Make Sure Your Kids and Teens Have a Drug Problem

From the Open Files of: NW Synod of Wisconsin Resource Center, (715) 833-1153 Contributed by: Pastor Duane Pederson, First Lutheran, Eau Claire, WI

Make Sure Your Kids and Teens Have a Drug Problem I've never told you this before, but I had a drug problem when i was a child and teenager. And, it was all my parent's fault! That's right. I was "drug" to church for Sunday School. I was "drug" to church for Sunday worship. I was "drug" to church for Vacation Bible School. I was "drug" to church for youth group activities. I was "drug" to church for Confirmation classes. I was "drug" to church for midweek Lenten services. The truth is that I often didn't want to go to church. It was more fun to sleep in or go snow skiing or watch TV or whatever... So, I was often "drug" to church by my parents. I even had a conversation with my dad while we were in the truck getting a load of hay for the cattle - a "man to man" talk. I told him, "I'll never use this Confirmation "stuff" and all that memory work in my life." Little did I know! Besides, basketball practice conflicted with the time Confirmation was held, and it was a half hour drive to church. the outcome of our "chat": My dad made it perfectly clear that I was going to complete Confirmation! How thankful I am that my parents ensured that I had a "drug" problem because worshiping the Lord was a regular part of my life, I learned about the good news of the gospel, I experienced God's grace in Word and Sacrament, I knew the blessings of being active in a community of faith, and my faith was fed and nurtured. Parents . . . have you made sure that your sons and daughters have a "drug" problem? I pray that your commitment to the spiritual life of your child is high enough and strong enough to compete with all the other commitments that "demand" the time and energy of our children and youth. Believe me, if you as parents don't ground your children in Jesus Christ, in all likelihood they will never have a vital relationship with God. Please! Make sure your kids and teens have a "drug" problem!

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