Three Parables to Help Teens Grow in Holiness

As a parent, I thought I had more time. It couldn’t have been that long ago when chubby little fingers stretched across the floor to reassure their owners that not even a closed bathroom door could separate them from me. Somewhere between the milestones and life lessons, the school calendars and sports schedules, those once-little hands started to grasp at car keys and Starbucks drinks instead of reaching for mine. The toddlers who once clung to my leg with the ferocity of a hungry octopus with the last fish in the ocean grew into full-fledged teenagers who would rather pretend they don’t know me while they explore the world on their own, or more likely, with herds of other teenagers who have also recently let go of their parents’ hands. If I had one wish, it would be for a sliver of certainty that my children will be all right in this world on their own — to know that they will find their place in it, meet good people, be good people. But since we’ve yet to invent a more reliable predictor than a Magic 8 Ball, the best I can do is prepare them for what’s ahead and provide them with the lessons they need to succeed. In today’s world, parents compete with a constant stream of noise available with the push of a button. When my teens finally do open up to me about their lives, I realize I have a small window of time when I hold their attention to encourage them to make the right decisions. Studies show that we are over 20 times more likely to remember information when presented in a story form over straight facts. So, when time runs short or I start losing them to the siren-song of social media and group hangouts, I find that remembering the lessons in these three parables helps to guide my kids in the right direction in most situations. The Parable of the Mustard Seed – Matthew 13: 31-32 The mustard seed — “the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of the plants.” Traditionally, the parable is meant to explain the miraculous expansion of God’s kingdom, but it can also be applied to young people exploring and testing their boundaries and impact on the world around them for the first time. If the smallest seed can grow into a large enough bush to shelter birds in its branches, then even the smallest act of kindness, when done with love and in God’s name, can flourish into something meaningful and lasting. Nobody is too small to make the world a better place. Kindness, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time, has a way of multiplying and expanding. I think this one is especially important as we approach a new school year. I like to remind my kids that we never know what someone else’s day is like, and a kind smile or word can sometimes be enough to brighten a mood or make someone feel less lonely. In addition, offering grace and forgiveness to our friends when they make mistakes, as we all do, nurtures the friendships that start as seeds into the life-giving relationships that last a lifetime. The Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25: 14-30 This is one of my personal favorites. This parable reminds us that the Lord blessed each of us with gifts and opportunities, and we should use them to the best of our abilities. It is our responsibility to develop them, not hide them out of sight from the world. When we pass from this life to the next, our heavenly Father will ask us what we did with what he has given us. Did we go into the world with our talents, unsure of the outcomes, but confident in God’s loving plan for us? Or did we let fear and worry bury our talents, keeping us from reaching our full potential? I use this one often when my kids face a new challenge or milestone: starting high school or college, trying out for a new sports team, or exploring different clubs and activities. I remind them that God gave them these interests and opportunities to grow and learn for a reason, and in the end, God will put them where they need to be. The Parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15: 11-32 Studies show that if someone is going to abandon their faith, they are most likely to turn away during the transition period between high school and college. Like the son in the parable, when young people distance themselves from their childhood homes and find themselves with a new level of personal freedom for the first time, they also distance themselves from the traditions of their childhood, such as going to Church. Unfortunately, some of these young people might feel like they failed or their membership has been canceled and they are somehow barred from returning. They only need to read this parable to know that no matter how far any of us may stray, or how long we may be gone, our Heavenly Father will always welcome us home with open arms, and more than that, he will celebrate our return. We all make mistakes in our lifetime and sometimes they take us away from the Church, but — and this is the part that everyone should engrave into their hearts — it is never too late to return to the Lord’s house. He will always have a place for you in his home.