Parenting Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Mother’s Day Reflections on God’s Plan

May 12, 2013 By admin 13 Comments

WHAT IS MOTHERHOOD ALL ABOUT? Lisa shares how her journey of motherhood is not quite what she expected and yet, even through the pain and sorrow, it is so much more.

Lisa shares from her heart the path of motherhood and how it is rarely smooth. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) Happy Mother's Day. I write that with the hope that many of you will feel blessed today. Perhaps you will spend the day with your children. Maybe they will call from another state, drop by for a visit. They will tell you how much you mean to them. Or. . . maybe not . . . Celebrating motherhood can be bittersweet for many. Some of you still long to be a mother, others of you have children in heaven. Some of you just. . . struggle. I am one who is struggling. I love … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Holidays, Overwhelmed, Parenting, What's New?

Mother’s Day Videos That Will Touch You

May 11, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

SOME OF THE BEST MOTHER'S DAY VIDEOS whether your children are young, old, or living in heaven. Touching!

Here are some of our favorite Mother's Day videos for the many emotions you may be experiencing today. If you are wondering if you are making a difference to your children... Steven Curtis Chapman sings "One Heartbeat at a Time." If you have lost a child who is now in heaven... What Makes a Mother or "Held" with Natalie Grant (This is How it Feels) If you have adopted a child and are thinking about his or her birthmom today... Mark Schultz sings "Everything to Me" to his birthmom If you have lost your own mother... "Goodbye For Now" by Kathy Troccoli (get a tissue) Troccoli wrote this song as well as performing it. or "When You Come Home" with Billy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holidays, Parenting, Videos, What's New?

Do You Wonder if You Are Good Enough?

May 11, 2013 By admin 9 Comments

AS A MOM WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS DO YOU EVER WONDER, "AM I GOOD ENOUGH?" This #devotional writer shares how she has struggled over the years as a mom who couldn't do it all. . . but how it was still good enough. Good read for those of us wondering if we are giving our kids our best. #parenting

As Mother's Day approaches tomorrow, some of us will wonder if, as a mom with an illness, we are "good enough." Dorothea shares how she realized she was--in God's eyes. “. . . to be busy at home . . .” (Titus 2:5) Most of the women in my family have taken the Titus 2 teaching to the extreme. Whenever I go home, I feel like I’m watching those “perfect” housewives from the old movies: sparkling homes; neatly ironed and starched laundry; hot meals every morning and night. These women manage to be neatly groomed at all times. They work, are active in church, and maintain social calendars. It’s hard for me to believe that I was a part of that circle until chronic illness took its toll on my body. When I got sick, I knew there … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Overwhelmed, Parenting, Self -Esteem, What's New?

Don’t Forget to Write On The Tablet of Your Heart

April 9, 2013 By admin 4 Comments

AS WE KISS OUR GROWN CHILDREN GOODBYE it is hard to remember that we have done all we can. Have you written God's Word on the tablet of his or her heart? Trust that God will love them and be beside them when you cannot be. Touching...

Why is it so important to cherish God's Word? Diane shares how the saying "don't forget to write" takes on a new meaning when it comes to God's commandments. “My son, do not forget My teaching but keep My commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:1-3) Recently my husband and I had the bittersweet joy of moving our middle child to her first apartment. As I was following behind my husband’s truck, which was towing a trailer packed full of our daughter’s belongings, I couldn’t help but think about how long ago it had been that my own father had done … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Parenting, What's New?

Interruptions To My Most Important Life Connections

March 7, 2013 By admin 40 Comments

ARE YOUR LIFE CONNECTIONS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF YOUR ILLNESS? Sometimes everything just goes DOWN, we cut it off, shut it out, and avoid our life connections--despite the joy they may bring us. This #devotional writer shares what happened in her own head when the internet went down.

We all have life connections, but how are we using them? Do we avoid those we love the most to make other connections? Kerryn explains what recently happened at her home. “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). Everyone in my house has been incredibly frustrated today! There are frayed edges around our patience, communication, and moods. This has been intensifying, until today when tempers were lost. The problem is not life-threatening or endangering our lives, but one would think so, with how it's impacted on us all. Put simply, our internet has been cutting in and out! These internet interruptions have been occurring a few times every hour, over the past few days, with increasing regularity. Not a big deal, except … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Friendships, Marriage, Parenting, What's New?

How Do You Balance Parenting When You are a Sick Mom?

November 3, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

If you are a sick mom who lives with a chronic illness, do you ever wonder how other moms do it all and still smile? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “I don't know about this, but I'd like to” I chose to write about parenting when ill. I would like to know how moms hold it all together. Day #3. "There were two things about Mama. One is she always expected the best out of me. And the other is that then no matter what I did, whatever I came home with, she acted like it was the moon I had just hung up in the sky and plugged in all the stars. Like I was that good." The Bean Trees: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver Illness. . . and children--our role as a parent. Most people have just one of these challenges. They parent. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Parenting, This is Me, What's New?

