Love is essential - and it starts at home. But there is no greater Love than God’s Love. Build the foundation at home and welcome God into your life.
During a conversation with a friend (single mom, two girls ages 13 & 15) we were talking about another teenager and why & how well grounded he is. I've always said the two most important ingredients in raising healthy kids is open communication and love. They must know they are loved and an open doorway to respectful communication is ever present.
During this conversation it dawned on me why the love is so essential: if they've never known love in their formative years then they will accept less than love from another in the future and difficult to recognize true love from another. They may in fact actually RESIST it! But, raised knowing love, experiencing less than love in the real world is instantly recognizable. Less than love can then be easily turned away when it shows up.
Knowing love early and throughout childhood is essential and more effectively prepares the child for the challenges of the "real world."
