Show Notes:
No teenager lives in a perfect home!
Why? Because homes are made up of humans, and no human is perfect. If there was a perfect home, the moment you joined it, it would no longer be perfect!
Teens, your home isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great home life!
So I would like to biblically address how to live like a New Creation in an imperfect House.
Living in a Single Parent Home
In today’s world, this is fairly normal!
It is estimated around 50% of children will grow up in a single parent household!
That means half of you live in a home with only one parent!
This brings with it a host of challenges! Sometimes teens resent their parents for splitting up, sometimes you feel guilty like it's your fault! Sometimes teens lose interest in schooling and friends… Sometimes teens are ashamed that this would happen in their family and so they are embarrassed.
(Dan's Story From Josh McDowell's Handbook for Counseling youth p 210)
Living in a single parent home does come with its challenges… but it is possible to thrive as a Christian in a single parent family.
You don’t have to go the way of Dan.
But how?
1. Fully forgive both parents.
Realize that both of your parents are hurting during this time and are trying to figure things out as well.
Bottling up your emotions can lead to resentment. That is bad for you!
You must come to the point where you forgive your parents for splitting up. You must forgive them for leaving you. And you can only do that as you realize that how much you have been forgiven, and what that feels like.
2. Support the Parent who is raising you.
Your single parent will have to do 2x the parenting now. Understand that and help out.
If your mom is raising you, don’t rebel because she can’t force you to obey. Submit, because God asks you to.
3. Obey the highest standard.
When in a single parent or even a blended home, often you will spend time with the other parent as well.
This can get confusing when both parents have different rules and regulations for you to follow!
The 1st rule here is to obey the highest standard. Example one parent says you can’t watch anything above PG-13 the other says PG… when you obey the highest standard you take care of both.
This can get awkward though when the PG-13 parent wants you to watch a PG-13 show with them! What then?
-Have a pre-made plan with your (PG parents) in place for when these situations arise.
Follow that plan (in this case say that you would rather not watch it, or that you would rather watch “suggest another title.” If they are watching it and don’t care whether or not you watch it, do something else, read, go for a walk, anything!
When you follow the plan, it eases your conscience and gives you liberty to love and honor both your parents.
Text your PG parent what you are up to and ask for advice where needed.
4. Realize that God is the Perfect Parent.
Ps 68:4-5 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Ps 27:9-10 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
God will never leave you. Believe that!
He will be to you the perfect parent that you are missing.
He will teach you, nurture you, raise you to be the young man or young woman He intended for you to be.
Growing up in a single parent family will not stop or hinder God from making you exactly what He wants you to be!
Engage more deeply in the youth group and church.
Study your Bible for yourself and develop a strong prayer life.
You are not worth less than someone coming from a two parent home.
God will still make you what He wants to make you.
