I am reminded of how important this is as recently, it has been the theme with families. Parents come in distressed with the choices their child makes. Children are mad, their parents dismiss the choice as stupid, silly or evil. Parents undersestimate their power and children underestimate their draining effects on parents when they are not cooperating.
I recently managed to make a teenager and her conservative parents compromise so she could live with them and still have freedom. Its amazing how quick people jump to threats when they feel threatened.
In this case, the parents threatened to throw the child out. Luckily we avoided that.
Next we have a lady who is frazzled from trying to talk sense to a child. Child reports she is being talked to nicely or having things explained until recently. So there I have to mediate who says what and how it is said. If your child makes a religious choice and you dont agree and they are in their teens, please take heart, many change their mind again at 18 or 21. Instead of acting like their 16 year old behavior is permanent, realize your child like the times, will change and you may see a new picture if you look again.
Till next time.