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Gotta Get Outta Here!

by Rod Hetherton

Sometimes being a teenager is '); document.write('kind of like living out the story of the "Prodigal Son." Being a teenager is a period of learning and growing while str'); document.write('iving for independence. As summer approaches that independence may mean movies, jobs, dates, and parties. As you striv'); document.write('e to "get out of the house", try not to forget what is left behind.

The Parent-Child Cycle

The way kids feel about their parents through various time just seems to be one of those predic'); document.write('table cycles in life.

The Prodigal Child Syndrome

When Jesus told about the prodigal son returning home, the'); document.write(' father was overwhelmed with happiness, while the older "good" brother was overwhelmed with jealousy. There are a lot o'); document.write('f different lessons in this story, but the one that stands out the most for me is that Jesus is telling us that we can a'); document.write('lways come home.

As teens, it is quite easy to forget that home is often a great place to be. Wanting to gain an'); document.write('d experience independence is natural -- it is part of the process of learning about ourselves and who we want to be -- b'); document.write('ut try to remember as you struggle to "get out" that there are people at home who want to help, people at home who care.'); document.write('

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Unfortunately for some, the place where they live doesn\'t feel like "home"'); document.write('. Perhaps there is abuse, neglect, or a number of other problems. Yet those people are not without a home if they\'ll o'); document.write('nly look to Jesus.

Jesus\' metaphor of coming home also refers to the Church on earth and in heaven, and the fathe'); document.write('r is our Heavenly Father. And for those who are in difficult family situations, the Church and the people there can cre'); document.write('ate a wonderful feeling of home.

You Can\'t Wander Too Far

Jesus wants us to understand that no matter '); document.write('how far we have wandered away from God, we are always welcome back. As teens it is easy to feel lost and alone or to thi'); document.write('nk that you have strayed too far off the path to be welcomed back. Jesus is telling, or rather, he is inviting you back'); document.write('.

And this is not your normal invitation. It is a celebration! Just as the brother who had been lost to his f'); document.write('ather received a grand celebration upon his return, so to will Jesus rejoice when you come home.

As the summer m'); document.write('onths are finally heating up, take a look back once and a while to see what you are so eagerly running out the door from'); document.write('. Home can be many things, so don\'t be surprised if there is someone watching over you and praying for your well-being.'); document.write('

And if the road gets too rough out there one of these nights, don\'t forget that you can always come home.

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Life Applications:

Do you tend to try to "get out of the house"? Why?
Have you had any conversations'); document.write(' with your parents about growing up and having independence?
Who would you be in the story of the Prodigal Son? Why?'); document.write('


Copyright 2003-2009 by Rod Hetherton
All rights reserved.


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