The life of a parent can be rewarding and joyful beyond description, but it can at times also be challenging in a way that almost feels too much to handle, especially when a child starts exhibiting prodigal behavior.
A parent’s first instinct is to lavish love upon their child and to shower them with attention, but when dealing with a prodigal child, parents might need to do something different, according to Dennis and Barbara Rainey, the co-founders of the FamilyLife ministry which is dedicated to “helping marriages and families survive and thrive in our generation.”
Addressing the topic of dealing with a prodigal child, Barbara advises parents to avoid rescuing their children too many times. Barbara believes that part of the reason why prodigal children do what they do and consistently push their boundaries is because they feel secure knowing that their parents will be right there and ready to help them whenever they need assistance.
Barbara acknowledges that watching a child fall down and refraining from helping them up is one of the toughest things any parent will have to do, but she insists that this step is essential for the prodigal child to realize the error of his or her ways.
Barbara’s advice echoes the story of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15: 11–32.
In the parable, the prodigal son travels to another country after receiving his inheritance from his father. He then proceeded to lavishly spend his…
… Read More
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.