Isn’t it wild that teenagers are
willing to go to such lengths just
to feel respected? Isn’t it wild
that they’re willing to try drugs
or have premarital sex or sneak
in and out of the house, all so
other people will think that they
deserve to be respected? Isn’t
there a way that parents can fulfill their teenage children’s needs
for respect, while still protecting them from these destructive
decisions?
During adolescence, kids are
very impressionable. No one
has a bigger chance to make an
impression on teenagers than
their parents. Parents have the
ability to affect their teenage children both positively and negatively every day. That’s why it’s
important to have healthy, Godly
boundaries set between parents
their teenage children?
and teens. But, what do these
boundaries look like, and how do
Hmmm, not so much.
they affect the family?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all
Godly
boundaries
teenagers obeyed their parents Healthy,
between
parents
and
teenagers
as willingly as Sadie did? But,
the unfortunate truth is that most should be based on the foundateenagers seem to live just so tion of respect. This is what kids
they can do everything exactly desire more than anything else at
opposite of what their parents this stage in their lives. Boundaries between parents and their
ask or instruct.
teenage children should demSometimes, though, teenag- onstrate respect for the child’s
ers don’t really want to disobey independence while still allowtheir parents. They get involved ing the parents to maintain their
with dangerous people or habits authority.
because they simply want to
have respect from others. If they The Apostle Paul addresses
feel like the people in their lives these parent-child relationships
(parents, teachers, friends) don’t in the book of Ephesians. In
give them that respect, they do chapter six, verses one through
things that they think will help four, he says,
them earn it by proving that they
are “mature.” But, what happens “Children, obey your parents in
in reality, is that they get involved the Lord: for this is right. Honor
with people or things that cause thy father and mother; which is
them to get anything but respect. the first commandment with a
promise; that it may be well with
thee, and thou mayest live long
on the earth. And, ye fathers,
provoke not your children to
wrath: but bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the
Lord” (KJV).
The first three verses are
instructions for kids--obey your
parents and honor them so that
you will have a long life. The last
verse in that passage, though,
is directed toward parents. I’ve
always thought it was interesting that this verse was included;
God undoubtedly knew that parents were going to need a little
help and advice, too.
When Paul says to “provoke not
your children to wrath,” what he
means is to not intentionally look
for reasons to show your authority over them. Don’t constantly