Your grandson or granddaughter is sick. You may live close by, but you likely live far away in many cases. You feel perplexed and helpless. What do you do?

 I don’t have a sick grandchild. However, I’m caring for a friend’s child who has pediatric cancer at four years of age. Jake Warren is a patient at St. Jude Medical Center. This young boy was on a ventilator at a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi in August. He was given a one percent chance to live when I discovered his situation. Jake is healing. He has a long way to go but his tumors have been shrinking thanks to the prayers of many.

I experienced prostate cancer last October through July of this year. I was in bed from December through early July due to pain from chemotherapy and radiation. I suffered through an irregular heartbeat at the same time. I needed two surgeries for that. The Lord healed me from my cancer and my irregular heartbeat.

Here are some things I learned that can help you minister to your sick grandchild:

We don’t need to be strong. Recognize your weakness to handle the situation. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness. I will boast more gladly in my weaknesses, that the power of christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, necessities, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, for when I am strong.”

Ask God for wisdom. James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not, and it shall be given him.”

Love your grandchild. Accept her where she is. 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins.” My son traveled into an area of Baltimore city 10 years ago to sell a video console. He had no business being there. He was robbed and stabbed. He survived. I could have screamed at him. I realized he already suffered for his wrong. I asked him as he recovered in Maryland Shock Trauma, “What did you do wrong?” He replied that he didn’t tell me where he was going. If I knew, then I would have instructed him not to go there. My son healed, by the way. It took some time.

Exercise faith and patience. I had a hard time getting out of bed from December 2024 through early July 2025. My spouse was quite supportive and patient with me. She is a retired nurse. She let me rest. This turned out to be sound wisdom. Hebrews 6:12: “

James 5:15: “For the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up.” The word “save” in Greek means, “to save, to heal, to deliver, and to protect.” Through faith, God will do all these things for your sick grandchild.

These tips will help you and your grandchild heal from sickness. Put these tips to good use.

Richard Szalecki, pronounced, “Sah-LEH-key” is a Christian Leader and writer who recently retired. He lives with his wife Cheryl in Northwest Florida. He’s currently visiting his granddaughter and step-granddaughter in Plant City, near Tampa, Florida.

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