Focus on the Family Magazine - June/July 2023

RESILIENCY / KIDS & TEENS
Truth #2:
Failures are not final
The sun will rise again tomorrow with a
whole new chance for my kids to make
it right and build from the rubble of their
mistakes. If you burn yourself on the stove,
hopefully you’re careful grabbing a hot pan
in the future. If you get a speeding ticket,
hopefully you learn to be a safer driver.
I’ve faced prison time in court and paid
thousands of dollars in fees. But I want to
show my kids how to be honest, own up
to mistakes, take responsibility, walk with
integrity, apologize and try to make a better
decision the next time. Nothing good has
ever come from me making excuses, being
defensive, shifting blame or acting like I
don’t make mistakes because I’m the dad.
Truth #3:
Failures have the
power to refine
With guidance, children can shift their
perspective to see that a moment of failure
is happening for them rather than to
them. I want them to reframe their perspective
without rewriting the truth. Not
just moving on but moving forward with
the hard-won wisdom they earned from
their mess-up.
The failure to clean up food in their bedrooms
leads to bugs. How should they
respond? Will they be a victim? Will they
blame-shift? Or will they keep the food out
of their room?
Procrastinating leads to failed tests, and
consequently, losing privileges until they
bring up their grades. What do they do?
Blame teachers? Or do what it takes to
pull up their grades and have privileges
reinstated?
There is a real beauty to young people
taking responsibility, owning up to mistakes,
and learning and growing from
each one. They can get more out of their
mess-up than what they lost. They can let it
seed their blessings rather than feed their
fears and paralyze them with anxiety. >>>
(l to r): Liam, Jude, Ethan,
Lincoln, Reese, Keira
and Penelope
Stephen and Amanda Miller
JUNE / JULY 2023 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA
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