Teenagers

Today I was skimming through Facebook and I came upon a long status from a lady that I know. I almost didn't read it because I was in a hurry but I read the words youth pastors and I knew she had gone to my parents youth group. It was a long status about how she appreciated that my parents didn't lecture her or point out her flaws but instead loved her and looked her straight in the eyes and encouraged her. She went on to say that "it changed who she became"

Two things:
1. I'm so grateful to have parents who truly love people. Who see the best in everyone. I love that someone can walk in the room and while everybody might have written them off they would/do see the potential in people. I want to be like that! I want to always see the good in people.

2. It seems like a lot of adults these days sort of think that this generation is "going to hell in a hand basket" that all teenagers are up to no good and that they just can't be trusted. I'm sort of sick of it. The problem these days is not the teenagers, it's the adults who have labeled them "troublemakers." Teenagers will ALWAYS rise to the expectation you set for them. If you have a teenager, set the bar high for them. Don't say to yourself that's an unrealistic goal. If YOU believe in them they will rise to the challenge. Love on and encourage a young person. Maybe you don't have any teenagers, you'd be surprised at how many teenagers there are out there who don't have parents who care about them. Show them some love. Stop telling them everything they do WRONG and encourage them to do what's RIGHT.

Because you never know, it might not only change who they are... But who they become.

Spoken out of working with teenagers for 10+ years now. Late night thoughts.

Until next time.
GodisLove
-Laura-Ashley