Good morning on this Saturday, July 7th. I hope that you enjoyed a stellar holiday on the 4th of July this year. Our house was packed with 14 of us who enjoyed a cook out, games, swimming and fireworks later in the evening. I had the opportunity to spend lots of quality time with my children and grandchildren. As I was playing with my grandson, Kai, I thought back three years ago when my daughter, Cheryl, walked down the concourse at O'Hare Airport in Chicago and I met him for the first time as my newly adopted grandson.  When we later gathered at my daughter's home I tried to engage Kai but found him only willing to kick, bite, and scratch anyone who tried to touch him. Three years and lots of tender loving care later, he is now a normal loving boy who enjoys lots of contact with family members. The transformation has been amazing.

As I was reflecting on the changes in his attitudes and behaviors, I was reminded of a conversation I had with Dr. Ross Campbell, noted child expert, who spoke at Edgewood years ago. He mentioned that every troubled child who visited his clinic in Tennessee told him that his/her parents didn't really love them. He mentioned that when he met with the parents he repeatedly concluded that the child/teen's perception was not true about their parents, but their troubled child FELT like they were unloved. This situation in so many families led him to write his best-selling book, "How To Really Love Your Child." In the book he details four ways parents should use to make their kids KNOW and FEEL how much they are loved. The four ways are:
(1) Spending quality time with your child.
(2) Giving priority focused attention to your child by actively listening with eye contact and appropriate responses.
(3) Showing love through verbal affirmation and physical touch.
(4) Using appropriate discipline including demonstration of sound anger management techniques with your child.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, these principles and practices produce tremendous results. Kai and many other children are living proof of how well they work. Every parent and grandparent should dedicate themselves to really loving their child in such a way that they BELIEVE it, FEEL it and KNOW it. The Bible reminds "God is love and he who dwells in love dwells in God and God in him" (1 John 4:16b).

Tomorrow's sermon is about the two comings of Christ in prophecy. I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Mel Brown