“Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.” Billy Graham

Wisely in Love, Guarding the Heart
I overlooked an awful lot when I got married. I guess I thought the other person would come around. I wish someone had sat me down at a young age and had this conversation with me. Were any of us taught to love wisely? Were we taught not to fall in love with the beautiful eyes you could get lost in, the smile that scoops you up and grabs your heart, the body image that meets your “requirements”? Were we taught to love with our minds? Were we taught to sort through those emotions that make our hearts flutter, as well as our stomachs?
The Bible reminds us to love wisely. Proverbs 12:26 reminds us to choose our friends carefully (we have all heard the wisdom of being friends before being lovers). Have we been advised not to move hastily into a love relationship (Proverbs 21:5). Do we fall in love with the outer person or inner person? Truely “til death do us part” means that the body will wither. Can we love ourselves enough to be well loved by someone before committing to that someone?
Take time to look deeply at the other person. Is that person patient with you and others? Is that person humble, or do you see boastfulness, arrogance, greed, dismissal? (Mark 7:21-23) Are there things you don’t care for and try to overlook? You think they will never treat you that way? Does the other person love the same things you love? Have you heard of the phrase ‘unequally yoked’? This is a phrase that is easy to understand when you ponder it. Many of the above concepts will play out when two minds are not of one accord. Food for thought during this month of love! And definitely something to teach our children before they hit their hormonal teens! LK
FIVE SIGNS OF A HEALTHY TEEN RELATIONSHIP you should know:
1) They give each other space to hang out with friends and family. It’s a good sign when teens are balancing all the relationships in their lives, as well as continuing to pursue hobbies and activities outside of their romantic partnerships.
2) It’s OK to disagree. If one partner isn’t feeling comfortable speaking their mind or seems afraid to disagree with their boyfriend/girlfriend, it could be a red flag.
3) Physical boundaries are respected. Including not pressuring someone to drink alcohol or do drugs, or engage in sexual activity or any other activity the partner does not want to engage in.
4) They are in control of themselves. Teens should feel able to wear clothing they choose, go where they want to go, and do what they like to do – without fear of a partner being upset or trying to control what they wear, where they go, who they hang out with.
5) They exhibit healthy texting behavior. As long as the texts aren’t excessive or interrupting daily life, it’s not necessarily what we call “textual harassment.” If texts become excessive, abusive or if someone is pressuring for them to send private photos, it’s time to talk about digital boundaries.
What can you do to help teens maintain healthy relationships? See: http://www.thatsnotcool.com Decreasing teen dating violence due to technology, and increasing awareness for healthy teen relationships online http://www.loveisrespect.org The ultimate resource to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse. It is a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, including 24/7 chat line, text line, legal help. http://www.breakthecycle.org Leading national nonprofit organization providing comprehensive dating abuse programs exclusively to young people ages 12 to 24, because everyone deserves a healthy relationship. Courtesy of Futures Without Violence, (www.futureswithoutviolence.org); originally posted by CCSF February 2017
Nothing New Under the Sun
This past year I (LK) have really worried about the messes in this world that the older generations are handing over to our children and grandchildren. Then my dear sister-in-law reposted this, no author noted: “I find it to be an enlightening reminder and hopeful that The One who started the work in us will finish it: Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be. God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they are in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident. Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God. Train them up in the authority of His Word. Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control.
Empower them to know they can change the world. Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world, but hopeful that they can do something about it. Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan. God knew Daniel could handle the lion’s den (through His power). God knew (through His power) David could handle Goliath. God knew (through His power) Esther could handle Haman. God knew (through His power) Peter could handle persecution. God knows that (through His power) your children can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. God created them specifically for it!
Don’t be scared for your children but be honored that God chose YOU to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Rise up to the challenge. Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers, and Peters! God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world. He has an army He is raising up to drive back the darkness and make Himself known all over the earth. Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.” Originally posted by CCSF February 2020 (Parentheses added)
Scripture Verse:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs … 1 Corinthians 13: 5, 6 NIV