to act and encompasses intentions and objectives.
One Minute Prayers for Parents
Just as God breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7), He breathed it into His Word (2 Timothy 3:16). The ancient rhythm of breathing that began in the Garden of Eden is repeated at least a dozen times a minute every day of our lives.
Self-Care Saturdays or Any Day
Little Moments of TLC for YOU!
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Spring: the music of open windows.
Spring: the music of open windows. (Terri Guillmets)
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.
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.
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)
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.
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?
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.
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.
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!
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.
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)
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!
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.
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)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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)
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.
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?
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.
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)
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.
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.
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!
Relax with an audiobook.
Find a comfy spot and enjoy an hour or two engaged in a great audio book.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.