Encouragement

---

Saying The Right Thing
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Three weeks into January, I ran into a former college student of mine who had some good news to tell me. After three years of constant rebellion, her teenage daughter was once again enthusiastic about church, school and being a model person.

“You’re a psychologist. Can you tell me why she rebelled?’ she asked.

“No, not exactly, “I responded. “But I believe I know what perhaps changed her behavior. I am basing this upon what you’re told me about your relationship with your daughter.”

“You see,” I stated, “Listening to you you stated that no matter how many problems Cindy caused you, you never ended the day without thanking God for your daughter. You thanked God that she was your child. You thanked God for the privilege of being her mother and the privilege of being chosen to raise her to adulthood. You also told me that you asked the Lord to bless you with patience, a forgiving spirit and to reconcile yourself with your daughter. Your daughter knew you loved her unconditionally because you told her so. She also knew that she could reach out to you when she was troubled or in trouble. You listened to her. You forgave when she was difficult towards you. You comforted her. You suffered for her. She recognized that her mother was not bitter and held no grudges against her as she went through her period of rebellion that is a period when children learn how to make decisions—often very difficult and tough decisions. In other words, your daughter eventually recognized that she has a relationship with her mother as you helped her down her path towards adulthood. She also recognized all of these things and learned to value her relationship with you.” This mother, former student walked away with tears in her eyes. Not by what was said but the realization that her daughter was lost and found her way and now a relationship has been built to last a life time.

On the drive back to Shawnee that evening, I reflected on what I told Cindy’s mother. I hoped and prayed that I did my best to explain how a mother did well with a rebellious child. Similarly, God has a similar relationship with every one of His earthly children. Like Cindy, we rebel sometimes for five, ten, twenty years or more before some of us recognize the goodness and unconditional love of God.

Whether Cindy’s mother benefited from our discussion, I hope and prayed she did. But for any human relationship—parent, spousal, friend, neighbor—to love unconditionally is the most important aspect of any relationship.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE