Growing up is tough business. Adolescence is a time of change and that can be confusing, stressful, as well as exciting for some of our children. I took some time to reread a Youth Unlimited newsletter that talked about this issue in particular and identified four cries of today’s youth culture. For the emerging adolescent this time of change affects them to their very core. It affects them intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally, and morally. They seek acceptance from their peers, test limits, ride a roller coaster of emotions, and experience gradual, but many, physical changes. This helps us frame what is going on in their lives. Paul Robertson, a youth specialist, outlines the four cries of their hearts: the cry of the changing family, of media influence, of seeking truth, and of hopelessness. In a world with so much change it is so very important to provide anchors for our children. We cannot dismiss their cries but our lives should speak into those spaces. Our role at Providence intertwines with the role of the parents as we try to bring a measure of stability that helps students cope with the change and brokenness in families, to question the influence of media, to provide a voice of hope as well as seeking and living truth together. Studies show that kids can be greatly helped if they are able to draw on five great sources of strength: parents who try to understand themselves, parents who try to understand their kids, a close and caring family, the development of moral beliefs based on truth and a personal, liberating faith. We pray for our families as a staff each week and we will continue to pray that God will provide you wisdom and inspiration in how to bring about these anchor points for your children.
~ Mr. Bouwers
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