Cause and Affect

    It is easy to forget that there is a cause and affect to everything
we do. Our smile may cause someone else to smile. Our laugh
may cause someone else to laugh.
    God instituted this action-reaction when He designed our universe.
We can either choose to use it to our advantage, or we can let it
aggravate us, that choice is ours. I think sometimes we react without
thinking of the consequences.
    We can see this cause and affect acted out in our personal lives. I
have worked in many types of ministries doing various things in those
ministries, so I have gotten the chance to observe and help many
people in many different situations.
    I have found that love can both attract and repel depending on the
people and the situation. Sometimes we can love so much that we
push people away, but if we back-off just a little, then it allows the
other persons love to flow back towards us. Sometimes this is
referred to as tough love.
    We see an example of this love, in the stories between Peter and the
Lord. This battle between what Jesus knew He had to do and Peter
telling the Lord no. Jesus would rebuke Peter, let Peter have his time
of anger or despair as in the case of the cock crowing, and allow Peter
to come back to Jesus.
    As we read the Gospels, we get to read about this tug of war. Realize
as you read that Jesus was grooming Peter to be outspoken for Jesus,
not just outspoken.
    This same scenario gets played out in families, especially with teens.
Sometimes we as parents need to quit pushing our love on the teen and
allow the teen to come to us for loving. Teens are getting prepared to
leave the nest, and part of that process is separating from the parents.
Sometimes parents are afraid that their teen is falling out of love with
them, and throw our love at them.
    As long as there has been nothing to change the dynamics of the
relationship, the teen needs a parents love, just as much as the parent
needs the teens love. As a parent, it is important to let the teen know
that you will always be there for them, when the teen needs our arms
and our love again.
    Giving space to people you love is harder than it sounds, but the
rewards far outweigh the temporary feeling of emptiness. Most teens,
much like the Prodigal Son, come back to those that love them
                                       unconditionally.

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