I would love to know the age of your kids. (Please post a comment to let us know). My oldest turns fourteen in May and my youngest just turned eleven. I have noticed that passing my faith to my children seemed so much easier when they were younger. They were like little sponges, usually eager to learn Bible verses and other things I tried to teach them. Well, not so much anymore. Now I’m the sponge who is listening to all the wisdom I can get from other Christ-loving parents who have special insights into the hearts of teens. One thing I am learning is that it’s not so much what I say, but how I live that influences their faith most. Today, Suzie Eller is back to pick up from where we left off yesterday. She surveyed hundreds of teens for her book, “Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parents Needs to Know, ” and this week she’s telling us what they said about how parents can hinder or help their faith. Here is what she wrote:
Your teen will hear a thousand messages about faith in their lifetime, most of them from people who don’t believe. So what we show our children about faith becomes even more vital.
But what are we teaching them? I talked with hundreds of teens and they said there are four things that parents do that can make faith difficult to comprehend. Yesterday, I shared two common mistakes, and today I have two more:
Mistake #3—Hypocrisy
Christianity is not an easy choice for teens. What does your teen see in you that will help him make that choice? Hypocrisy is imposing double standards. You have to do this, but it’s okay for me. It’s putting on a church face, but having a different face at home. This was the number one reason that teens said they turned away from faith. Their view of God was complex. What is real? What is not?
D6is giving away one of the conference speakers’ resources – Angela Thomas’ best-seller “My Single Mom Life”. (A great book for all moms, single or married. From overcoming mommy guilt, loneliness, setting healthy boundaries to living the amazing life God has for you and your kids, Angela covers it all. I am reading it and loving it!)
To be part of these give-aways, click on “comments” below. PLEASE include your email so we can get in touch if you win and I’d love to know your kids ages and your city/state or country. PS. Be sure to sign up soon for the D6Conference! Early registration ends February 2nd. 
Thank you so much for the ispiration this morning. I became a single mom after my husband left our daughters and I for another woman and family. The grief in my heart was so hard to handle that I found myself taking out so much on my beautiful daughters. Even if I was not taking my pain out on them intentionally, I was even when I didn’t enjoy them or be the absolute best mom that GOd wanted me to be. It was so overwhelming that I didn’t know where to start to take on the role of father and mother. I truly believe that God gave me these little girls because he knew the choices my husband would make and I can lead them to be wonderful women of God someday. I came to the same place you did and it was all God. I felt the pain slowly go away and I woke up anticipating on what a great day I would have with my kids. My daughters are 5 and 2 1/2 and though I can’t protect them from the pain that their parents have caused them, they know where to turn when their hurting. My daughter savannah who is five has watched me cry and hurt over all that has gone on our home, but she has also watched me fall to me knees asking GOd to comfort us and meet our needs and HE HAS done so much more than that. The best thing I have ever done for my daughters is fall show them that faith steps in where worry ends and to show them the real pain this world has to offer and the true peace and joy that God provide. The day I fell to my knees and had new perspective was last year. Their father and I were not communicating very well and I got very upset. Savannah asked me to pull over the car and with tears falling from her face like a waterfall asked if we could pray together. That was the day that I recieved my new perspective on being a great mother with the help of my Father.
I am still learning the ins and outs of graceful single parenting but we are achieving and succeeding in our lives together. There is always more to learn and there will always be times that I fall……it is on those days that God sends your messages to my inbox so thank you again!!
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Hey.
I’m a guy, but I am a Mom and a Dad. My wife was killed three + years ago. My children are 18, 6, and 4.
You’re right, as they get older, it’s harder to help them make those correct, Godly decisions. My little ones are learning how to pray and find God’s will. My eldest is a freshman in college and has been feeling the call to the ministry. So we pray together and frequently. I understand about wanting to just quit. I hit my knees daily just ready to stop being a single Dad/Mom.
Tom
Aynor, SC
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THere is always encouraging and useful devotions here at Proverbs 31 ministries. God uses you to speak to the heart of the matter in many areas of our lives. My children are 19 boy, 16 boy, 14 boy and 11 girl and they are modeling now what we modeled for them early on. Sometimes the things we want to see like the christian behaviors and ideas and sometime the struggles that life presents to them. We have to hold fast to the “truths in God’s word”. Our children are bombarded with sex, drugs,alcohol and violence at every turn and yes,even good christian children. They need to have the scripture to cling to just as we do as a parent. Jesus is our constant and ever hope. We(as parents) cannot be there every minute but the voice of the Holy Spirit can and that is where we want to lead them. Sometimes they will go willingly other times kidding and screaming but the word will not return void! My husband and I tried to remembered even in our failures tomorrow is a new day and God’s mercies are there.
Thank you all for your ministry.
Karen
[email protected]
Important stuff for me here-thank you. We are a blended family with 6 girls ages 18-16-15-14-12-9!!!
In His Graces~Pamela