How We Can Support Parents through Ministering

Parents need love and support in their divine roles as mothers and fathers.

little boy, with mother and daughter struggling in background

Parents face unique and often difficult challenges. The loving support of ministering brothers and sisters can be critical to the well-being of both parents and children. God will bless our efforts as we look for ways to strengthen the parents and children in our lives.

Anne and Kara were both new in their ward when Anne was assigned to minister to Kara and her young family. A friendship quickly developed between the two of them. Anne, a newlywed, enjoyed helping Kara with her four young daughters, who ranged in age from newborn to seven years old. One day, Kara’s baby sustained a skull fracture that required surgery.

Anne jumped in and watched the other children until their grandmother could arrive to take care of them. Once their grandmother arrived, Anne checked with her to see what help she might need, then brought dinner to the family that night. She also arranged for neighbors to bring meals for a few days.

The next day when she checked in on Kara’s family, Anne noticed that one of Kara’s daughters was worried about her baby sister, so Anne invited her to come make cookies to give her some personal attention. Anne also texted the ward council to let them know what had happened and told them she would keep them updated about the situation. During the next week, while the baby received treatment, Anne kept the ward council up to date and saw to the family’s needs. Anne’s help allowed Kara time and peace of mind as a parent in a difficult, scary situation.

Ministering Tips for Helping to Support Parents

1. Reduce significant stress that parents feel. If the family is experiencing stress, your relationship can buffer the stress that makes it difficult for the parents to be a stable and loving presence in their children’s lives. Ways to help might include:

Seeking to understand the sources of stress. Be a sounding board as you listen carefully. Follow through on impressions.
Teaching job-hunting skills, helping to revise their budget, or finding educational or training opportunities.
Helping connect them to useful resources, such as self-reliance courses, or assisting them in completing paperwork for financial aid or services.

2. Strengthen parents’ ability to bear the load. This might include:

Providing them with a few Church resources that can help in their specific situation.
Scheduling regular times to give emotional support by listening and comforting.
Facilitating time for a parent to care for himself or herself.

3. Foster their resilience and hope as you:

Express hope and faith in Christ and turn them to Him for peace and support.
Help them value the beauty of the difficult, messy moments of parenting and reassure them that they are not alone in painful times.
Show them love and recognize them for the tremendous work they are doing.

4. Facilitate fun. One of the hardest challenges for parents who are struggling is to muster enough energy to play and have fun with their children. You can help as you:

Organize a dinner or a game night.
Celebrate moments that are important to them, such as birthdays, holidays, or other important milestones.
Invite them to join with you in your own planned activities.