Today’s Reflection
We [the authors] still believe that what mattered to teenagers twenty or fifty or a hundred years ago matters to teenagers today, even if they use different language and technologies to express and meet those needs. Imagine, for instance, an “average” American teenaged girl (who is likely named Emily, according to the Social Security Administration’s records on Gen Z). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an average day in Emily’s life included over five and a half hours of leisure time, with about three hours of that time spent looking at screens. Along with nearly 95 percent of her friends, Emily has access to a smartphone and describes herself as “almost constantly” on the internet. Emily says she uses her phone to pass time, connect with others, and learn new things, and she uses social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok to communicate and keep an eye on cultural conversations and trends. She says that her parents make sure she gets at least seven hours of sleep a night, but she still wishes she got more sleep, spent more time socializing, and spent less time on homework.
—Kenda Creasy Dean, Ron Foster, & Megan Dewald, The Godbearing Life, Revised Edition (Upper Room Books, 2023)
Today’s Question
What are some timeless needs of teenagers? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
[God] has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
—Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NRSV)
Prayer for the Week
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low by thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
—A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
3 Comments
The truth, love, compassion, listening, and-complete presence are some of the many things teenagers male or female, need They are needed by every human being. Despite changes in many aspects of life these are constants.
Both Zoom and in person worship today, a Zoom meeting yesterday with the bishop, continued worship, and a new coordinating pastor are all happening here at CCUMC in NH. Plans for Maundy Thursday service-“and Easter sunrise service and breakfast. Plants are growing at the altar. We continue! Thank You, Lord.
Making the most of th snow opportunities we are off to ski and snowshoe tomorrow at Bretton Woods.
Sugaring season is underway with above freezing daytime temps and freezing temps at night. Need 40 Gallo s of sap for a gallon of syrup. The big event happens when the water is boiled off. It’s a rite of spring in these parts. Sugar on snow, pancake or waffle.breakfasts. Lenten blessings to all.
Teens need to feel respected, heard and seen. They long to be valued for who they are and what they uniquely bring to situations and relationships. Seeing the potential of youth and encouraging individual growth is so important.
A good day – busy, but good. Church was encouraging, as well as cancer support group. Many new members – which is so good to see. Sad to see, but good to know they are willing to tap into this resource. It was the fullest the room had been since prior to the pandemic. Again – a good thing, not a good thing.
I got home and snuck in a nap, before fixing an early dinner and heading off to tennis. Had another wonderfully competitive match – this time coming out on the winning side. It was fun to play against my partner from the state match, also the one I golfed with in the fall. It is nice to have comfortable relationships and still be ultra competitive, even on opposite sides of the net.
My sister called and she hurt her arm today. The “guys” have not been holding up their end of the deal, keeping the house clean. So, she was mopping and her husband accidently tripped her. She braced herself – a natural reaction – with her bad arm and her body weight fell on it. She is very afraid she really did some damage. She is such a people pleaser that she won’t ask them to help her and now this happened. I tried to gently tell dad that he and Don need to take care of things down there – and he was pretty sheepish about it. When I was down there she was telling me that they are too busy “playing” and not doing the chores she needs them to do. Now they are all in a pickle.
Unconditional love and to know they matter; to know someone “gets” them. To be taken seriously, For sometimes they realize that even if they feel they want to remain invisible, they want to be heard by those who know their voices are important.
Thank you to all for your prayers. Know that I pray for you daily and hold your needs close to my heart.
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