I have teenagers…enough said
I think I can say I have teenagers and everyone who has them or has had them will simply shake their head in understanding. No need to explain, just a shared understanding. This week was the first week of school in a new school and driving for the first time. It was the perfect storm of breaking routines and my girls like their routines. Overnight they went from sleeping in their own beds to being guest in a home, from sleeping until midday or early afternoon to rising before the sun, from mindless days to intense learning days, and if that were not enough, they get to wake up the next day and do it all over again. I get it, it’s a lot. Multiple times this week I had to be the “mediator” as Helena likes to call me. I had to remind them that how we look at things, how we approach things is our choice. We can seek to bring everyone into misery and make them suffer as we see ourselves suffering or we can recognize we are all going through this and lift up each other. We can lead with criticism and frustration or we can lead with love (LWL). “ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35, NIV). God is very clear in His command for us-”love one another”.
I find it interesting that Jesus doesn’t just say love one another once, he says it three times in these two verses. He is clearly emphasizing the importance of His command- we are called to love one another above all else. It’s not always easy, trust me-I know! It takes a whole lot of discipline and looking beyond self to love someone even when they are short with you or do not lead with love. It takes even more discipline to love someone when you are feeling hurt or stressed-the last thing you want is to put energy into someone else when you barely have the energy to keep your own head above water. But that is exactly what God calls us to do. I think that it is one of many ways God clearly illustrates to non believers what a miracle we have in Him. It is only through His grace, through the peace He gives us, that we can give that same peace and love to others-even when it seems impossible.
So, this week I was a mediator. I reminded the girls of LWL and even when I was frustrated beyond belief, I tried to love them through their stress and anger. You know what happened today, one of them said she had the best day of the week. We shared, under duress, three things that we love about each other and we tried to see beyond self-even if just for a moment. It’s not perfect, but for today, it will do and we are all sleeping under the same roof, safe and tired after a hectic week. We may sleep in tomorrow!
Today, I pray that you lead with love, even on the hard days. It may not feel like it in the moment, but it will pay dividends in the end!
I pray these words spoke to you, please share with a friend. Don’t miss a blog, subscribe to my web page.
