Recently family members who live far away came to visit. Since I haven't seen them in quite awhile, it became vital to me to observe them and learn their habits so the visit went smoothly. The idea is for them to enjoy themselves and the newness of the situation without completely disregarding their schedules, and habits. You try to cook foods they like, make the house as comfortable as possible for them and genuinely cater to them. You do all this because they are guests in your home and in this case because they are loved family members. You want to treat them the best you can so they feel special.

This should serve as a lesson for our kids. They are family members who live in our home every single day. Why do we not look at them like they are special? We should.

There was a time in history and still in some parts of the world today, where kids are looked upon as possessions. We expected them to do whatever we wanted them to do and often treated them like they were servants to do our bidding. Even though we have become enlightened, we still don't always treat our children as well as we do guests.

Think about the things that you do to make guests feel welcome, then do those things for your children. We sometimes add flowers to their rooms, or maybe a bowl of fruit or a candy dish of sweets. We plan special meals and events. We show them off with pride to neighbors or friends. We entertain them, and try to fill their days with fun and interesting excursions.

If you try to add these things to your teen's life, you will strengthen your relationship with them. It builds a sense of respect for a person when you treat them like they are 'somebody'. They are often impressed and feel respect in return for anyone who would go to so much trouble for them.

When a teen knows you care they are more responsive. When they know you 'like them' and not just love them, it promotes good bonding. Show kids daily they are at least as special as guests. Surprise them with breakfast in bed or a special family wide party in their honor. Plan a fun getaway just for them. Put a mint on their pillow or flowers in their room. Little niceties go a long way in assuring teens will still be fun to have around long after the time when a guest's visit would end.

Inspiration:

Don't Say You're Not Important
Author unknown

Don't say you're not important,
It simply isn't true,
The fact that you were born,
Is proof, God has a plan for you.
The path may seem unclear right now,
But one day you will see,
That all that came before,
Was truly meant to be.
God wrote the book that is your life,
That's all you need to know.
Each day that you are living,
Was written long ago.
God only writes best sellers,
So be proud of who you are,
Your character is important,
In this book you are the "Star."
Enjoy the novel as it reads,
It will stand throughout the ages,
Savor each chapter as you go,
Taking time to turn the pages.

Credits: Jo Ann Wentzel