Hi everyone,
It is official, my wife and I are parents to 2 teenagers now. Because our kids are pretty much the youngest out of their cousins, I’ve been given the low down on the possible horrors and dangers of parenting teenagers.
No offense to any teenager who might be reading this, but what a time it is to be alive. With all the changes happening to teens physically, mentally, emotionally, and even socially, it’s hard to maintain a relationship with their parents. Or at least, any good and healthy relationship. And believe me, the parents can feel it too (if my current experience or my experience as a teen who had a somewhat difficult relationship with his own parents have anything to say about that). And it’s just not easy.
As parents, I know we’re trying. As a teen back in those days, I remember trying too but my goodness did I ever just want to do my own thing. I didn’t need my parents to tell me what to do, what to wear, or what to eat. I didn’t need an adult telling me what time to come home or who to hang out with. I didn’t need someone other than myself telling me how my actions may negatively affect others or even myself in the long run…
…even if they were right.
Now, this isn’t to say that all parents have, are, and always will be right, and that teen will always be wrong. But it is to say that the opposite also isn’t true. What is important I think for our teens to note (and all teens of all times and place) is that their parents (on the most part) love them. The nagging and calling out is out of care and concern.
Again, this doesn’t mean that all parents are perfect (Lord knows that my wife and I aren’t… or at least I’m not), and that all teens are awful (our are not, by any means), but I am saying that much misunderstanding can happen around intentions and assumptions. But if teens realise that their parents love them and if parents understand that teens feel and interpret love differently, then who knows? Maybe the friction will be at a minimum.
But at the same time, the goal isn’t to reduce friction and have a honky dory relationship. But rather, the goal is to know the value and worth in the relationship, in the individual, and in the family.
Here are the readings for next week:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17—4:1
Luke 13:31-35
And a video of me reading those readings:
These readings to me display this up and down parental relationship God has with us. And it’s not “up and down” because God is, but because we are. We often misunderstand God or don’t trust in God’s promises and then we come to the conclusion that we need to do it ourselves.
With all the while God only wanting to love us, care for us, and hold us in God’s eternal arms of grace.
But I get it, we don’t always feel that love. We aren’t always able to tell that we are being cared for. We just don’t always get our way.
Even still, God will continue to love us even if we might reject it. God will continue to hold us even when we try to run away. God will always extend God’s hand of grace even when we think we can/should/will do it ourselves.
That is God’s nature as our divine parent. That is God’s will as Love incarnate. That is God’s promise to us as God’s children.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!