For most parents when their children are young it is easy to have a close relationship. Hugs, prayer time, the words "I love you" all come very easily with young children.  However as the teen years advance, relationships between parent and child can suffer. Whether a father and daughter who rightfully find close affection a bit more awkward or a father and son who have a growing difference in interests, or perhaps it is a mom who is struggling to allow her "little boy" to find the independence of being a young man, parent / teen relationships can be complicated at times.  However as parents continue to find the need to exercise control over their teenagers with rules, standards and limitations, relationships becomes all the more important.

Loving relationships are the glue that hold families together and help smooth over the arguments, struggles and growing pains that every family faces during those teenage years.  The principles of the Bible apply at home just as they do in relationships at work and church.  Principles of love in 1 Cor. 13 such as thinking no evil, assuming the best, not holding grudges etc. need to be adhered to. There are many other relationship principles as well such as the principles of reconciliation found in Matthew 5 and other places. We can study principles such as "Don't let the sun go down on your anger, don't let your anger lead to sin." (Eph. 4:26) and so many more that can and should be found.

Take time to build relationships. Find common ground and utilize it.  Go out for coffee or shakes (food is almost always common ground) watch sports together, learn to play a video game.  Perhaps you hunt or fish, sew or bake, whatever you can find to engage in with the goal of building the relationship, do it!

Don't only spend time when there is an issue.  Make "deposits" in their lives as often as you can by spending that time with them, saying "I love you" or sending them a text from across the room letting them know you're proud of them.  These deposits allow you to make "withdrawals" and yet not damage the relationship when there are disagreements or discipline issues.


If rules and regulations are enforced in a teen's life without an on-going love infused relationship, rebellion will be the result.

What ways have you nurtured and enhanced the relationship with your teen lately? Why not shoot them a text right now and invited them for ice cream soon?


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Have you ever found yourself yelling and didn't want to? Perhaps you've asked how can my child be so disrespectful. All humans crave healthy family relationships because God created us to be creatures of relationship. Thankfully, Christ has shown us how to fix these relational mistakes that we've made. We must do it His way. Matthew 18 sets out several simple concepts on how to go about getting a respectful relationship with your family back. The first concept that most people miss in a disagreement is that correction is best accomplished in private. Verse 15a says that "if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private."  It is so easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment and blow up in front of other family members or even worse, friends or extended family.  When done in private, it takes all of the other factors out of the situation besides the desires of the two parties. If you act in the moment and lash out with emotion in front of others, it is most likely sinful and has bad consequences result even if you were right in the argument.

1. “I love you.”  If you love someone, let them know it.  Tell them and show them often.  You may think they know it, and they might, but it is always nice to say it.  I Corinthians 13 reminds us that we can be smart, sacrificial and sound wonderful in our speech, but if we don’t have love, we are nothing. Tell your wife, your son or daughter, call your mom and dad.  Even in the struggles, an "I love you" sure can't hurt.

2. “I was wrong, forgive me.” One of my professors in college encouraged us to substitute this phrase for “I’m sorry.”  In saying, “I was wrong” there is no doubt in the offended and hurt person’s mind that you know you hurt them and desire their forgiveness and restoration of the relationship. We can not be rightly related to God if we have broken and torn relationships with others. Perhaps you need to use this phrase with your teen today. Don't wait for them even if they were wrong too.

3. “Thank you.”  In Luke 17 we read about those with leprosy who Jesus healed.  He literally changed the rest of their lives. Things were different because of His intervention.  Only one returned to say thank you.  There certainly have been people who have made a difference in your life.  People whose intervention changed things for the better. Do they know you are thankful?  What about old friends, parents, your children, their teachers, a coach or former pastor.  Make sure they know you are thankful.  “Thank you” is never said too late or too much. 

4. “I will .”  We must say “I will” to God as he speaks to us about things he wants us to do or change, but we also need to say it to others.  Jesus showed us in John 13 his willingness to wash his disciple’s feet. He then commanded us to do the same.  Look for needs you can meet, and then when you see it, say, “I will.”

5. “I can.” Have you hit some brick wall in your Christian life?  Do you feel defeated because of a sinful habit, or lack of prayer. Perhaps there is some difficult trial you and your teen are going through.  In either instance, it is easy to say, “I can’t make it.”  Paul reminds us that we CAN do all things THROUGH CHRIST who will strengthen us. A great lesson we must learn is that in myself I can’t, but in Him, “I can.”