Letting Go
In Luke's gospel, this narrative of the teen Jesus acted as a rite of passage. Jesus was no longer a boy, but a man, for he was instructing the Teachers of the Law in the Temple. He was beginning to fulfill his Father's will.
The hardest part of being a parent is letting go, allowing children to take responsibility and self-initiative. Sometimes they disappoint us. Sometimes they surprise us. On the New Year's Eve, take time to reflect you're your family's growth. Talk as a family how members have taken more "grown-up" decisions. Talk about the wisdom they have acquired. And talk about the coming year and what growth family members expect to make. End the discussion with a prayer for the family. (Don't forget to pray for the parents who need to let go.)
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