Because we have confidence that there is a good work going on in the life of our teen, whether it feels like we are swimming against the current, or we are the very thing they think is working in opposition. We are humbly asking God to bring them through with praise and not anger. Oh, the hard, hard work it is to raise a teen.

It gives me pain and joy, all at the same time, to watch my teens work their identity, their faith and taking a stand in places that are unpopular.

Whether we get this right or wrong each day, it is our job, and we take it seriously.

I have been reading the book, Rescue, Raising Teens is a Drowning Culture, written by Candy Gibbs. (Read more here)

Written to parents raising teens, with a balanced view point, Rescue carries the voice of teens themselves, Scripture and nuggets of wisdom to summarize the lesson and perspective from each topic.

I am now reading through this book a 2nd time.  Perhaps if I read through it once for every teenager we have and will raise, I might have a better understanding inside the heart of my teenager, by the time I have read it through 10 times.

On the days that I can see stressors in our home reflecting out of my teenager’s lives are coming from areas such as:

My marriage, our family dynamics, technology, their future and society – that these are evolving relationships and topics of their own, and I need to keep current.

The very one thing I know, and will continue to rely on is Christ as our Anchor.  And Candy hits this part of her book out of the water!

Rescue throws us a life-line to raise our teens, and it always comes back to the Lord.  In Him, ALL things are possible.

Here are a few of my favorite thought provoking questions and topics from the book Rescue:

“What should parents of teens consider when talking to their teens about purity?” .

“What can parents do of they have a teenager who is struggling with their faith?” 

“What is it like for others to view your family as perfect?” 

I would love for each of you to read this book with me, and so, today, I am giving away one copy to a special reader.  I know the Lord must already have you in mind, because raising teens is just as hard on the parents as it is for them.

September McCarthy