Faithful Friends

As a parent, I’ve never really stop praying that my children have people of good influence in their lives. From the time our kids were about 12, friends seem to have a more powerful influence over our sons than we did. Yes, Jesus hung out with some pretty tough crowds sometimes, and I don’t want my kids to be afraid of contact with people who are very different from them. But the fact remains that I want for their closest friends to be people who have direction in their lives, values that resonate with God’s heart, and habits that grow them into faithful, loving adults. Everyone needs friends who will support them and be there in all kinds of weather.

I found friends at Messiah when I was a student who were like that for me. And I see it happening in my sons’ lives as well.

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Keeping Perspective

It’s enough to make you crazy.  You have a child who seems to give no thought for the future– every decision he makes is centered in the moment and he is surprised when things he does has consequences. As a parent, you want to help him pay attention, analyze, weigh the options.  You want him to have perspective.

Or maybe you have a child who agonizes about every step she takes.  She worries, loses sleep, bursts into tears or tantrums because of the stress she feels about her future. As a parent, you want to help her realize that she doesn’t have to be afraid of making a mistake.  Nothing is irreparable. You want her to have perspective.

Ah, parenting a person on the verge of adulthood is not easy. But if you can keep your perspective, it will help them keep theirs.

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