When I hear about parents of kids diagnosed with a chronic illness or special needs, my thoughts and emotions get tangled up, they tie me in knots.
Sound Familiar?
I want to do something to help – take a casserole or send a card maybe – but invisible, tangled threads hold me back. Doubt sets in, and my good intentions seem feeble or silly. Pretty soon, I talk myself out of doing anything and sit home feeling guilty for not reaching out.
What a shame!
Does my predicament sound familiar to you? If it does, you will appreciate these suggestions from Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend by Lisa Copen.
Lisa Copen
Lisa Copen is a young mom with chronic arthritis. Though her book is written for friends of chronically ill adults, if you change the wording just a little, most of the suggestions work for families with special needs kids, too. Here are five of her ideas to get you thinking:
- Just listen . . . until it hurts to not say anything. And then listen some more.
- Ask, “What do you wish people understood about your illness?”
- Instead of saying, “I will pray for you,” say, “I’d like to pray for you right now, if that’s okay.”
- Ask if she would be interested in writing something for the church newsletter, maybe even about the subject of living with chronic illness.
- Ask, “Do you have an errand I can run for you before coming over?”
Beyond Casseroles
In the next blog post, you’ll find five more of Lisa’s ideas and learn how to order the book. Until then, leave a comment about your favorite from the ones listed above.
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