Body: | Is running away from your parents home the answer?
For various reasons many young people run away. Often, they are seeking a
solution to some kind of problem or they have allowed someone else, who
also wants to run away, to influence them.
Most young people do not realize the dangers and temptations that they
face. Runaway girls are often like sheep among wolves. There is plenty of
male companionship, perhaps a free meal and a temporary place to stay, but
the girl must pay the price. In many cases the price is the sacrificing of
her moral character. Other forms of mistreatment may occur, even to the
loss of life.
The question for boys is, how will they live when their money is gone? Jobs
are hard to get, especially during the school term when it is unlawful to
employ youth of school age during school hours. There is the temptation to
steal. If they are driving a car, how will they get the money for gas? If
they have stolen a car, the crime becomes more serious when they cross the
state line. In most cases they may be picked up by the police.
IS THERE A BETTER SOLUTION?
The question that every young person should try to answer is, "What is the
best solution to my problem?" After all, being a runaway only adds another
problem, not a solution. If one is being abused and justly seeks relief
from a bad situation, the runaway is looked upon as being the problem and
authorities may deal with him as an unruly child, and may never learn what
caused him to run away. If you feel that you are being mistreated, go to
your local juvenile court, see a probation officer, juvenile judge, or talk
to a police officer, preferably one who handles juvenile affairs.
In many localities, one may file a dependent petition in his own behalf in
the local juvenile court asking for the court's assistant. This focuses
attention upon the mistreatment that he is suffering and he is not looked
upon as a problem child who has run away. Perhaps, the first one to whom
you should seek advice is your minister. If you do not know one, turn to
the yellow
Pages of your phone book and call a minister of the church of Christ. He
will be glad to talk with you and assist. There is a national source of
help for one who has run away. He is advised where to get shelter, food and
counseling. The caller's confidentiality is maintained. If young people
wish to communicate with -their families the switchboard can connect them
by phone or can deliver a message. They can contact "The National Runaway
Switchboard", a twenty-four hour hotline, toll free, phone 1-800-621-4000.
Every young person who thinks of running away should carefully examine his
reasons for wanting to leave home. As one leaves childhood years and grows
up into the teens toward adulthood, this is called adolescence, and one
often seeks more and more freedom from parental control. In fact, one may
want more freedom than he has maturity to handle. Such a person thinks that
he has enough mature judgment to run his life when he really does not. Some
parents grant their children almost total freedom. This can cause a youth
whose parents care very much for their child's future to appear to be too
strict. Such a parent will not want their child to start dating too young.
They will want to know who their friends are. They will want to help guide
them in their decisions about where they go and how often. The person whose
attitude is, "I do not care about what is right, what is dangerous to my
health, my reputation, my education, my family or my soul", may run away to
seek freedom to do what he wants to do. This person is not justified in
running away. This person is running from the right to do wrong. When one
seeks help through proper legal channels from abuse and mistreatment, he
seeks to get away from that which is wrong and to do that which is right.
A BOY WHO LEFT A GOOD HOME THEN CAME BACK:
Jesus told the story of a young man who left a good home where he was
loved, how he followed the course of, "If it feels good, do it", how he
paid the high cost for low living, saw his mistake, then returned to his
father's house. He said, "A man had two sons. When the younger told his
father, 'I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you
die!' his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days
later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a
distant land, and there wasted all his money on parties and prostitutes.
About the time his money was gone a great famine swept over the land, and
he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his
pigs. The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the swine
looked good to him. And no one gave him anything. When he finally came to
his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired men have food
enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my
father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and am
no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired
man.' So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long
distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity
and ran and embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I
have sinned against heaven and you, and am not worthy of being called your
son . . . But his father said to the slaves, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe
in the house and put in on him, and a jeweled ring for his finger; and
shoes! And kill the calf we have in the fattening pen. We must celebrate
with a feast (Luke 15:11-24) (From the Living New Testament) This is how
Jesus illustrated man leaving God and seeking to fulfill the lusts of his
flesh. The downward road of sin always leads one to be in want and in a
deprived and troubled condition. The loving father in the story represents
God's desire to have his "runaway" children come home to a right
relationship with Him. Forgiveness is awaiting all who repent and turn in
loving obedience to Him. Your real problem may be rebellion against God and
His will for your life.
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