As a parent of older children, I’ve learned that my older children may not share the dream I personally have for their life. Coming to grips with the reality of that is an essential part of letting go and launching them into adulthood.

But what if the “different dream” becomes evident at birth or early in childhood? What if my mothering experience looks different than I imagined it would look? Parents of critically ill or chronically ill children now have a resource available to let them know they are not alone. Jolene Philo’s book, A Different Dream for My Child, is just that resource.

For years, Jolene Philo’s son was hospitalized many times as he battled a life-threatening birth defect. Far from home, without friends and family to support them, Jolene and her husband felt utterly and completely alone. Today, support networks for parents of critically or chronically ill children have improved, but most only provide for urgent physical needs. The devotional meditations in this book address the spiritual needs of these parents as the author shares her own life lessons, as well as those of other parents who have walked this road. “No matter how difficult the road,” Philo writes, “you do not have to lose hope.”

Are you walking this road with one or more of your children? Do you know a friend who needs to know about this book?

Jolene’s publisher has agreed to give away two copies of this wonderful resource to two moms who desperately need it. If you’d like to be considered for one of these copies, leave a comment on this post by Monday, Nov 2. I’ll draw two names at random from those who post a comment by midnight on Monday, Nov 2.

If you know of a mom who needs to know about this resource, please send this her way!