The SSA Parent/Child Relationship Archives

Ten Tips for Hard Conversations with Your LGBTQ Child

Disciplines of Discovery in the Midst of Painful Moments As the mom of a beautiful young woman who identifies as a lesbian, I’ve had to learn what it means to walk the fine line between showing her compassion for the journey she’s on without condoning or condemning sinful behavior or compromising my own faith and values. In a few short...

“No Room at the Inn”

Turned Away When it Mattered the Most We’re all familiar with the traditional Bible story of Mary and Joseph and the many children’s plays where prepubescent children, dressed as the couple, go from one inn to another only to be told, “No room!” Such a sweet memory, yet did you know that in ancient Bethlehem there were no inns at...

The Issue of Identity

“You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV Our SSA kids may assert that their sexuality or gender defines their identity. Okay; that’s fair. We all get to choose what defines us. For those of us who belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), our identity is defined...

What if Sin Isn’t the Issue?

For Christian Parents of SSA Kids Who Ask, “But don’t we all sin?” “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) I hear over and over from Christian parents re: the SSA lifestyle issue, that,...

Put on a Brave Face

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) This journey is hard. It’s painful. I’m often saying that to parents like me who have an adult son or daughter living the SSA lifestyle. No one can know...

Letter to My Child

A response to the Nashville Statement & A Liturgist’s Statement August 2017 To my child: I loved you the minute I heard you were coming. I loved you the second you were born. Then I saw your face and fell in love even more. You were only a minute old, but I knew I would die for you and to...