Years ago Newsweek did a cover story entitled, "Teen Depression." According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 3 million adolescents-that's 2 our of every 5-have symptoms of depression. Still true? Depression can lead to academic failure, social isolation, drug abuse, and suicide. Almost 1 in every 5 high school students has thought about suicide and 2 million have actually made plans to take their lives. Most troubling: Symptoms are often waved off as adolescent moods.
Dr. Harold Koplewicz says, "Parents have to know their children. Adolescence is not a good time to introduce yourself. Money should have been put in the bank earlier. Then, during adolescence it's a continuation of a close relationship."
Isn't that the way of Christian love, not only for depression but for so many other problems of life? Instead of spiritual bromides..."Have faith," "Pray", "You'll be OK, all things work together for good"...Instead of copping out with quick-fix platitudes, which don't solve the deep brokenness of our sinful world, the call is to take up the cross for the long haul. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:7-8) Spend time with your children! Always true!
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