| Hello Everyone, As most of you already know, my name is Robert Goodwin. I'm writing this message today because last night, while I was doing my quiet time with God, He laid it on my heart to share this. I never knew He could actually put words into my mouth to speak, but that's what happened. Anyway, I hope this helps those of you with this problem and those that will eventually experience it. As to the rest of you, I hope this at least helps you see what caused the problem, even if it is too late for you. Now get ready because this could take awhile. How many of you parents have teenagers living in your home? How many of you have tried to rub their back or massage their shoulders, or just took the time to pray over them when they were sad? Out of all those who have tried, how many have had their teenager reject what they were doing? I'll assume that a vast majority have experienced this or will undergo this, just for the sake of making this easier to write. Well, to start off I'd like to say, no I don't know the answer to every situation like that, but I'm going to try for the biggest. The teenage mind is in no way completely mature and they often fail to understand what true maturity is. For instance, lets say we have a teenager by the name of Arthur. Now, Arthur, he's just a regular teen in a regular home. He goes to school for about six hours a day, while he's there, he learns a number of things. There are also several things that make impressions on him. When he comes home each day, his mom asks how his day has been and then tells him to do his homework before he goes anywhere. What he really wants however is for his mom to give him a hug or something to that effect. Unfortunately, because Arthur is a teenager, he has conflicting emotions and he feels it would be immature to ask for that. We as adults realize this is incorrect thinking, but poor Arthur doesn't know any better. That story is typical of many teens in America today. They are afraid to ask for support because they feel that you would view them as childish. This leads them to look for it elsewhere. Unfortunately, there isn't much elsewhere for them to find. They turn to friends, but friends because they are at the same level can't support them as much as is needed. Now suppose Arthur had a girlfriend at school, he leaves home the next day for school and looking for the support his mom failed to show him, he turns to his girlfriend. Sure, she'll support him, but at what cost? I mean, her life is pretty much the same as his and this makes it so they both are trying to give strength to each other, but failing because to people on the same level can't both be on each others shoulders at the same time, can they. Even if your teen claims he doesn't want your love, don't believe them. They need it, but are so afraid of being seen as immature and childish, that they have trouble asking. They try to tell you they don't need it to make them appear tough, but you as parents need to clear this misconception and let them know that it isn't a display of weakness to need parental love. What Arthur wants is some love from his parents. When he doesn't receive it he looks elsewhere, and the only things the world has are drugs, illicit sex, and broken hearts. He'll never find what he wants out there, what he needs, only you have. If you don't give it to him then he'll just continue down the wrong path. Well, I've said what I had to and the rest is up to you. Will you show your children love, or will you let them try to find it where there is none? |
| Parental Love |
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