Hi Parents,
The birth of a child to teenage parents brings mixed blessings. The innocence of childhood has slipped away. Doubt, regret, fear, and shame overwhelms the teen and parents. Emotions are highly charged. Parents are shocked and teens are devastated. The teen knows they have messed up. It is at this point in their life that they need to feel the love and care of family and friends. God understands the heart of each teenage parent. Our job is to simply continue to show them Christ's love.
Mary was probably in her mid-teens when she became pregnant with Jesus. Today, people might have looked down on her or felt sorry for her. The same would have been true then, especially since Mary and Joseph were not yet married. She must have wondered what people would say and how she would be treated when people found out she was pregnant. Her thoughts must have been all over the board and considering her plight, it is easy to imagine her saying "no way" to the proposition. The culture of the day demanded that unless the father of the child agreed to wed the woman, unmarried life was all that remained for her. That, or death by stoning. But Mary took the news with grace, acceptance and willingness, all the while knowing the risks, and said, "May it be to me as you have said." Mary had a firm faith that said, "I trust in you Lord, to take care of all of the details."
Ask your teen...
How would you feel if you discovered you were going to be a parent? What would you do? How would having a child change you?
What would you do if a friend came to you with news of an unplanned pregnancy? Would you abandon your friendship and never look back, or would you be as supportive as possible?
Challenge your teen...
Write about a situation in which faith gave you hope and helped you to rebuild your life.
Prayer...
Lord, let us dare to see the people others have rejected, to love them with your never-ending love, and to point them to your grace and forgiveness. Give us the strength to be a good friend even when we don't know how to help. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
The birth of a child to teenage parents brings mixed blessings. The innocence of childhood has slipped away. Doubt, regret, fear, and shame overwhelms the teen and parents. Emotions are highly charged. Parents are shocked and teens are devastated. The teen knows they have messed up. It is at this point in their life that they need to feel the love and care of family and friends. God understands the heart of each teenage parent. Our job is to simply continue to show them Christ's love.
Mary was probably in her mid-teens when she became pregnant with Jesus. Today, people might have looked down on her or felt sorry for her. The same would have been true then, especially since Mary and Joseph were not yet married. She must have wondered what people would say and how she would be treated when people found out she was pregnant. Her thoughts must have been all over the board and considering her plight, it is easy to imagine her saying "no way" to the proposition. The culture of the day demanded that unless the father of the child agreed to wed the woman, unmarried life was all that remained for her. That, or death by stoning. But Mary took the news with grace, acceptance and willingness, all the while knowing the risks, and said, "May it be to me as you have said." Mary had a firm faith that said, "I trust in you Lord, to take care of all of the details."
Ask your teen...
How would you feel if you discovered you were going to be a parent? What would you do? How would having a child change you?
What would you do if a friend came to you with news of an unplanned pregnancy? Would you abandon your friendship and never look back, or would you be as supportive as possible?
Challenge your teen...
Write about a situation in which faith gave you hope and helped you to rebuild your life.
Prayer...
Lord, let us dare to see the people others have rejected, to love them with your never-ending love, and to point them to your grace and forgiveness. Give us the strength to be a good friend even when we don't know how to help. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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