Growing Pains

There is a mysterious point when a child no longer wants to be “mommy-ed” but will turn away toward the process of becoming an adult. No amount of seeking to retrieve the innocent years will make this new phase go away. Suddenly, it is God’s time for your children to begin growing up! Until that time, there is a window of opportunity to pour in foundations of morality, truth, values, habits, and character, but then, suddenly, your whole relationship with your children will hit a roadblock, and you know that there will be a detour ahead—a different route to go!

So if you find yourself in the stages of new hormones and feelings expressed through your children, now, for a moment, ask yourself the question, “When I am having a bout with hormones and anger or rage or emotions come upon me with no warning, how do I want others to behave toward me?”

When we’re grouchy, we want people to treat us gently and to give us grace, understanding that this is not our usual behavior! And so our children want this from us, that we would take seriously Jesus’ admonition to “do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31, NIV).

During this phase, it is important to gently hold their hearts in respect, rather than treating them as small children and focusing on their failures.

His Promises

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.