Talking to Teens: What are you asking for?
Would you allow your child to cram eggs in his pocket or practice hockey slap shots in a china store? The egg stuffing may be OK if you’re running low on entertainment, but the china store might be a little extreme.
Children’s emotions are as fragile as eggs and fine china. We don’t need to jab their feelings with a proverbial hockey stick. Watch your stick handling!
Just when I thought I’d seen and heard it all, bombshells started exploding in our happy home last September. Our oldest son was staring adolescence straight in its evil eye. Over the last six months, I’ve noticed huge changes in his attitude and outlook. When he descends the stairs each morning, I can actually see his hormones marching two steps in front of him. Those testosterone taunters are plotting their sordid ways: “OK guys, we’re all meeting at his mouth this morning. Johnny, yell the first insult, and Pete will follow with a zinger.”
Although our son’s ready to drop the puck for a face off, I must be careful not to become an opposing player, but a coach. A good coach knows when to let a player vent his frustration and when to take him aside for a little heart-to-heart.
Sometimes I need to patiently listen as his mouth rattles like a machine gun. Otherwise, my comments are equally juvenile and hurtful, and I don’t need another child in our house. Other times, I need to interject.
Oh, to have the wisdom of King Solomon! Thankfully, Jesus is eager to shower the same insight upon you! It’s just as easy to ask for parental guidance, as it is to throw your hands in the air in frustration and defeat.
Our Heavenly Father knows a little something about raising kids.
Jeremiah 33:3 practically shouts, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” That’s a great start! Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a time for everything. There’s a time to enjoy an ice cream date with your child, a time to remove his car keys, a time to lock yourself in the bathroom and count to ten, and of course, a time to learn together. A wise heart knows the proper time and procedure (Ecclesiastes 8:5b, 6a).
Parenthood was designed as a blessing. Really! Those burdensome times allow Jesus to build spiritual character in our families. And spiritual character creates stalwart “characters.” As we implore for godly wisdom, we will become more patient, merciful and considerate toward our children, especially during those trying times.
Dig deep for that wisdom. Open the Bible and you’ll find some very interesting families. Some parents were extremely diligent and others were dysfunctional with a capital D. Learn from their victories and mistakes!
What are you asking for? Here’s what you need to claim today: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).
