Alone

Last week I was having my customary weekly coffee with my dear friend. We meet quite regularly - to my great enjoyment - to discuss life and build relationship. This particular time we were discussing our children, our role as fathers and comparing notes on raising teenage boys (both of us have just entered that stage in our lives) and what wisdom we could impart upon them as they enter manhood.

As we spoke my friend looked at me and said "sometimes I just don't know what to say, I can't find the right words." He continued - "the other day all I could think of was telling him, that I am will be there to help him in his struggles and weaknesses and I would never be ashamed of him." I could not believe it. Here my friend was telling me that he could not think of the words to say and yet he said some of the most beautiful words that a father could ever speak to his son . . . . "you are not alone!"

What a wonderful thing for a young man to here, his father, will be there. His father loves him and will never be shamed by him. What more could a boy going into manhood ask for? His father loves him and will help him in his weaknesses and struggles that lie ahead.

In Deuteronomy 6: 5-9 we see God command the following of Israel:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Notice what he says . . . impress them on your children and then he says how this should be done by speaking it to them in every area and every moment in their lives. At meals, when walking, when going to bed, when getting up from bed. God even tells them to put it on the door-frames of their homes so they see it continually. What God is saying here is "parents, don't leave your kids alone!" Be with them, walk with them, toil with them, strive with them, why? So they know the truth. So they know they can beat the struggles, so they know who God is.

At a time when teenagers are known for not wanting their parents around or wanting to put distance between themselves and home, it is more important than ever to engage, to support and to walk with our kids.

There is nothing worse than feeling alone, feeling isolated and that there is nowhere to turn with struggles. We can't afford to leave our kids alone, the stakes are to high and if we are not there, who will speak the truth to them?