After burn: In charge (week 3)

Last night we continued talking about the parent - child relationship.  This time we focused on the parent.  Basically, God wants a parent to provide for the health of a child.  Naturally we think of a parenting giving food, clothing, a home, love, etc.  But we saw from Ephesians 6:4 that the greatest job of a parent is to care for the spiritual health of a child.  That means to help a child to understand who God is and how to have a right relationship with Him through Jesus. 
So why did we talk about parenting with a bunch of teenagers?  Good question.  Two reasons.  One, someday most teenagers will be a parents (a long, long time from now), so it's good to give them a heads up, a vision to what God wants their parenting to look like.  Two, teenagers can help parents do their job better if they know the job of a parent.  But how can a teenager help a parent?  Great question.  Here's some ideas. 

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1. Pray for them - This is a no brain-er.  Regularly ask God to give your parents
   wisdom and strength.  He knows the the best, loves them the most, and has the power to change their hearts and minds.  Why wouldn't you pray for them all the time? 
2. Talk with them - I know I'm not saying anything new here, but a lot of times parents feel in the dark about what you are thinking/feeling.  Don't keep them guessing.  The more informed they are, the better decision they'll make (probably). 
3. Encourage them when they help you - Again, just trying to keep in simple.  Most parents feel unappreciated and that's because they are!  It's much easier to do a job, especially a hard job, when someone sees the work and thanks you for it.  Plus, now they'll be more likely to help again if they know how to do it and the difference it makes. 
   
4. Love, honor and obey them - This is so basic I almost didn't include it.  If you want to have any kind of relationship, with anyone, there has to be some sort of combination of these things.  Otherwise there can be no trust.  And healthy relationships must have trust. 
   

Remember, you and your parents are not enemies.  This might come as a shock, but it's true.  Just like your goal isn't to make your parents miserable, your parents' goal isn't to make you miserable.  Sometimes that just happens when there are different ideas of what's best and when there is a lot of miscommunication. That's why remembering, and doing, the things listened above will help you both.