‘…A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife…’ Matthew 19:5 NIV
Don’t make your children feel guilty about growing up! They were born to fly. If they can’t, what does that say about you as a parent? It was God who first came up with the idea of children leaving home. So when your role changes, don’t lose your perspective and give in to resentment and self–pity. Learn to move gracefully from owner to coach. That’s how God intends life to work. Your children are supposed to have what it takes to succeed on their own. The question is, do you? Don’t attack the people who are now part of your grown child’s life. It’s easy to become judgmental when you’re no longer in control. Don’t do it! Nobody is attracted to a critic; you’ll just push your kids away. Don’t lose your head; you’ve too much invested in the relationship. Whether you’re upset because you’ve given so much and seem to be getting so little in return, or you genuinely don’t approve of their choices, prayer is a better option than bickering. Talk to God about it. He can change what you can’t! Your children would be ill–equipped for life if they’d grown up physically without developing their own opinions and uniqueness. As a parent you’re entitled to your thoughts and feelings, but once you’ve expressed them, respect their choices and support them the best you can. Don’t let the devil rob you of your most precious investments. The best thing you can do is love your child, pray for them, and ‘be there’ when they need you.
SoulFood: 1 Sam 5:1-6:16, Rev 11:15-19
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2015
