Blog
Holidays Can Be Hard for Parents in Pain
Parents whose children are going through difficult times with substance use disorders, mental illness, sexual identity issues, have been arrested or are in jail, have a very hard time being joyful or thankful during the holidays. If their life were a book, they would say it’s a tragedy. Read this post to hear how Someone bigger is writing the story of our lives with much-needed words of encouragement. Don’t let your children’s troubles define who are. God has much more for you…and for them.
How to Navigate Through a Parenting Nightmare
This is the testimony of a mom who has been part of a Hope for Hurting Parents support group for the last 5 years. She wanted to share her story to give you hope for yours. "I’m...
A Good Word for Brokenhearted Parents on Thanksgiving Day
A good word for brokenhearted parents on Thanksgiving is SERENITY. What do we need when we're sad and discouraged? We need God’s peace and calm to fill in the cracks of our soul....
A Thanksgiving Message for Brokenhearted Parents
Parents of teen or adult children who struggle with substance use, mental health issues (or any other distressing situation) find the holidays a most difficult time of year,...
5 Tips for Surviving the Holidays for Parents in Pain
"I hate the holidays! They just make me feel worse than I already do! I want to ignore them or acknowledge them at all, but no one understands" Thanksgiving and Christmas are...
Learning to Love Well from the Mother of a Prodigal, Part 2
Today Pam Jones Lanhart, mom of a son who struggled with drug abuse and director of Thrive! Family Support, has more valuable insights for us in Part 2 of her interview. What did...
Learning to Love Well from the Mother of a Prodigal Son, Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2-part interview with Pam Jones Lanhart, the mom of an adult son who struggled with drug abuse. She's the director of Thrive! Family Support and author of...
Suicide: The Ultimate Family Secret
What impacts countless lives worldwide every day sending out waves of pain and suffering? Suicide, the ultimate family secret. Suicide devastates families, breaks hearts, and...
Dear Hurting Parent, I Wish You Enough
I did not write this story. Someone sent it to me many years ago, but I don't know the source. Because of the impact on me, I saved it. Now I'm compelled to share the story once...
7 Tips for Parents When Waiting is Hard
Life is full of waiting. Let’s be honest, waiting is hard--especially when you are the parent of a troubled teen or adult. It’s hard because there’s a problem they’re powerless...
Can Parents in Pain Still be Grateful?
When a child suffers, their parents do too. When their suffering takes the form of substance abuse, mental illness, self-harm, suicide attempts, incarceration, or some other...
A Father’s First Year After His Son’s Suicide
Today's blog is from the archives. The author is a former guest blogger, Nick Watts, a father whose son died by suicide five years ago. With beautiful authenticity, he shares...
My Child Might be Suicidal – What Can a I do? Part 3
Do you have a son or daughter who has been suicidal? Were you paralyzed, not knowing what to do? Did you think nothing would help? I have good news for you. There is something...