“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, NIV).
Have you felt left out or rejected by your adult children? Have they neglected spending time with you? Have they forgotten to tell you where they are going, what they are doing? Have they hurt your feelings?
When this happens to me I sometimes forget to look for the cause. I get hurt; I get angry; but I forget to ask myself why.
Sometimes our children are under pressure at work.
Sometimes they are fighting with their friends.
Sometimes they are grappling with decisions.
Sometimes I am getting too involved in their lives. I try to control them like I did when they were small.I forget that they are my equals, my friends and adults in their own right.
When our oldest son married, I realized it meant more than having a new family member. Our child’s marriage brought a whole new family into existence. Children need space and freedom to form new families of their own.
If your adult child has hurt you, be brave and ask yourself why. Being honest with yourself about your relationship with your adult child can put that relationship back on track.
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
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