I just joined…I have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior…. I have questions, mostly about my daughters, was hoping someone can offer advice
Questions from a single Dad
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No one can really offer advice when you have given no indication of what the issues are...
Well, I am a Christian, but I lost my way after high school, got caught up with culinary and forgot about the Church and, of course, Christ. Maybe about 3 months ago I hired a bartender at my restaurant, part time, her name is Ann. She mentioned some things about spirituality and her beliefs. Then she mentioned the Rapture. I haven’t stopped investigating and reading since then. The more I learn, the more connected I am with Christ. My question is that I have a 15yr old daughter, born Catholic, things I am loosing my mind and makes fun of me for my beliefs. I am divorced from her mom and I always had a close relationship with her, till I said, that Jesus is in my heart. She made fun of me. After awhile of trying to tell her, she is son stubborn and refuses, calling my crazy. I am not sure how it handle this in baby steps, but I want to help her. I am 52yrs old and I feel life is very short. How can I help her?
You would probably benefit from starting by getting a wide range of responses initially. Then you will be able to discern which voices you want follow up from.
But Magenta is right...until you ask a question, no one will know how to respond.
What exactly have you been telling your daughter? We don't know your specific beliefs. And, do you know why exactly she is calling you crazy? Is she making fun of the fact that you are Christian, or about some of the other details about Christianity/Christian doctrine? If you are throwing out the word Rapture, and if she is not too familiar with this, it may be too much for her to process.
Do you remember being fifteen? It was longer ago for me than it is for you, but I do recall that many fifteen year olds thought they knew everything. And without a doubt (I am assuming) your daughter has many years experience with you, and thinks she knows you well, and has a good grasp of your dynamics. Except, suddenly, you change something very fundamental, and all she sees is the mental. On the one hand it is great that she feels free enough to express her true thoughts and feelings to you. On the other hand, it would be wise for you to perhaps set some boundaries for her, such as, no making fun of dad. Figuring life out does not have an expiry date; you could tell her she should count her lucky stars that you are not so old and stodgy and set in your ways that nothing will ever change in your life from here on out. You are willing to grow, and explore, and learn. These are positives at any stage of life, and hallmarks of a resiliency many do not possess.
At any rate, she needs to show you respect even if she does not respect your choices. They are your choices, not hers.
Understood. I was never in her life with Jesus. Meaning, I was at her First Holy Communion, and Christening. Also, I was with her every weekend of her life. Mostly Sundays and Mondays. She was brought up catholic, but then stopped going to church. I only asked her if she believes in the Bible and what does it mean to her. She asked to change the subject. I brought up about the Rapture (which I shouldn’t have) and tried to explain it to her and shut her right off. You are correct, I never should have done that, but I feel she needs a crash course before its to late, am I wrong?
There is no voice that proclaims the truths of the gospel as well as a life that is lived well before others.
Forcing the Bible upon your daughter will probably cause her to reject it more. Living the gospel before her will interest her in why you are different. She will enjoy the difference in you now, and that is the way you will be able to share your faith.
People were attracted to Jesus because He loved people. Love people and they will be attracted to the Jesus in you.
Many of us were brought up Catholic, but most of us do not identify that way. In fact, the
official stance of this site's owner, and many members here, is that Catholicism is heretical.
At fifteen, after going to church most of my life, I only went because I had to, and I was, at
the age of sixteen, allowed to stop going because I did not believe much of any of it.
I would not be surprised if your daughter feels much the same way about it.
official stance of this site's owner, and many members here, is that Catholicism is heretical.
At fifteen, after going to church most of my life, I only went because I had to, and I was, at
the age of sixteen, allowed to stop going because I did not believe much of any of it.
I would not be surprised if your daughter feels much the same way about it.
Understood, I want to start by saying small prayers together and then smiling, understanding it ok, good.
I have this feeling in my heart. It started about a month ago. I feel I have accepted Jesus, but in my heart is a lot of pain. But there is also a lot of love. The pain I believe is because everyone is so oblivious to Christianity. They have every excuse not to believe. I have had conversations about this with my staff and I am blown away how little or no faith they have. My heart is very heavy for them and when I go out in public and see all the damage in the world that doesnt need to be here. We as human beings destroyed it all. I truly feel the Rapture is near and I am trying to prepare my soul for it.
My own daughter was in her late teens when I was going though my conversion experiences/time.
I had started going to church, and like you, only saw her on the weekends, so naturally, took her
with me. The second time, she let me know she was not interested in doing that. At. All. So I did
not force her to go, but did not stop going myself. Later that same year I was baptized, and church
attendance and fellowship was pretty intense for the first few years. Three years in I started speaking
to non-believers online, as a Christian. I share many of my life stories with her. She has never argued
with me about my beliefs, and has never called me crazy for my beliefs, or how I spend my time, my faith
being central to much of it. I know she respects me. If your daughter does not respect you, that is a problem.
I had started going to church, and like you, only saw her on the weekends, so naturally, took her
with me. The second time, she let me know she was not interested in doing that. At. All. So I did
not force her to go, but did not stop going myself. Later that same year I was baptized, and church
attendance and fellowship was pretty intense for the first few years. Three years in I started speaking
to non-believers online, as a Christian. I share many of my life stories with her. She has never argued
with me about my beliefs, and has never called me crazy for my beliefs, or how I spend my time, my faith
being central to much of it. I know she respects me. If your daughter does not respect you, that is a problem.
I agree. I believe I may be at fault for coming on too strong. But this is what I was thinking, ready? If my father had told me back in 1986 that he believes that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, I would have bent down on my knew and believed with him….in todays world, nowhere near the same situation. She felt that I was not in my right mind. This is the NEW WORLD. Jesus is forgotten, I want to bring him back as I should have done 30 years ago.
Sounds familiar .
. Though my daughter is much older now...I was wondering too what your wife's beliefs are. Could the two of you plan something different for your daughter, like a summer
camp, where she can have a fun relaxed time and gain valuable experiences around her peers and elders who are Christians?
One of my brothers and his wife sent their two children to Christian summer camps and they
(all of them) remember them fondly and say they had a positive effect upon their kids.
I'm 72 and I know your pain. My son is hostile to Christian things. My daughter is a pretender. I tried too hard with my daughter and turned her away from me. My son is fine as long as we don't talk Christian things. My daughter has cut me out of her life completely. You won't help by pushing her. All you can do is love her. Every time you preach to her, if she rejects the truth she hardens her heart. I only find out about my daughter from my son. I did not even know about my fourth grandchild from her.
Let God work in her life. She's at the age of rebellion anyway. She will discover for herself the vanity of life without Christ. Be there for her if ever she sees her need. Apart from that, give her some space.