“Give, and it will be
given to you. He will pour into your
lap- a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be
measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).
Hey Gang: “I just don’t understand why my teen-ager is rebelling
against going to church or becoming involved in anything spiritual,” A
statement I heard many times when parents arrived at the Juvenile Hall to pick
up their wayward teenager. Unfortunately,
this is an oft-asked question of parents who are going through times of
rebellion with their teen-ager.
One would think this might be a malady of those who were in
the down and outer class but that certainly was not always the case. I would also add, in many cases the more
affluent and higher up the social ladder the family was, the more difficult it
was to reach inside the youngster and find that thing that controls their
feelings – called a heart.
One night, while working in the Juvenile Hall, the police
brought in a very well dressed young man who certainly did not purchase his
clothes at the local Goodwill Outlet.
His shoes probably cost more than my whole wardrobe, at that time. John
had been booked into our elite establishment on two previous Saturday nights,
but due to our overload, his offenses were not serious enough to hold him, so
his mother came and took him home.
But tonight was different, I detected that the offender was
on a mission and, if not dealt with quickly, I was going to have a young lad, who
did not need to be there and was going to take up one of my much needed
beds. After a brief question and ‘no’
answer session, I learned that his dad was a top executive who loved his
company far more that he loved his bride, kids and home, or at least this was
the opinion of the young rebel.
So I placed a hold on him until the father came to Juvvy and
checked his rebellious son out; but there was a prerequisite to gaining freedom
for his son, he had to be honest with his son for perhaps the first time in his
life. Dad said to son, “I love you.” Son said, “That does not compute.” I intervened. Time for a covenant. Dad said, “ I will come to you anytime you
call.” Point: One did not have to be a rocket scientist to
see that there had been some serious praying by several prayer warriors and
some serious thinking had transpired in the minds and hearts of dad and son.
I felt we needed a couple days to drive home several points
that the young lad had not taken in to consideration. On the third day, John decided that it was the
time to test the covenant. John said he
wanted to talk to his dad at that very moment.
He knew that Tuesday was a super busy day for his dad- a barn full of execs in wall to wall
meetings.
In the midst of a very important meeting Dad was informed his
son was on the phone. He informed the execs that he had a very important emergency
he had to attend immediately, and left for the Juvenile Hall. Son was impressed and we did not book John
into Juvvy again.
In the next blog, I want to walk through what we (the bride
of my youth and I) refer to, and have taught to literally thousands of people,
as the key to raising your children and being successful. The basis of that teaching is Galatian 6:7 “You are going to reap what you sow”. Be sure and tune in.
Blessings,
Gramps
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