Pubdate: Wed, 07 Sep 2005
Source: Parry Sound North Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Parry Sound North Star
Contact:  http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1618
Author: Rev H Kleinhuis

TRUST KIDS AT THE RIGHT TIME

"My son wants to do drugs."

It was a statement full of all the fears a parent can have. It was beyond 
any emotion.

It wasn't an easy thing to say or admit. It was a confession of failure. 
There must have been failure somewhere. Perhaps some things at home somehow 
hadn't been good enough to prevent such a thing. And now, after the 
arguments and the shouting, there was only the emptiness of what lay ahead 
and the emptiness of not being able to do a thing about it.

The only response to that parent could be one of empathy. "He's forfeiting 
his future, isn't he? He's going to waste his inheritance."

"But what can I do?" She was grasping for straws. "How can we change this 
drug culture, this hedonistic environment?"

"We can't do anything to make the future perfect. Just love him enough to 
be there and to welcome him back when he comes to this senses."

"Will that happen?"

"Hopefully. Hopefully he's seen enough of what you've tried to teach him. 
Enough to make him remember. Enough to remember what's possible. To think 
of the alternatives to what his so-called friends are offering."

Prodigal Son

After a long pause, "But how do you know? How can I be sure?"

"It's part of life's experience-believe in, or trust kids at the right 
time, and maybe that will teach them that they really can trust you too."

"It's sounds like a good story..."

"It is. We've usually called it the story of the 'Prodigal Son.' It's in 
the Bible." (Luke 15:11-24).

"Perhaps it should be called the story of the patient and loving father."

"Maybe. And maybe that's the real reason why the son finally had enough 
courage to return home..."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman