Are Teenagers Assets or liabilities?

Are you a teenager or do you have teenage children, relatives or friends? This age group is significant in the growth and development process of an individual. At this stage in life, puberty is experienced and ones character is either made or broken. There are folks that dread children in this age group because of the crimes they commit, disrespect to elders, disruption and destruction of public services, shop lifting, sexual perversions and hyper activity, drug addiction and the high rates of truancy. In this article the author talks about the significance of this age bracket and the need for parents and guardians to play their part in shaping the future of teenagers.

Who are teenagers?

Teenagers are that group of people that fall between the ages of 13 and 19. These are a wonderful group of people. At that age, many learn new ways of life as a result of them being aware of themselves. Many feel that they are no longer children, therefore require their liberty from parents. Some normally think they have come of age therefore would be able to take care of themselves. Others fail to respect elders, especially when they are out of the secondary/high school because they believe they have achieved a feat in life – juvenile delinquency.

One thing is however sure, whatever habit someone picks up at that age tends to shape the person’s life for his future. Some learn how to smoke at, others learn to drink alcohol and have boy and girl friends. All these stem from the friends they associate themselves with. Peer pressure is a major set back for kids in this age bracket. A problem with trying to counsel such group is that they tend to feel that one is belittling them. They may listen temporarily to an elder, but off they go trying that new thing that they see their mates doing.

Catching them early

All the same, they are a wonderful people. The bible says Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Thus, what you may find in a teen is normally regulated by the training he/she received while still a child of 3-12. At that age, if your child gets to believe in you, it may be difficult for such a child to be easily influenced by others.

Tell them what you know as the truth and discipline them accordingly. Also, strive to always be ahead of your children in all fields so that they can build their confidence in you. Once they have established trust in their parents, they can challenge anyone outside who goes contrary to what their parents have taught them. If both parents preach the same doctrine, the children will not be confused as to what is right and what is wrong.

Wisdom in parenting

When they become teens, they may want to be independent, the parents duties at that stage is to give the teens some air of liberty so that they can freely discuss their challenges. However, they are not to be given absolute freedom so that they don’t take the liberty for granted. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged – therefore you must give them that freedom of expression, such that they are not afraid to discuss their problems with you. However, when you notice negative traits, be quick to address such.

Always note that they are still under you as long as they are within that age bracket where they depend on you for food, clothing and shelter. Therefore, you have the responsibility of discussing with them the dangers associated with drinking, smoking, cheating, hard drug, premarital sex and other vices. Many parents expect their teens to be taught the bible truths at the Sunday School, which is correct, but we must continue playing our path.

A word is enough for the wise

Samuel was a boy when he was called also Jeremiah was still young when called and King Josiah was young when he started learning about God. The bible says that the young man should follow his heart’s desires but he should know that God will bring him to judgment concerning his actions. That implies that God is going to judge both old and young alike. Therefore, he said ‘remember your creator in the days of your youth before the time comes when you will say I find no pleasure in them’.

Remember Him now before you carry an unwanted pregnancy.
Remember Him now before you become a father at the age of 16.
Remember Him now before you die of aids because you refused to listen to parent’s advice.
Remember Him now before your lungs are damaged from smoking.
Remember Him now before you get addicted to drugs
Remember Him now before your livers stop functioning as a result of binge drinking.
Remember Him now before you are thrown out of school because you joined a gang.
Remember Him now before you are tied to the stakes for stealing or armed robbery.
Remember Him now before you are denied the opportunity of going to a higher institution because you refused to read.
Remember Him now before you fall into the hands of those who are desperate to make money and in the process loose their lives.
Remember Him now before everything in life becomes boring because you wasted your life in riotous living.

Child of God, you definitely don’t want to go through the above dilemmas, therefore it is time to seek your Maker.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 – Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them

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