Teenagers Are Like Fireworks
Let’s talk about teenagers. My youngest son, Joseph, morphs into one this week, and because God has a sense of humor, I will be the parent of four of them for the next four months. Do you know how many teenagers it takes to change a light bulb? Just one—they just have to hold on to the bulb and the world revolves around them.
Teenagers are like fireworks—unsafe, loud, and they need major boundaries. They can be self-centered, awkward, foolish, and even dangerous. A lot of people prefer to avoid teens altogether. Not me. I love being around them. Thus far, I’ve truly enjoyed raising my teenagers, and I’ve enjoyed being around their kind for as long as I can remember. As a little kid, I was athletic enough to compete in sports with them, and my teen years were great. I made lifelong friends and was part of an amazing youth group where I learned most of what I know about following Jesus.
In my early twenties, I was offered two career paths: youth pastor or high school math teacher. Either way, I knew I’d be working with teens for many years ahead. I chose the latter, and I genuinely loved my teaching career—so much, I still substitute at the high school for fun when I can sneak away from my office.
I suppose the point of all this is to say that I believe in growing up, but not too much. Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 (CSB) says:
Rejoice, young person, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
And walk in the ways of your heart
and in the desire of your eyes;
but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.
Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
Those verses capture teenage angst well. So much energy and excitement, yet for the first time, there are real consequences for stupid decisions. In summary, the preacher says to enjoy the gift of youthful energy and courage, but within a framework of wisdom. The first part is easier for teenagers and harder for mature adults. Vise versa for the second part.
As I write this, our youth group is completing their annual weeklong mission trip to Dinuba, CA. They’ve been working hard processing peaches, and the Lord had been working hard on their hearts. I’m already hearing stories of spiritual transformation, repentance, and baptisms. I’m also hearing about misbehavior, missed curfews and relationship drama. Sounds like Ecclesiastes to me, and I’m so bummed I didn’t get to go this year.
I want to challenge my mature adult readers to appreciate the awkward exuberance of our teens. They are experimenting with maturity for the first time, and it doesn’t usually go smoothly. However, they’re learning fast, and it won’t be long before their days of youthful rejoicing are gone. They rebel in order to learn. They cross boundaries to test their limits.
To my teenage readers, heed the wisdom of 1 Tim 4:12, “Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” You’ll mess up, but mistakes aren’t the end of the world. Enjoy your youth with vigor and caution.
If you’re blessed, like me, to be outnumbered by teenagers in your home, I encourage you to relax—it will be fine. Bald-faced lies, broken hearts, messy rooms—they can either drive you nuts or be helpful reminders of how God designed us to grow to be more like him.
Remember, the party is a lot more fun with fireworks. It’s also more fun when you have a Christ-like attitude rather than a Pharisaical one. Jesus partied quite a bit, and he demands a childlike faith. We can learn a lot about the Christian life from raising teens, even if sometimes they make you feel like you lit a fuse and want to run far away.
