If you are the parents who just sat for hours in a cold doctor’s office to hear that your child has a life-threatening illness, you are so strong. 

If you are the parents who can’t bring yourself to decorate or celebrate the unknown because you don’t know if they’ll ever come home, you are so strong. 

If you are the parents who travel or relocate to deliver your child in one of the best hospitals with hopes it will change the outcome, you are so strong.

If you are the parents who learn all the medical terminology so you understand more at doctor’s appointments, you are so strong.

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If you are the parents who hold your breath at every doctor’s appointment because when it doesn’t seem like things could possibly get worse, they do, you are so strong.

If you are the parents who hold it all together around others, but find yourself in dark places when alone, you are so strong.

If you are the parents waiting and sleeping in hospitals next to your child praying for better news during the doctor’s rounds, you are so strong. 

If you are the parents holding on to every moment like it is the last because you know it could be, you are so strong. 

If you are the parents who celebrate holidays and birthdays by decorating a gravesite, you are so strong.

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There is no one stronger than you—parents who lay down your whole lives to advocate, understand, and live that journey with your child. The ones who know the outcome is not good but never give up hope. 

You may not always—or ever—feel strong. Living like this can make you feel broken, but even on the broken days are days, you find a way to get through . . . and that is the greatest level of strength. 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).