Three Important Things Your Kids Need to Understand

I can’t believe my daughters are both teenagers. Time keeps marching on. Over the years, I have written plenty about parenting – and I’m learning the longer I go, the less I know.

Parenting is constant and you can’t very easily cram. You have to do a little each day – allowing wisdom, humility, training, connection, and more to stack up a little at a time.

These three things may not be earth-shattering, but they are important to share with your kids.

You Will Become Like Your Friends

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

True friends always lift you higher and challenge you to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord.
Lisa Bevere

Friendships are important for girls, but the pressure to live up to worldly standards is prevalent. Pray for your daughters to develop Godly friendships. Pray for them to develop healthy, Christian relationships with guys. Teach them that choosing friends is important because you will become like them.

You Will Experience Tough Times

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
James 1:2

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Breathe… This is just a chapter. It’s not your whole story.
S. Lourie

As much as we want to protect our kids from everything, we cannot. They must face the world and experience tough times. Teach them to learn to love people, make decisions, and stick to their values. Face tough times with God on your side. It won’t be easy, but everyone must walk through their own tough times.

Optimism Pays. Pessimism Doesn’t.

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:25

Don’t get caught up in drama and petty conversations. People will be attracted to people who are enjoying their lives, not people who find and let themselves be overcome with negative issues every day. Being optimistic means putting our hope in the Lord and having faith that we can trust God no matter what. Negativity breeds negativity. Don’t get caught in that downward cycle.