John 15:17 (NIV)
17 This is my command: Love each other.
How are we to love? We are to love as God loves us . . . we
are to show acceptance and appreciation . . . [to] accept each other as God
accepts us. Too many parents refuse to accept and appreciate their children for
what they are. That is why a million American children ran away from home last
year. A team of Yale researchers has concluded that the majority of these
runaways were attempting to escape an unhappy family situation. They yearned to
be appreciated.
The causes of delinquency, we are told, are broken homes,
poverty, lack of recreational facilities, poor physical health, racism, working
mothers, and so on . . . The experts never seem to mention the lack of love, or
the lack of faith in God. Yet these are the two most important elements for an
adolescent’s successful maturity.
How long has it been since you praised your children instead
of criticizing them? David prayed for Solomon and daily praised him, and we are
to praise our children daily. Praise your wife. I have found that praise goes a
lot further than criticism. Everybody needs to be appreciated.
Thought for today: Do I show appreciation for my loved ones?
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