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Three Rules of Life

In a recent issue of Focus On the Family magazine, a question was asked how to help a teenager be more responsible. The answer contained "Three Rules For Life" which apply to us all. I'm going to use the three rules and do a little of my own elaboration!

1. You live and die by your own choices:
We are influenced greatly by people and circumstances. Many times we are bombarded by negative choices that are masked with "feel good" or "you deserve it" tags. It is imperative to think through our choices. Our response to each choice is in our own power. God gives us free will and we either choose good or bad.

2. You can choose smart or stupid:
Again we are bombarded in our world of no absolutes. The world would tell us what is right for you is not right for me...etc. We don't get to choose which choices go under the stupid or smart list. God has given His absolute truth - His Word. His Word gives divine and direct instruction.

3. There's always somebody to make your life miserable when you choose stupid:
Bad choices bring consequences. Sooner or later from every stupid choice there will be a bite or repercussion from it. As parents, we should always praise the right choices our children make, and allow them to experience the sting of the wrong choice. We grow from our mistakes, we get stronger from lessons learned in life and after the sting of a bad decision, the next time, we will get it right!

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
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Comments

  1. JanetApril 21, 2009 at 3:58 PM

    Love your posts on teenagers!
    I need all the help I can get!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JenniferApril 21, 2009 at 4:40 PM

    I love these three rules...I was going to say especially number two but three really hits home. One of the hardest things for us moms is letting them experience the sting of consequence from the stupid choice! But it really is necessary. If we keep giving our kids "an out"...they will keep choosing stupid - until it a habit. One of my favorite saying with my kids is "You can't fix stupid!!" :) so we just didn't to avoid it to being with....

    ReplyDelete
  3. AndreaApril 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM

    I love Focus on the Family as well. I don't have teenagers yet, but you're right, these rules apply to adults as well.

    Great information! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

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