There are several ways you can make your parents happy, and you should make them happy. This morning, I will show you one of the ways to do that.
One good way to make your parents happy is by truly listening to them when they are speaking to you. Looks simple right? But that’s just it.
Don’t be too quick to talk back, interrupt, grumble, or be rude to them. When you keep quiet and listen to them, you get to hear what they are saying, and what they want you to do.
Listening is also a way of showing that you care about them and their feelings and that you understand what they are going through. This will make your parents happy. It’s hard enough being parents to you and your siblings, juggling work, church, the home and so many other parts of their lives.
Give them room to breathe by just hearing them out. They think they are old-fashioned or country bumpkins. They were once teenagers like you and understand you more than you know or can imagine.
After they finish speaking, then you can speak and tell them what you feel. Every parent loves to hear their children air their views. This will make your parents happy.
If you have done something wrong, apologize and mean it. This way, you get to listen and they get to listen to you too. Both parties have a win-win situation.
“My child, guard my sayings; store my commandments with you.”
Prayer: God, please teach me to listen so I can understand what my parents are communicating to me concerning my actions and words. Give me the grace to learn to listen. Amen.
Action plan: Make your parents happy. The next time your parents are talking to you about something you did wrong, listen and don’t argue. Apologize when you should and need to.
Declaration: My children are good listeners. They don’t speak back to me. They are very cooperative.
This morning, let’s look at one powerful, inspiring, and breathtaking verse in the bible. The verse says that you were wonderfully created.
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:14
What is this verse telling you? How do you feel when you read this?
You should feel important and unique that your Yahweh says you are as wonderful as all His works. You were wonderfully created.
Let’s break down this verse
“I praise you, for I am fearfully…
This means that you are meant to instill fear in the enemy’s heart because you are made of God.
“…and wonderfully made”
Never has the world seen a unique and one-in-a-lifetime person like you. The world has never experienced you before. Out of all the billions of people on the earth, none is like you. You were wonderfully created.
“Wonderful are your works:”
Everything God made is wonderful, exquisite, and a blessing to all mankind. This same God made you.
“my soul knows it very well.”
The psalmist acknowledges that even his soul knows how great a creation he is. He knows that God didn’t make him ordinary. God made him be a special type of creation, different from all the other creations of God. Do you also know that you were wonderfully created?
Write this verse down and memorize it. When people try to put you down and say you are nothing, tell them how the mighty God made you the most special of all His creations.
May the reality of how God made you always stick with you. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for how special you made me. I am special. I am special.
Action point: You were wonderfully created. Reflect more on this phrase and on the verse in study. Write down the wonderful things you know about yourself. You can also ask people around you too.
One of the reasons God created you is for you to continually praise Him. God needs you to praise Him. You must learn how to honour God with your praise.
Praising God is a sign that you honor Him as your creator and this gladdens the heart of God.
God made both living and non-living things. Non-living things can only be appreciated by you and in a way, you are praising God for creating such wonderful and exquisite creations.
But as a living thing, with breath in your lungs, you are the ultimate praise singer of God.
His praises should continually fill your mouth and heart. Just like the psalmist.
Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!”
Praising God should be a habit. One that you can and should never stop doing. Praising God should be programmed into your daily living manual. You must learn how to honour God with your praise.
May the Lord’s praises fill your mouth constantly. Amen.
Studying the Bible with your grandparents is another good way to love them. Grandparents can be cool bible study partners too. It would be an honor to them to hear their grandchild ask them to be co-bible study buddies. Since they have vast knowledge and experience of God, they make good teachers of the word.
By doing this, you make them feel they are a part of your life and that they are not forgotten or useless. They feel relevant, wanted, and loved. Even if it can’t be done physically due to location, you can do it online.
Grandparents love to spend time with their grandchildren and would jump at any opportunity to do so. Every godly grandparent wants to share their faith with their grandchildren.
There’s a way to be a true friend. Let’s look at the story of Stephen and Benjamin. Stephen noticed that Benjamin always stayed back in class during lunch break for some days now. Benjamin was his classmate and friend. Stephen decided to speak to Benjamin today immediately after the lunch bell rang.
“Benjamin, where is your lunch pack?” Asked Stephen
Benjamin looked away and tried to smile but Stephen saw that the smile was a fake one.
“I noticed you haven’t been coming to school with your lunch pack.” Said Stephen “Is there something wrong?”
Benjamin shook his head refusing to meet Stephen’s probing eyes. “Nothing.”
“Will you share my lunch with me?” Offered Stephen
Stephen remembered what the bible says about helping others in Galatians chapter six and verse two.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Carrying each other’s burdens is a sign of true friendship because a friend should offer to help his friends when they have a need.
Even if they don’t ask for help and you notice that they need help with something.
This is what Jesus says about helping our friends
John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Don’t you like to be friends with Jesus? How about calling Him your best friend? Then do what He commands. Help your friends.
I pray that God will strengthen you in the area of helping your friends.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank You for the wonderful friends You surround me with. I pray that You make me a better friend. I want to be always ready to help my friends in Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Will you look round at your friends today and see what areas they need help with. You could also ask them what they need help with.
Declaration: I am compassionate. I share what I have with my friends.
