Whatever is True

This photo is of my daughter Grace. She is fourteen and wrote on her wrist the first letters of Philippians 4:8 in red ink, in order to memorize the scripture. This week, my girlfriend, Kellie, sent a picture of me when I was the same age as my daughter, Grace.

Kellie and I played soccer together in high school. Now, to get the full affect you need to know that I was a teenager in the 80s when BIG hair was all the rage—when I say BIG, I mean BIG.

I showed my kids the photo and they cracked up. They couldn’t believe it was me. My fourteen year old daughter, Grace, asked me, “How old were you in this picture?”

“Your age. I was in the 9th grade.”

“Seriously?” She giggled and kept saying, “Mom, your hair!”

Yeah, it’s a funny sight to see. I remember my Mom bringing out her old high school yearbooks as I giggled at her 60s hair –sprayed to Aqua Net perfection. It’s surprising to discover your parents were once young. I still have a tough time wrapping my head around the fact that my mom and dad might have struggled with pimples and Biology class. But, it’s the truth—we were once young, too.

3 Truths I Wish I’d Known About My Mom When I was a Teenager

Truth. I was once your age. Maybe it’s time to dust off a yearbook and share a few photos when you were in braces. Share a story about your teenage years. Or, maybe you have a girlfriend who knows a good story that proves you were once their age, too.

Truth.  I tell you the truth even when it’s hard to hear.  When my teenage daughter made a new friend, I knew from our first visit she was not very nice.  After a few more visits to our home, it was clear as mud, nope—this  new friend did not have our daughter’s best interest at heart. When I shared this truth with Meghan, she was not pleased. “You’re so judgmental. You don’t know her like I do.” So, I allowed this friendship to run its course. It ended as expected. My daughter was hurt very badly by this “new friend”. Truth is, moms know because we’ve been there.

Truth. I am your biggest fan.  It may not seem like it, especially when we have to say “no” and hand out curfews, bedtimes and boundaries, but I tell my teenagers all the time, “I am your biggest fan. There is no one who wants your every dream to come true like I do.” It’s a truth every teen needs to hear.

It’s hard to surf the teenage years without catching an emotional wave or two or seven…but, every once in a while it’s important to cut through emotion with a few truths, like the ones I’ve listed above.  If you need a little help, start first by asking God. He is the way and the truth and the life. His son is full of grace and truth…yeah, when it comes to truth, our Heavenly Father has the market cornered. He can guide us to the places where truth needs to be revealed to bring us closer in our relationship. Count on it.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil. 4:8 NIV