Parenting Challenges
A father has just had a discussion with his son on the familiar topic of Friday night curfew. Although this rule has been set and previously accepted by his teenager, his son storms out of the house stating
“You never let me do anything - I’ll come home when I want to!”
The father feels instant anger, but notices that and then chooses to embrace it, distancing himself somewhat from the anger in so doing. He looks at the door his son has just exited and is silent and simply present. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11 – 32) then comes to mind; he rejoices in the love he has for his son, knowing he will return to his love and is prepared to greet him with a loving presence. While feeling intense love for his son, he says to himself
“Thank you God for this moment, help me to experience You in it.”
He sits down at the kitchen table and is open to God’s answer.
“You never let me do anything - I’ll come home when I want to!”
The father feels instant anger, but notices that and then chooses to embrace it, distancing himself somewhat from the anger in so doing. He looks at the door his son has just exited and is silent and simply present. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11 – 32) then comes to mind; he rejoices in the love he has for his son, knowing he will return to his love and is prepared to greet him with a loving presence. While feeling intense love for his son, he says to himself
“Thank you God for this moment, help me to experience You in it.”
He sits down at the kitchen table and is open to God’s answer.