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As you may or may not know, I still have a teenager at home, and let me tell you - he's not an easy one! He was always my very well behaved, polite, sweet, loving, affectionate, mama's boy. He was an extremely easy baby, easy toddler, easy child. So when he turned 14 or 15 and started pushing his limits to the max and became rebellious, I was quite stunned! Many times, things can get worse before they get better, and boy did they! I've had many people binding together with me in prayer for my son. It had gotten to the point that there really wasn't much else I could do. I don't mean to say that in a way that minimizes prayer. Honestly, prayer is the BEST thing we can do! I also don't expect that all of my teenage battles are over. I think we're in remission for now.
Anyway, one day last week, as I was talking to God about my son, I felt like He spoke back to me.
I was asking God why my son has to go through this stage, why he's being so rebellious, why he doesn't learn from the mistakes of his brother or friends, why he doesn't just listen to me. After all, I love him and want what's best for him. I don't want him to have to learn things the hard way. I could hear God, as clear as a bell asking me, "Why did you rebel against me for so long? Don't you know that I love you? Don't you know that I want what's best for you too? Why did you have to learn the hard way? " Even as I'm typing this, I have tears in my eyes. My eyes tear up every time I think about it. He's so right!! I rebelled against God, my Father who loves me, just like my son is doing. So, even I had to go astray and learn the hard way that my way doesn't work. God's ways are higher than mine. When I finally realized that, and was ready to submit to HIS authority, I came home like the prodigal son (daughter in my case.) Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Because of all the teenageritis I've been dealing with, I've been reading a few different books that friends have recommended. One of them is, Boundaries with Teens by Dr. John Townsend. Today, one paragraph stood out to me. In regards to holding our ground as parents and holding healthy and strong boundaries, it said this :
"God made parents to be the guard rails on the twisting road of life. You need to be strong enough for kids to crash into over and over and over again. You must stay strong, so that your teens will learn to stay on track. Guard rails get dinged up. But if they work well, they preserve the young lives that run up against them."
Townsend, John (2009-05-18). Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No (p. 32). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
I couldn't help but think about how many times in my life that God has done exactly that with me. He has been my guard rail more times than I can count! How many times has God preserved my life?! How many times have I crashed, and He has saved me?! Thankfully, He's a big God. He can handle the dings I give Him. I honestly don't even know anymore what I'd do without Him guiding me. What an awesome Father He is!!
I'm hoping I will learn a lot about how to raise my teen boy so that he will become a Godly and honorable man, but I have a feeling I'll also be learning a lot more about myself and how my Heavenly Father parents and loves me, and that's definitely not a bad thing.
Anyway, one day last week, as I was talking to God about my son, I felt like He spoke back to me.
I was asking God why my son has to go through this stage, why he's being so rebellious, why he doesn't learn from the mistakes of his brother or friends, why he doesn't just listen to me. After all, I love him and want what's best for him. I don't want him to have to learn things the hard way. I could hear God, as clear as a bell asking me, "Why did you rebel against me for so long? Don't you know that I love you? Don't you know that I want what's best for you too? Why did you have to learn the hard way? " Even as I'm typing this, I have tears in my eyes. My eyes tear up every time I think about it. He's so right!! I rebelled against God, my Father who loves me, just like my son is doing. So, even I had to go astray and learn the hard way that my way doesn't work. God's ways are higher than mine. When I finally realized that, and was ready to submit to HIS authority, I came home like the prodigal son (daughter in my case.) Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Because of all the teenageritis I've been dealing with, I've been reading a few different books that friends have recommended. One of them is, Boundaries with Teens by Dr. John Townsend. Today, one paragraph stood out to me. In regards to holding our ground as parents and holding healthy and strong boundaries, it said this :
"God made parents to be the guard rails on the twisting road of life. You need to be strong enough for kids to crash into over and over and over again. You must stay strong, so that your teens will learn to stay on track. Guard rails get dinged up. But if they work well, they preserve the young lives that run up against them."
Townsend, John (2009-05-18). Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No (p. 32). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
I couldn't help but think about how many times in my life that God has done exactly that with me. He has been my guard rail more times than I can count! How many times has God preserved my life?! How many times have I crashed, and He has saved me?! Thankfully, He's a big God. He can handle the dings I give Him. I honestly don't even know anymore what I'd do without Him guiding me. What an awesome Father He is!!
I'm hoping I will learn a lot about how to raise my teen boy so that he will become a Godly and honorable man, but I have a feeling I'll also be learning a lot more about myself and how my Heavenly Father parents and loves me, and that's definitely not a bad thing.
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