I Will Help You, Mom: How Does God Send You Help?

October 29, 2012 By admin 10 Comments

Have you ever had someone say, "I will help you" and then it isn't exactly what you needed? Lisa shares how God sent her help one day. "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13) Yesterday I was picking up the patio before the first storm was to hit today. The Tonka trucks my son piled up over a month ago were still sitting by the patio. I had asked him many times to take them back to his sand box, but he had found multiple reasons to let them stay, including the possibility of spiders taking up residence to the fact that they were his "special arrangement" for our patio decor. As he walked by I asked him to come help again, but he headed out the front … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Parenting, What's New?

Dad, Your Kids Are Watching You – Video

June 17, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Happy Sunday! Oh, how we love our dads. There is a saying, "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. But in our society today, dads are getting a bad rap. Just turn on any sitcom and see who is the "joke" of every laugh. Dads get far too little respect. And our sons and daughters are watching. As we celebrate Father's Day today remember your dad. perhaps they are not pleasant memories and you still have bitterness to hand over to the Lord. Perhaps you have just got caught up in life and have not talked to him lately. Maybe, if you are a dad it is time to be a dad, and not just a withdrawn father. We couldn't resist sharing a couple of our favorite videos today. If you are receiving this in your email, you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting, Parents of Adult Children, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Family, Father, father's day, Home, Lord, Parent, Rodney Atkins, Stay at Home Fathers

Know Any Ill Parents? Submit Your Blog To Our Link Party!

April 12, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

ARE YOU A MOM (or Dad) WITH ILLNESS? Be sure to link up your blog here on parenting when chronically ill so others can find you and benefit from all that wisdom you are gaining (one day at a time!)

We are collecting blogs of ill parents! We would love to know more about your blog or article that addresses parenting when you are in pain. To submit your own link, put the code to our "Link Party button" (opens in a new window) on your own site. Then click the little blue button below that says "add your link" to submit your link! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Link Parties, Links, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Parenting, Parents of Adult Children, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Children, Chronic, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic pain, chronically ill mom, coping skills with illness, dad, explaining illness to kids, God, Illness, Links, Pain, parenting with illness, parents, parents with illness, Rest Ministries, teens

Cute Frame With Dry Erase Marker Can Encourage You (Or Your Child!)

March 20, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

My son, 9, doesn't like compliments. He says, "yeah, yeah, whatever," and yet he still needs to know I do notice them. Lately, his attitude and actions have left my husband and I throwing up our arms in desperation wondering what to try next to get through to this growing strong-willed blessing. Here is one thing I am trying: positive reinforcement! I bought a little 4x6 frame at the thrift store and painted it aqua blue to match our coastal cottage bathroom. Then I found a clipart-style beach background and some sunglasses clipart that I added to the right bottom corner. I put the words, "YOU ARE A COOL KID" on it in a fun font at the top and printed it out and framed it with the glass. Did know dry erase markers write easily on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Founder's Blog, Hobbies-Crafts, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Parenting, What's New? Tagged With: Do it yourself, Home, Marker pen, Paper, Picture frame, Pinterest, Walmart, Whiteboard

SNAPPIN Ministries: A Faith-Based Special Needs Parent Network

March 6, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Debbi Farmer What a blessing it is to discover a wonderful ministry online that has the potential of helping so many people. I was blessed recently in discovering yet another “hidden jewel,” Snappin' Ministries. It is a “Special Needs Parent Network” that is essentially a nationwide support network for parents of children with special needs. Their mission is to support and encourage those living with the daily challenge of parenting a special needs child, so that they may experience the genuine love and hope of Jesus in their everyday lives. As a parent who raised and home-schooled a child with special needs, I can tell you from personal experience that finding the support and resources you need in a Christian environment is a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Links, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Parenting, Testimonies, What's New?

Hold My Hand, Mommy

March 5, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

By Lisa Copen "Here, Mom, hold my hand and I will help you," my son says. We have just left his Tae Kwon Do studio and we're parked nearby in the disabled parking spot. When I stood up from the chair my knee went out. . . again. The eighteen years of rheumatoid arthritis have caused my knees to be filled with brittle pieces of bone that have broken off, calcium deposits, and calcified blood clots. As we walked out the door, I held the door frame, trying to get out of the way of the swarm of sweating students. A piece of something in my knee is stuck in a bad place and I can barely put weight on my leg. My leg will not unbend all the way. I was stricken with intense pain but trying to not show it, as I didn't want his friends to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Parenting, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: chronically ill mom concerns, Facebook features, God, ill mom, Jesu, lisa copen, Lord, mom with illness, Mother, parenting when ill, parentingwith chronic illness, Rest Ministries, San Diego, worries moms have