Mama Holly, here. I am convinced that even with adult children, parents still have power. It is a different kind of power. It is a power that reminds parents of the influence and support they can provide in the lives of their offspring.

For example…is your adult child going through a difficult time in a relationship? Are there red flags indicating abuse? Verbal, emotional, financial or physical? As the parent, you can pour thoughts of encouragement into your child. You can be the voice that demonstrates how valuable and deserving they are of what God has to offer them. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God declares: ” For I know the plans I have for you; plans not to harm you, but to prosper you and to give you hope and a future.”(NRSV)

When children are hurting and suffering in an unhealthy relationship, parents have power as a resource, a voice of wisdom and hope saying that they are not alone. That you are there for them as they wrestle with decisions and possible life-changing choices. Think about the way you helped them when they were a child and fell off their bike. You were there to comfort them, dust them off and get them back on track again. Your encouragement and support enabled them to learn from it and try again. Those are life’s lessons.

While unhealthy relationships and other adult-sized issues require more detailed areas of resolution, parents still have power to be a continuous source of encouragement, wisdom, strength, and hope in the lives of their (adult) children.