Give Them a Chance

“For if they fall, one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NKJV)

Recently, I read an interview of a seventeen-year old girl that absolutely blew me away. In the interview, she talked about how badly she wanted her parents to know what was going on in her life: who she was dating, how far they had gone, how he treated her and the mean things he had said to her. She didn’t tell them, though. She was afraid; afraid of how they would react.

As a parent, this scenario crushed my heart. I want my kids to be able to tell me the hard things in life that they are struggling with. I want to be that safe place for them and for them to know that they are not alone. I want to be able to pray for my daughter, love her and hold her when she needs to cry. None of that is possible though if my child does not feel that she can be honest with me.

Honesty. That is a tough one. We expect our kids to be honest with us, yet how do we respond when they are?

The Lord has made us, as parents, to be His hands and feet to our children. Yes, we need to discipline them. We also need to be the ones to show them the Father’s love and forgiveness. We need to be the ones who love our kids when they find it hard to love themselves.

Give your kids – or any kids in your life – a chance. Let your child know that you are aware of what is going on in her culture (make sure you do!). Through non-confrontational conversation, open the doors for honesty and let them know beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what happens, you will be there for them.

And when they come to you, lovingly point them towards the guidance and grace offered by our Heavenly Father.

Dear Lord, Show me today how to open the doors of conversation with the children in my life so that I can be a safe place where they are heard and cared for deeply. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Devotional: https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2008/10/20/give-them-a-chance