Children with Chronic Illness
Be Honest. Be Silly. Be Brave. Be Kind.
Jesus loves you exactly as you are! He loves you when you're honest and when you’re kind, when you’re sad and when you're tired, and even when you're angry. Jesus loves you exactly as you are because He made YOU exactly as you are, and He never, ever makes a mistake.
Kids, Meet CJ Star & Sonshine Squad
Sometimes we all just need a hug. Today, we're sending you a great big hug from CJ Star and the Sonshine Squad – and a reminder that YOU ARE AMAZING!
Be Kind
Jesus wants us to be kind - to care about, share with, and help others – and to forgive those who are unkind to us. Being kind means learning to love others like Jesus loves us. Jesus’ life overflowed with kindness. He wants us to be kind with our words, our actions, and our attitudes. But that’s not always easy, and sometimes it's harder with those we love best (our parents, friends, and siblings) than it is with our teachers, grandparents, and parents.
Love is always patient. Love is always kind. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
Be Brave
What does it mean to be brave?
It means that no matter what we feel or what we’re facing, or how impossible things seem, we do not need to feel afraid. We are not alone. God is with us wherever we go, whatever we do, and however we feel. God tells us more than 100 times in His Word that we do not need to feel afraid because He sees us, He knows exactly what we’re going through, and He loves us more than we will ever know.
Turn to me and help me. I am lonely and hurting. Take away the troubles of my heart. Set me free from my great pain. Look at how I’m hurting! See how much I suffer! (Psalm 25:16-19)
Prayer is Talking with Jesus
We can pray all the time - when we’re playing or going to school, when we’re in the car or at the doctor’s office, when we're in the hospital or when we're at home. We can pray about anything and everything because Jesus is always with us.
Never stop praying. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
PRAYER
Dear God, thank You for being with me always, wherever I am. Thank You for reminding me over and over in Your Word that I do not need to be afraid because You are bigger than my fears. Thank You for always seeing me, caring about me, and loving me, no matter what. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Meet the Sonshine Squad
The Sonshine Squad is a group of friends from all around the world who love Jesus and want His love to shine brightly wherever they go. That's why "Sonshine" is spelled a little differently— did you notice that? It's not a mistake; it's on purpose! Discover fun, faith-filled activities for kids ages 5–11 featuring the Sonshine Squad—helping children grow in kindness, courage, and God’s love.
CJ Star's Big Feeling
CJ Star’s Big Feeling is a story exploring feelings, friendship, and faith. A creative activity—Make a Big Feeling Box—helps children recognize, express, and pray through big emotions with kindness, courage, and joy.
Featured Free Printables
ABC Bible Verses
ABC Bible Verses are a fun way to hide God's Word in your heart every day. Make a Bible verse puzzle, build a Bible verse book, or practice your verse one minute at a time. Learn! Grow! Have fun!
Be Brave! Be Different! Be You!
Being brave doesn’t mean won’t be afraid or that we’ll never feel alone or misunderstood. We can be brave, because with Jesus we never are alone.
Emotions Wheel
The Emotions Wheel is designed to help kids recognize and name the emotions they experience. As their emotional vocabulary grows, so does their ability to effectively communicate what and how they feel.
Your Story Matters
Stories are vital to us as people: who we are as individuals and who we are as a community. We each have a story to tell. YOU have a story to tell, and there are many creative ways to tell it and maybe even to share it with others.
I was so incredibly touched when my daughter opened her #PenToPaper gift and handwritten encouragement card from Chronic Joy. When they said they wanted to encourage young adults living with chronic illness, I was super impressed ... and so grateful when they included my daughter. Young women and men need to hear others care about them as they navigate the very disheartening struggles of chronic illness. My daughter just loved this and felt “seen” and cared about as soon as she opened it to her surprise. ❤️❤️ Heather M.
Foggy Frog and the Pain Gang
Megan A Schartner
It can be difficult to explain symptoms to others, but Foggy Frog and the Pain Gang can help. Come meet the gang – and better understand what life is like with an invisible illness causing chronic pain and fatigue.
Zip-Line
David Humpherys
Zip-line whimsically explains the answer to the question, "How did that line get there?" The story centers around a little girl and her bunny rabbit explaining to the reader how she got the scar on her chest and how she isn't any different than anyone else.
Supercharged Superhero
Gemma Everson
A moving and true story about one little girl and her super-energetic, superhero dad whose battery suddenly and unexplainably goes flat and will not fully recharge. This rhyming story shares their journey through the little girl's eyes as she comes to terms with her father’s condition.
How Can I Help? God's Calling for Kids
Mary Moerbe
God sends people to help in little ways and big ways. Children learn that God provides for their needs (sometimes through others he places in their life), he works through them to help others, and he has a plan for their life no matter what.
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Parenting
WHEN ILLNESS & PAIN ARE PART OF THE FAMILY
When illness and pain are part of the family, we need more strength, resolve, perseverance, and courage than we ever imagined. Yet, we also discover the rich blessings of presence, compassion, perspective, and profound love as we learn to live and parent five minutes at a time.
Teens
Your life is changing. Jesus isn’t. The teen years are a kaleidoscope of change, especially when living with illness, anxiety, or chronic pain. Yet, no matter how much changes, one thing remains the same: Jesus. Hope, encouragement, and resources for teens are available through Chronic Joy.
