When the Anger and Judgement Has Passed

The Prodigal Son Comes Home

How many parents have lived through the battle of wills between with their children?  How often have parents watched their children make all the mistakes they hoped they would never make?  How often have parents stood helpless as their children have hit bottom in their lives?  If you are one of these parents then you are not alone.  At first it is tempting to rise to the challenge and to determine that those strong willed children will not prevail.  As time goes on the battle becomes more stressful and heated because the children are not the only ones with a strong will.  And then that strong willed child becomes an adult and finds ways to hurt the parent to the depth that only a parent can understand.  How tempting it is to heap anger, criticism and judgement on the foolish child.  But in the end, none of those things help.  Our children (even the grown ones) do not need our anger and judgement.  If they have messed up they probably have their own self-anger and judgement to deal with already.  They don't want our wisdom either.  They only see it as judgement and control meted out in the name of wisdom.  The  only thing we have left to give is ourselves and our love.  Interestingly, what may seem to be left-overs to us is the very thing that is most valuable.  "Parents - you can't live with them and you can't live without them."  Make sure that your children don't live without them!