Lush Family Home Page - A Teenagers Resolutions
TEENAGE RESOLUTIONS
IN HONOR OF
MOM AND DAD
byJohn Piper (copyright 1997, Multnomah Books)
This article was taken from John Piper's devotional book, "A Godward Life". He prepared these resolutions and presented them to the junior high and senior high groups at his church several years ago. This was and is his vision of what is possible in the power of Christ's Spirit under the influence of God's Word.
1. Resolved:
I will obey your instructions and do what I know you expect of me, even when it is not mentioned. I will not force you into repeated reminders, which I sometimes call nagging.
2. Resolved:
I will not grumble or complain when I do my chores but remember what a great thing it is to have a family, a home, clothes, food, running water, electric lights, and central heating in a world where millions of teenagers have none of these.
3. Resolved:
When I think your demands are unfair, I will move to do them first, and after showing an obedient attitude, I will ask if we can talk. Then I will explain my side and try to understand yours.
4. Resolved:
I will not stonewall you and give you the silent treatment, which I dislike when my friends do it to me. If I am depressed and want to be left alon, I will say, "I'm sorry, I don't feel like talking now. Can we talk later? I'm not mad. I just need to be alone.
5. Resolved:
When I do something wrong and let you down, I will apologize sincerely with words that you can hear. Something like, "Mom, sorry I didn't pick up the pile of clothes."
6. Resolved:
I will call you by affectionate family titles like "Mommy," "Daddy," "Mom," or "Dad." I won't let other kids pressure me into calling you something disrespectful as though true affection were embarrasing or childish.
7. Resolved:
I will say thank you again and again for the ordinary things you do for me. I will not take them for granted as though you were my slaves.
8. Resolved:
I will talk about my feelings. Both positive ones (like happiness, pity, excitement, and sympathy) and the negative ones (like anger, fear, grief, loneliness, and discouragement)> I will remember that unshared feelings lead to estrangement, coldness, and even more loneliness and discouraement.
9. Resolved:
I will laugh with the family and not at the family. I will especially laugh when my little brother or sister tells a simple joke with expentant excitement.
10. Resolved:
I will give two compliments for every criticism, And every criticism will aim to help someone improve, not just belittle or cut down.
11. Resolved:
I will enter into family devotions and treat Bible reading and prayer with respect and do my part to help others in the family enjoy them. When I don't feel spiritually strong, I will pray about this as a personal need rather than pouring it on others as a glass of cold water. I will remember that confessed weakness knits hearts together.
12. Resolved:
I will not return evil for evil or try to justify my meaness because somebody treated me meanly first.
13. Resolved:
I will read my Bible and pray every day, even if it is only a verse and a brief call for help. I know that teens cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.
14: Resolved:
I will come home at the time we agreed on. If something happens to stop me. I will call and explain and ask your guidance.
15. Resolved:
I will greet our guests with courtesy and respect and try to make them glad they came.
16. Resolved
I will always tell the truth so that you can trust me and give me more and more freedom as I get older.
17. Resolved:
I will pray for you as long as I live, that we will be united in faith and love, not only in this world, but for all of eternity in the kingdom of God.
Just think if every christian teenager would resolve to obey God in the above. What kind of christian homes would we have, what kind of a church would we have, what kind of a world would we have.
Copyright 1997
John Piper - A Godward Life
Multnomah Publishers
Email: lush1776@home.com
