Tough Love or Grace? by B J Bassett

 

Tough Love or Grace?

Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:12 NIV

Sometimes parenting is a balancing act of knowing when to show tough love and when to show grace.

Recently, a friend shared with me her heartbreak. Her adult son refused to move out of his childhood home and get a job, and he was disrespectful. Another friend shared her concern about her thirty-six-year-old daughter. She doesn’t have a job and will be homeless soon. This isn’t the first time her daughter has been destitute, and her friends are tired of helping her out repeatedly. These parents were at the end of their rope. What could they do? Show tough love or grace?

As children, they were raised in Christian homes, loved, and taught God’s Word, yet they continue to sin, disobey, and make bad choices. They have no regard for their parents and no respect for the Lord either.

How often have we broken our heavenly Father’s heart? Yet he is merciful to us, loving, kind, and full of grace. And I believe there are times that He shows us tough love.

While some children are easy to parent into adulthood, others become scoundrels. Father, help me know which direction to take—tough love or grace. Amen.

 

B. J. Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher and speaker. Her books include a contemporary novel, Gillian’s Heart; a historical novel Lily; Sweet Charity; A Touch of Grace—The G.R.A.C.E. Ministries Story; and coauthor of a children’s devotional My Time with God, Focus on the Family, Heritage Builders, with over 55,000 copies sold.

 

As a contributing writer, publications consist of Writer’s Handbook 2000, The Writer, and The Focus on the Family Guide to Growing a Healthy Home, Wolgemuth& Hyatt, Publishers, Inc.—consistently on Bookstore Journal’s Best-selling Christian Books List from November 1990 - February 1991, and voted the 10 Best Books for 1990 by Today’s Christian Woman.

 

Magazines, devotional booklets, curriculum and newspaper publishers include Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, The Quiet Hour, Pathways to God, Devotions, Harcourt Brace, WordAction, Gospel Publishing and Times Standard (newspaper).

 

She teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR and at writer’s conferences. As a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and acceptance, not only in life, but as a writer as well. She also offers book talks, including discussion questions and shares the journey -- from the seed of an idea to a published book.

 

Memberships: ACFW and Oregon Christian Writers (OCW).

 

She enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm scones oozing with butter and strawberry jam and sipping earl grey tea.