Now please do not read one or two sentences and think, "uh-huh, another sermon.
I 'm outta here." Please give me a chance and more importantly, give yourself a chance. Finish reading the page, huh?

First, I would like to tell you what a circle is. You say, "Well dummy, I know what a circle is. Why do I need you to tell me. " Yes, you know what a circle is, but do you really know what a circle represents?

A circle is endless. There is no beginning and no end. You always come back to the starting point. You can follow the curve of the circle forever but you still must pass the place where you first began to trace the curve. I say that, to say this. What goes around, comes around. Life is a circle of events that recur over and over.

(The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be: and that which is done, is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the sun.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, see, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us. Ecclesiastes 1: 9-10)

Whatever you do in life will come back to haunt you. A circle also represents eternity. Just some food for thought.

Next let me say that I have no children of my own. The following is what I learned while growing up myself. I had two wonderful parents whom I love dearly. They are gone now and I miss them with all of my heart. But, I didn't think they were great while I was growing up. Why? Because I did not want to be disciplined. I wanted my own way and I did not always get it, but I know what happened if I did not regard what my parents said or if I showed disrespect. *SMILE* It wasn't only a privilege taken
away. I also got a paddle across my seat and I don't think I turned out too badly. I have no scars, no permanent bruises, only memories of love from my parents and a good and decent home and a feeling now of thankfulness for parents who loved me.

Are you having a problem getting along with your parents? Do you feel abused, neglected, misunderstood? Do you feel unloved because they will not allow you
to do what everyone else is doing? Look around you at what everyone else is doing. They are going to you know where in a hand basket. Most of them are on a downhill path to destruction.

I know that some young people today are abused, sexually and otherwise. I know that some parents have no idea of how to correct a child without beating them and I know that some parents beat their spouse and children just because they are cruel. I know there are a lot of parents who neglect their children woefully and who just don't care. However, I would like for you to ask yourself the following questions. And be honest with your answers. It is the only fair way. If you can say you have any of the above problems, truly and honestly, there are ways to get help. But be sure of what you are doing before you take that approach.

GOD SAYS: He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him (early) Proverbs 13: 24

1. If you are truly being abused, (beaten, sexually abused,) there are agencies who can help, however, before you report your parent for abusing you, be sure your report is based on facts. Many children today take this means of "punishing" their parents for not giving them their own way. If you report your parents for abusing you and it is not based upon fact, you ruin the lives of the two people who have given you life and who are trying to support you and give you a good home and the lives of people who love you. You betray them. You shame them in the public eye, you cause them to have a police record they do not deserve and you are depriving yourself of the care they would give you if you had not been responsible for their being housed in the local jail, or worse yet, prison.

2. If you are feeling neglected, stop and ask yourself why? Is your parent leaving you alone to go out drinking, partying with their friends and ignoring you completely?
Or is it necessary for both parents to work in order to feed, clothe and put you through school or college? Are they sacrificing their younger years doing what is necessary instead of what they would like to be doing-spending more time with their family? If a parent loves you that much, you owe respect and gratitude to them and it wouldn't hurt to try to help mom around the house or if you are a male, to help Dad do some maintenance or other work that needs to be done so they can have, at least, a little time to rest before returning to work the next day or on Monday.

3. Are you really misunderstood? Do you parents not even try to understand your position as a young person? Do they turn a deaf ear when you try to talk to them?
Ask yourself this question. Is that really what is going on or is it that you do not want to understand their position? Is it just possible that they care enough about you that they want only the best for you and for you to be safe and, perhaps, you think you are misunderstood because they will not allow you to go all of the places you want to go, even if it isn't the proper place. Perhaps you think they are not listening because they do not respond the way you want them to.

GOD SAYS: A wise son heareth his father's instruction, but a scoffer heareth not rebuke. Proverbs 13:1

THE SOLUTION NOW THAT YOU ARE A TEENAGER

Try to understand that when a parent attempts to discipline you, they are trying to teach you the lessons in life that you must learn if you are going to live around other people when you are older, which you must do-live around other people and grow older. When a parent says "no", stop and think about it. Try to understand why they are saying "no." Use your head for something besides a hat rack. It isn't because they hate you. It is because they love you and want you to be a decent person. And most times, if you are honest with yourself, you will admit that they are right in not wanting you to do certain things. And if you are not honest with yourself, you are not going to be honest with anyone else.

Why not try to be friends with your parents instead of thinking they are your enemy. They are not your enemy. At least most parents aren't. Try helping around the house if both parents work, instead of sitting around wondering what to do with yourself and resenting the fact that you are alone and wondering what you can do to entertain yourself and ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time . If you are busy helping, these thoughts never enter your mind. And do you know what? You will actually feel good about yourself. You will feel that you have accomplished something useful and important and you will feel more a part of the family as a whole. Even if both parents don't work , it is not going to hurt you to help out. Do something to give Mom and Dad a break. Let them enjoy life a little. They deserve to have some fun as much as you do.

Lose that attitude that it isn't cool to respect parents nor give them any leeway at all. It isn't cool not to respect them. It is plain dumb. They brought you into this world. They took care of you when you couldn't take care of yourself. They feed you, clothe you, pay for your education, sometimes at great sacrifice to themselves. If your parents cannot afford to give you everything you want, try to understand their position. It is rough making a living today and prices are not getting any lower. You will see that one day. Remember the circle.

Try showing them you understand the actions they take are not always because they hate you and do not want you to have any fun. I know it is hard for you to realize, but they were once teenagers also and they have been there, done that, long before you. They know the traps you can fall into. They know the hazards of going certain places and running around with certain crowds. They know about peer pressure but, admittedly, it wasn't as bad several years back. Nonetheless, they know that certain "so called" friends can talk you into doing things you wouldn't do if you were not with those certain people.

You will marry one day and have children of your own and, remember, what goes around, comes around. If you want your children to respect you and to listen when you tell them something, then you must have that same consideration for your parents and you must learn what family and responsibility are all about because if you do not, you will be unable to teach it to your children because you will not know how to teach them and they will treat you the same way you treat your parents. The circle is endless. It repeats itself over and over.