4 of our 5 teenagers were classic prodigals, turning their backs on the Bible they grew up with and the faith of their parents. We had the whole gamut; meth, drive by shootings, teen pregnancy, blasphemy, and violence against parents, a daughter raped, etc, etc. Friends and family treated us like we had leprosy.

For 10 years our hearts were ripped out and shown to us beating their last, by our children.

But the Lord Jesus made Himself more real to us as parents. We entered into a much deeper relationship with Him. We learned several valuable lessons worth passing on.

1. Don't give up even though the pressure to throw up your hands is overwhelming. Dobson says that raising teenagers is like a canoe ride down the rapids, each turn getting more frightening, and you know a giant waterfall is around the next corner - don't jump out of the canoe. Eventually, in God's time you find yourself in calm waters.

2. Learn that God's promises are not only generic for His church, but He gives you many personal promises about your children. "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. 2 Tim 1:12 To commit your prodigal to Him is to realize He loves him/her more than even parents, He died on the cross for your prodigal. Turn loose, trust the Lord Jesus, put your finger on His promises and pray.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Ps 34:19 (The righteous is any that have put their trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation.)

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Ps 50:15

Nothing brings the Lord into human circumstances quicker than faith in Him and in His word.

3. Parents of prodigals are often derailed by guilt - remember, no one has more prodigals than God Himself, the perfect Father. Children, even though they may have confessed Christ early, still have an old sinful nature. No parent is perfect.

Here's our miracle. Two of our prodigals turned back to Christ and returned married to unbelievers. They are also saved now.

Three of my sons turned back to the Lord and He gave them amazing wives to help them in their new pathway. Like Job we have received double of everything and all we did was barely hang on. My five children alive from the dead, stable adults and loving Christ, and 5 more besides who each love Christ.

R & K - Idaho