Who doesn’t want that? We all want to have great relationships with our kids, but it’s a two-way street, isn’t it? I know we’re supposed to have unconditional love for our kids—and we do—but that doesn’t mean we give up parenting. There are some parents who have a hard time confronting their teenagers and providing discipline when our kids really mess up. Some parents say, “If I’m too hard on them, I’m going to damage our relationship.” I heard one parent say, “I’m a parent. If my kids like me when I’m done, that’s just an added benefit.” That’s not to say that we need to make our kids’ lives miserable. It means loving kids because “whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline” (Proverbs 13:24, ESV).

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

Suggested Reading: Proverbs 13:24