So how can we pay attention to—and support—the ways our kids are changing?

1. Make a list of ways your son or daughter is different now than they were a year or two ago. How do you feel about those changes? Which do you applaud? Which make you anxious? 
2. Talk to your child about (some or all of) your list, making sure you talk at least three times more about the changes you applaud than those that make you anxious. And in fact, start with the good stuff. We are all more open to critique if we have first felt affirmed and understood.
3. Ask your child two questions about what you’ve shared: What do you disagree with? And, what makes sense or feels right to you? In my experience with my own two teenagers, they are far more likely to agree with certain observations I’ve made if they first have a chance to express what they disagree with. 
4. Share with your child an area of your life that you hope can change. Invite your child to do the same. 
5. Pray that God will make that change a reality, just as He did so powerfully with Paul two thousand years ago. 

                                                       ©2016 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Own Worst Enemy — If you sow better, you’ll reap better. Have you ever been hurt by someone you love? Maybe they said some cruel words to you. Or maybe they did something that betrayed your trust. No matter what it was, when it happened, you probably wanted to separate from them for a little while. It’s normal to want to put a little distance between yourself and someone who’s making you unhappy. But what if we told you that the person who has the potential to make you unhappier than anyone else is the one person you can never get away from? What if we told you that person is you? Think about it. When it comes to things in your life that have brought you the most pain, unhappiness, and regret—things you said, things you did, people you dated, places you went—they all have on thing in common: you. You’re making choices now that ultimately have the potential to rob you of your happiness later. But thanks to Jesus, it doesn’t have to be this way. He gives us access to a life that not only saves us from unhappiness now, but will also lead us to even greater happiness down the road. As we close our series this week, we’ll see that we have the power to choose a life that makes us happy—a life with Christ.

Share a high and a low from the past week.
When were you the happiest?
​When were you unhappy?

If someone didn’t know what the phrase “You are your own worst enemy” meant, how would you explain it to them?
What are some ways you have damaged your own happiness without meaning to?  
In your opinion, what’s the difference between pleasure and happiness?  
What happens when you prioritize pleasure over happiness?  
What do you think it means to “reap what you sow”?  
Why do we need the help of people around us to choose happiness over pleasure? Why is a support system so powerful?  
​Describe the type of life you want. This week, what’s one way you could sow better in order to reap that type of life?