After reading a short story of a father speaking to his teenage son, I often wondered if I talked to my teenage children enough during those growing years for them.
These are the years that seem to be the hardest for our youngsters because they are leaving their childhood days and entering a time of growing in their maturity. As parents these are some valuable times that we need to spend conversing with our teenage children, even if they do not want us to.
As the story goes, the father made three trips to his son’s room to speak to him. The first two trips he failed to say what he wanted to and made a third trip back. His son realizing that his dad wanted to emphasize something to him said, “Dad, just say it!” The son did not say this in an obnoxious tone but wanted to hear what he had to say. The dad simply wanted the son to understand how he and his mother felt about him and that they loved him very much.
Why is it so hard for parents to converse with their teenagers about how they feel about them? Why do we, as parents, find it hard to tell our kids how much we love them, no matter how old they are? Is it because when we were teenagers, we remember that we knew everything there was to know and did not need people telling us anything?
These are hard years for many teenagers but the greatest information you can share with them is the love of Jesus Christ and His love for them. It is also imperative that they understand that we love them too. Most of them watch us through our actions and hear what we say to them, whether we think they do or not. We are told in 1 John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
Teenagers are eager to learn. They have the desires to learn from their parents and leaders they can trust, or they will learn what the world wants them to know. They are at the age of vulnerability and whoever they associate with the most, are the ones that are going to influence them.
My wife and I have been extremely blessed through our children. We have been very supportive of them allowing them to make decisions as teenagers, within reason. They would include us and talk to us about their decisions and future directions they wanted to pursue. We spoke with each one about their relationship with Jesus and gave them the opportunity of attending and participating in church. They have never disappointed us.
Saying what you mean and meaning what you say can be interpreted in many ways. By telling the truth when you say this, you never have to remember what you said or add to it. For Christians, the truth is that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6). Do not put off or beat around the bush when you talk to children about important things you want to tell them. Just as the young man told his father in the story I read, “Dad, just say it.” Tell them you love them and tell them about Jesus.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for the children you gave us. I give you all the praise and glory for their lives and pray that you will always guide them in whatever they attempt or do. Amen.
