The quoting starts here:
As far as what I would say to someone who tells me that their children have rebelled, and imply—get ready—it will happen to you too.
I have been impressed with the thought as I have prayed about this that we can either listen to the world or to the Word. Only one letter distinguishes these two words, but they are miles apart. The Word would tell us to “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
I have seen children from what I would consider to be godly families grow up and rebel, but they usually come back to the Truth. I personally think that rebellion should be the exception and not the rule and just because I have teenagers, that doesn’t mean rebellion. The world would tell us that most children will rebel as teenagers—they have to in order to find themselves.
(Just a side note: When our son turned 13, he came and stood in front of me and said, “I am now officially a teenager, and so now it is time for me to start to rebel. Oh yeah, I remember, that isn’t allowed at this house!”)
We have worked hard over the years to impress our children that their lives are about honoring God. Rebellion isn’t honoring to God, (or to the mother or father) and as much as it depends on me won’t be tolerated in our house.
On the other hand, I don’t think that I can live in fear about what if my child rebels. Children can smell fear and will take full advantage of it, so I need to follow the example of Sara and not give in to fear. I also realize that there are many times when my children can choose the wrong path. That is why I need to try to by very consistent in speaking the Truth into their lives and ask God to help me to discern what is going on in their lives—and then give me wisdom as when to speak and when to remain silent and allow God to work.