Today I talked to a stander that we have not had any contact with for over a year. She has two teenage boys who have caused her many problems. It was so good to hear her voice, and then she started sharing her frustration and anger about the boys' inability to help around the house and their disrespect to her. One of the boys, who is out of school, now has a full-time job, but still does not want to help in paying the bills. I listened to her many thoughts and strategies of what she was going to do. I hung up just as I arrived at a sports field to watch one of our granddaughters play soccer. As I sat there with all the parents screaming praises to their children, giving them hugs and encouragements, I thought, "What will ten years do to these parents and their children?"
Oh, please don't lose your focus on the precious gifts of life that you have been given for a short period of time. We have a couple, who recently had their child overdose on drugs. We have several parents who are dealing with children who are in rebellion with alcohol, drugs or their life in disobeying God's and man's laws. A couple of these young adults are now in jail.
Bob and I are at an age, where we can only say, "Thank You Lord, that by the grace and mercy of our Lord, our children did not go far down the rebellious, disobedient highway." I know Bob coming home, was a big turn around for our family, as Tim had just graduated from high school, Lori was 16 and Tom was 8.
I called back the stander, and heard the answering machine. Great! I was able to give a 2-3 minute "Charlyne sermon." Walk in unconditional love. Remember, the prodigal son and his father. Read I Corinthians 13:4-8 and Romans 12:9-end. Also, never forget praying for their salvation as the Lord will change and turn your circumstances all around." In just a few minutes she called back and said, "I got your message." I talked for just a couple more minutes and hung up praising my Lord. Thank You for Your perfect timing. I had her to tell the boys that we are praying for them. Afterward I thought, "I should have said, 'What would Jesus do?'"
May none of us every forget about the Nicky Cruz's, who touched the life of David Wilkerson, and the many others who have gone down the wrong road, but have been touched by the Holy Spirit using others to bring them back to Him and to their family. Don't give up on your children, regardless of their age!
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 11:6
