Parents Need TLC: Part 3
In the previous two posts in this series, you learned about Chad Gray, childhood cancer survivor and Rita Gray, his mother and author of TLC for Parents of Seriously Ill Children. TLC is a ten week Bible study for parents. Though it was originally designed as a group study, it can be used individually as well.
What’s Inside TLC for Parents of Seriously Ill Children
The Bible study begins with an introductory chapter and then nine lessons grouped into four categories:
- Caring for the Caregiver (three lessons)
- Caring for the Clan (two lessons)
- Caring for the Child (three lessons)
- Caring for Our Future (one lesson)
The lessons include devotional readings to be completed individually during the week. Prayers, scripture, TLC truths, and discussion questions are provided for use during group meetings.
TLC Snapshot
Rita tells her family’s story and snippets of other families’ stories in the devotional readings. The attitude of Nancy Brown, whose son Ryan was diagnosed with advanced cancer at three, made a particular impact on me. Because so much of Ryan’s young life was consumed by inpatient cancer treatment, Nancy decided to make Ryan’s hospital stays fun. She says, “I invented ‘chemo camp.’ That is what we called our three to four day stays in the hospital for chemotherapy. For this event, we had special bedding. He opted for the red, purple, turquoise and green dinosaur sheets and comforter…We also hung up window clings, and brought some favorite toys from home.”
Nancy then describes one of their favorite activities. “We would walk the halls, with IV pole in tow. To make camp more fun, we invented what Ryan called ‘ski-watering.’ This involved Ryan standing on the IV pole base with me pusing him around the place as quickly as he could tolerate.”
What a wonderful story! If you need a spiritual boost, practical advice, and the encouragement of parents in similar circumstances, consider organizing a TLC Bible study. Books are available at Rita’s website www.tlcforparents.com. If you start a group, leave a comment about how it’s going. Your experience could encourage someone else to start a study, too.
Blessings
Jolene
