Parents Modelling Humility

How can parents begin to repair their relationship with their child? Dr. John Townsend answers that question in this video, giving some initial steps to reconnection. Firstly, the parents must let their child know that they are committed to listening carefully to their child’s grievances and that they are determined to change behaviour that has hurt their child in the past.

Get more out of this series!

After watching video three, consider taking these steps to get the most out of this part of the series:

// Step 1

Answer these discussion questions: 

1. 1. What steps have you taken to date to try to soothe past hurts and improve your relationship with your adult child? How did your child respond?
      
      
   2. Based on what you’ve learned in video three, how would you approach your child differently next time?

// Step 2

Read and meditate on these verses: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)

// Step 3

Spend time in prayer:

Lord,
Please direct us by your Holy Spirit as we consider what to say when we reach out to our adult child. May the words we choose show our child how much we want to make amends. And please prepare our child’s heart to hear from us. May they not be overwhelmed by other cares but be ready to say yes to our request to meet with them.
Amen.

// Step 4

Read the article “Family estrangement: Six ways to reconcile with adult children” by Blythe Daniel.

// Step 5

Read the article “The long road to reconciliation: Seeking harmony in strained family relationships” by Tiffany Stuart.