Strengthening our Children

Thank you SO much for all of the responses I have received by email to my new topic “Mom and Me: Building Relationships That Last a Lifetime”. I just wish they were all posted as comments so that you could all read them as well!

I did receive one that I have to share.

“Another big issue is also dating. I am noticing more and more that moms aren’t sitting down and talking to their girls openly about relationships and expectations. This becomes a huge issue and by the time some parents address it there are already some difficult issues at hand, ie. Girls who aren’t in a relationship think something is wrong with them. Others issues are inappropriate texts or emails, lying, girls connecting with their friends and using that as an opportunity to see their boyfriends, or even extensive physical contact and emotional connections.”

All this reminds me of why I am so glad I am past my teen years!

My heart broke as a remembered how the precious girl before me felt. I remember all too well the sting of rejection from boys growing up. I guess word had gotten ’round that I wouldn’t “do anything” so I found myself single most of the time. (Thank you, Jesus! I now see that man’s rejection is God’s protection!!!) It is one thing to go through it yourself, but to watch another one that you have loved one go through it, is painful.

I thought of her this morning as I read the powerful words of Jesus in Matthew 5: 10 – 12:
“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

This is a time when we need to be about strengthening one another. Yes, I am talking specifically about our children, but it applies to all of us! The family is aloosing it’s strength as marriages become things we throw away in our search for more – more fun, more of myself, which leads to more pain. Our children need us and they need us as a team to help them through these difficult season.

Be bold, my friend. Do not be intimated by what is happening in your child’s life and not have the conversations they need you to have. Do you feel like you don’t know what is going on in their world? Take some time and learn! Vicki Courtney has an email that she calls Virtue Alert to help clue us in on what is happening in the teen culture. Also, Dannah Gresh has a ministry that helps to equip us as parents in this time.

Parents, please don’t hide. I know your life is stressful,(if only you could come and spend a day at the Cowell household!)but our children are really only with us for a truly short time. Let us not let them down by not finishing well.

Have an incredible weekend. Our’s is full of kid’s activities: Madi playing softball (Oh…can I brag for just a second? She hit a grand slam at her school softball game hitting in the 4 winning runs. It sure is fun being on a winning team!)and Zach is performing with his Men’s Ensemble group at a local church. Enjoy the fall…it’s God’s way of smiling on us 🙂
Lynn

Lynn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.