Relationship
Josh McDowell: “Rules without relationship equals rebellion.”
Your kids are starving for relationship. This parent/child relationship begins before birth and lasts a lifetime. It is often the strongest force influencing how an individual views God. Whether we like it or not, this is a major responsibility, and parents are accountable for filling this role. If you are a parent of a struggling teenager the concept of repairing a wounded relationship may be very intimidating, or even downright discouraging. This is what the enemy wants you to hear, and to believe, so you give up and fail to influence your child in a positive way. The simple fact of the matter is that your son or daughter is starving for your participation in his or her life. A recent poll revealed this truth. Teens were given two choices: when asked whether the teen would prefer being given $100 and an hour at the mall or would prefer to have an hour alone with their parent at a local park, the majority of teens responded without hesitation; they want the relational time with their parent.
At this point it would be easy to think, “yeah, but you don’t know my teenager, he doesn’t want anything to do with me,” and I can totally understand that. But there is an ongoing war over your children. The world is pulling at them from every angle, using all kinds of means to infiltrate their mind, body, and spirit. Trust me; I know you are in for the fight of your life. But this is where parents MUST step up to the plate! It is going to take energy and purposeful intervention in order to gain the opportunities for building relationship with your child. In this battle you must choose to fight; if you don’t the results will be ugly. Create opportunities to be one-on-one with your child. Go on “dates,” ask genuine questions that allow your child to know you really care, and allow you to better understand what is going on in their world. Listening to your child is extremely valuable. Be careful to avoid simply looking for opportunities to tell them how to life their life. Even though their thought process may be flawed and alarm you, hearing them out will bring them closer, opening doors of trust so you can then effectively speak into their life. Parenting is a big job, and cannot be done well without proper guidance, support, and wisdom. Find strength primarily in the Lord, and lean on peers in your church for support and encouragement. Overall, do not give up! This is your calling, so fight for your son or daughter.
Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”