Comments on: Painful Parenting

By: Ang

Ang — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:11:34 +0000

I am one of those 20 somethings that veered away after a difficult situation, and am beginning to trust God again. My life is so different now. Ironically I was just telling myself, I wish I would’ve made all my mistakes while living with my parents rather than when I was own my own. It’s so much more difficult learning this way and so many more consequenses. I’m not sure if my mom prayed those prayers for me, but I do know she wishes that I would’ve made my mistakes while under her wing. So I applaud you for praying for your children this way, and to pray this over them too so they can hear and know your desires for them.

By: Stephanie Shott

Stephanie Shott — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:21:04 +0000

Hi Jen,
Just wanted to send a note to let you know today I am praying for your family. May God bring your son to brokenness and return him to Himself…and may God make a miracle out of his marriage.

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:20:27 +0000

Stephanie, thank you for your very timely prayer. My 26 y.o. son is heading down a road that I don’t understand — leaving behind a wife and daughter. My heart breaks for all of us.

And he was always the spirit-filled child. Even changed colleges three weeks before he was to leave home so that he could go to a Bible college.

It doesn’t seem to get easier as they grow older. Silly me, I thought it would.

By: Stephanie Shott

Stephanie Shott — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:32:34 +0000

There was never a stage of my children’s lives that I didn’t enjoy immensely, but no one prepared me for how difficult it can be to be a parent of an adult child. They can actually make their own irresponsible decisions and not get sent to their rooms. Many times they struggle with their faith as they try to determine if their parents faith is just as real to them as it is to their parents.

We’ve worked with the college & career age group for years…it is called the black hole of the church. It’s title is well deserved and in much need of attention because statistics tell us that between 80 to 88 percent of churched children become unchurched 20 somethings.

I love your advice about how we should pray for our children. My prayer for my sons has continually been, “Lord, don’t let them go down any path that will not ultimately lead to You. Capture their hearts and do what is necessary in their lives to make them men of God.”

If we find ourselves in a season where we have adult children, then we most likely have aging parents, as well. Just yesterday, I tweeted this…”Much prayer goes into aging parents and adult children. New seasons of life tend to change our prayer-lives.”

Just yesterday, I tweeted… “Much prayer goes into aging parents and adult children. New seasons of life tend to change our prayerlives.”

Thanks for the timely encouragement.

By: Lynn Cowell

Lynn Cowell — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:33:54 +0000

Oh Karen, I was one of those moms who prayed the prayed you mentioned. “Lord, if they are going to struggle, please have them struggle at home where we can walk them through it.” Wow…did I know what I was praying? It is beyond hard, but I do know that MY God is faithful. He wrote my story with Him and He is more than capable of writing my child’s too.
Love you, friend!
Lynn

By: Wendy Blight

Wendy Blight — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:24:54 +0000

Karen,

I LOVE this post. I especially appreciated what you said about letting them make the wrong choice and then watching them learn a hard lesson and making the right choice the next time. Such a richer lesson, one that will last, than always making the good choice. Hard to watch as a parent but brings such great blessings on the other side.

We are SO enjoying Kenzie. Thanks for sharing her with us.

By: Joellen

Joellen — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:07:10 +0000

Hi Karen…I am dealing with this right now. My husband, bless him, tries really hard to get a yes Mama or Papa from them…and gets really upset when they don’t do as asked. I of course am some where in the grey…but at the same time wanting to support him. I will keep praying.

By: Maggi

Maggi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:21:20 +0000

Amen. Having taught 100s of “good” Christian kids it was painful, as a teacher, when they didn’t choose Christ but chose the world. Hang in there and keep praying.

By: Christy

Christy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:56:47 +0000

I needed to read this today. Thanks, Karen.

By: Tammy Brown

Tammy Brown — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:47:31 +0000

Good stuff, Karen…so true, I’m in the place where I’m trying to figure out what I still need to ‘control’ and what I need to let them make the decisions for…but that’s been my prayer, they’ll learn from everything and grow closer to Him…mistakes and all…and I’m finding in the process that I”m learning that too! Thanks for your insights!