The pastor always told Dick, "They're good kids." Then later at home, Dick and I would wonder how he could say that, considering the lastest trouble they had caused. These teenagers, that Dick was pastoring, were getting into major trouble, like stealing their parents car and going for joy rides, and only 14 years old. And they seemed to want nothing to do with the youth group or church in general.
We just couldn't understand how the pastor could keep saying that. Were they pulling the wool over his eyes? Was he making excuses for them because he had known them so long and loved them so much?
Now, I find myself doing the same thing. The kids I am talking about are still in elementary school. I hear that they are suspended the first week of school for fighting. I see them hanging around teenagers that are know drug users. I know that they are rebelious in school, contstantly in trouble.
But these same kids are the ones that I find my self bragging on. I just want to tell any one who will listen, what good kids they are. It hit me the other day, I sound just like our old pastor. How could I be feeling this way?
Could it be that what I really mean is, that no matter what bad choices they make, I realize how valuable they are. They are worth the fight. These are the people that God has placed in my life to fight for, to win them over to the kingdom of God.
Oh, and by the way, no matter what you hear about them, they really ARE good kids!
5 comments:
YES!! and keep fighting! They may continue to make bad decisions for years BUT when they get to that point of seeing there has to be a better way (and they will)... how will they remember the Christians in their life who were suppose to be living the better way?? A relationship with Christ is what makes the difference. And when children are raised in homes and circumstances where Christ is proclaimed, they hear the truth, but it's truly up to them when they accept the truth. We are ALL on that journey in our relationship with Christ. I think that as a part of that, they will consider who is doing the proclaiming. To love them doesn't mean you have to accept what they are doing or even to want your children to go off with them. We all know how to say no with love. What they don't need is a Christian adult treating them like they are "unworthy" or something. Christians are hard on each other and can be harder still on each other's children. This should not be!
Ditto on what Chewhi said. Kids don't make foolish choices for no reason. There is always something going on. Don't ever give up. This was very nice to read.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Great post! Well said!
Yes they are. I know exactly how you feel.
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