Meaningful Relationships, Meaningful Lifeਨਮੂਨਾ

My oldest son is 27 and is the beginning of the Gen Z generation. I can still remember an extremely interesting conversation we had when he was a junior in high school. He came home one day and said to me, "Mom, I finally figured out this school thing. These kids go to school every day, sit in class, meet the same people in halls between classes to share what is on their phones with each other."

"So instead of building relationships with each other at school, they are more like information booths just sharing information back and forth, and they have no time to invest in relationships with the people who know them best—like their parents and siblings. So, while the school emphasizes relationship-building, I wonder how much relationship-building is actually happening."

When your 16-year-old son says something like that, trust me as a mom, you pay attention! What I was seeing and learning as I watched my kids in high school was that in our current culture, we cannot depend on institutions—even when they are excellent—to teach our children how to have quality, meaningful friendships. We have an epidemic of loneliness in our country. So many children are not experiencing deep and meaningful relationships with their peers or adults. God did not create us to be alone, we are meant to live in relationship with those around us.

This crisis calls you to intentional action as a mother. You cannot delegate the teaching of relationship-building skills to institutions, however excellent they may be. The foundation for authentic connection must be laid in your home, through your consistent investment in heart-connected discipleship relationships with your children.

When your children experience safety, acceptance, and genuine love in relationship with you, they develop the capacity to create similar connections with others throughout their lives.

Reflection Question: What specific steps can you take to prioritize face-to-face connection and genuine conversation in your family's daily routine?