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I have just finished up a 3 week run of speaking at youth camps. And let me just say that God showed up.
We saw kids come to Christ! Kids set free from addictions! Kids confess deep and hidden secrets to friends and leaders!
I am truly blown away at the work of God this past month.
So one of the elements that I bring when speaking at camps is what I call “The Life Box.” This is a place where kids can anonymously write down their struggles and secrets and I promise to pray for each and every one of them.
I am blown away by the move of God this month, but I am also deeply saddened by the hurt and pain of kids. Here are just a few quotes from some of the letters in The Life Box.
And these kiddos are normal, every day, good Christian kiddos trying to live in a jacked up world!!
“Please help me, I am hurting so much. I was abused and raped by a baby sitter. And my mom does drugs and she spends all the money for the casino and I don’t even know my dad. You have been a father to me through your great sermons.”
” Six years ago I began to watch and be addicted to porn. Sometimes I just do it to do it. Sometimes I picture me so that way I can feel love.”
“Hey Chris, I just feel like I am not wanted at home. It feels like my mom would want my best friends for a daughter instead of me.”
“Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to be on this earth. Sometimes I feel like I have nobody. Sometimes I don’t like myself. I hate the way I look. I feel like I have no friends. Sometimes I feel like I want to kill myself because of what people say about me.”
“I’m in Jr.High, just had sex and got an STD!”
Parents, do you know what is really going on in your kids’ lives? Their parent’s didn’t!
QUESTION: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “I have no idea what is going on in my kids’ lives” and 10 being “I know everything that is going on in my kids lives” how would you rate yourself?
You are right. Some of this is shocking and I hope that if anything like this happened to my chidl they would have told me. I bet you did a brilliant job as ever Chris.
thank you Naomi!!
I have 4 kids at home 12, 11, 9, 8 years old and it wears me out trying to be there for all of them and listen and make sure I’m reading the body language to see if I need more time with one… I would say an 8. I know there’s things that my oldest doesn’t tell me but there’s so much that she does tell me I think it kind of evens out. I also realize that if I just lay on her bed and listen for a while sooner or later it all comes out
love the just laying on their bed and listening…not a better time for your kiddos to chat!!
This is so true! I have 3 awesome children! Our eldest son is 22, another son age 20 and a daughter 18. I have been shocked over the years by the amount of drug and alcohol abuse by teens as well as the recreational sex! I am VERY thankful for the openness we facilitated in our home! One piece of advise I have for parents of young teens – always have your children call you from a landline or speak to a parent – don’t accept a call from them from their cell phone if they are sleeping out!! You really have NO idea where they are!! Always speak with parents! Don’t assume that other parents have the same values and beliefs! It is truly amazing how so many adults continue to act as irresponsible children!! On a different note, there are some truly AMAZING teens! Encourage your kids to get involved! Bt still don’t expect that to be safe!! Always be alert and checking!! God Bless!
i agree!! don’t assume other parents have the same values!!