Lukewarm parents

[catholicrobot]

I personally am on fire for and in love with my faith. But not so much for my parents. They are rather lukewarm. Is there anything I can do besides pray for them as a teenager that I can do to perhaps have them warm up in our faith?

 

[Kindness]

Show them great kindness and love, do acts of service for them from love. Do not preach and definitely do not judge your parents! Have humility and follow the commandment hororing your parents. A full, real and deep Christian life with constant prayer (in private - not for gaining attention) is the most you can do. Remember the Trinity produces conversion of heart, not us, so cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Remember make sure you are never wearing “Judgy Pants”, treat your parents as you would like to be treated, be forgiving and bring joy to your family.

 

[Cathhsmom]

The best thing that you can do for them is to love them, pray for them, and offer your masses to them. Your parents may be in a lull in their faith life. That doesn’t mean that they don’t love it. I know that as I have journeyed down this road that there have been highs and lows with many plateaus in between. No 2 journeys are alike. Just be the best Catholic Christian that you can be. Remember St. Francis said to preach always and ,when necessary, use words.

 

[Chantal25]

I personally am on fire for and in love with my faith. But not so much for my parents. They are rather lukewarm. Is there anything I can do besides pray for them as a teenager that I can do to perhaps have them warm up in our faith?

Include also fasting. Say the rosary.

Praying for them is the right thing to do, only speak up when you feel inspire to.

 

[Kal2012]

People go through phases when faith just isn’t so important to them. They are on a different journey than you and you need to respect where they are at.

Middle aged people have a lot more responsibilities than a teenager. Honestly, it’s just hard to get “on fire” for anything when you are working and taking care of the kids, doing your daily stuff…making sure everyone and everything’s taken care of. It doesn’t mean that you don’t care about things. It means that faith is one of many important things, and sometimes, it will take a backseat to other priorities.

Also, teenagers are supposed to be more “on fire” than their parents. That’s why older people tend to envy the passion and vibrancy that young people have. Teenagers just haven’t been jaded by life in the “real world” and life’s responsibilities yet.

I know that my son gets excited about things that I just can’t imagine getting excited about at my age. I’ve been around the block. I know what the scoop is and it’s really not that exciting. (Some of the stuff, anyway) However, because he hasn’t experienced it before, it’s new and exciting and the most interesting thing that’s ever, ever happened. (I can’t wait to share more of those experiences w/him as he gets older.)

For instance, this year was the first year that my son got really into Christmas. (He just turned 5) If it had to do with Christmas, then he had to do it, have it, see it. It never got old for him. It was a major trauma when we put away the Christmas stuff because he loved the tree, the ornaments, the “bling”.

In a couple of years, I know he won’t be so excited about Christmas. It will still be a special time, but it will be different. He’ll be older. He’ll get that Christmas comes every year. And every year we put the tree and do this and that. It will still be fun, but not in the same way it is now.

Like someone said, don’t get judgmental. Pray.

I really won’t worry so much about it, unless they decide to go agnostic/atheist.

 

[ringil]

Indeed,

I heard a priest say something like “Regarding Faith, children have a smaller cup which is easier to fill to the top. As we get older the size of our “cup” grows so filling it to the top gets harder.”

One of the reasons why the faith of the young, and the young at heart is so beautiful.

 

[HoosMommie]

Those beautiful fires bank down to glowing embers and often a little breeze of fresh air makes them blaze up again. Then they bank down again to embers. Be that little breeze of fresh air to your parents’ embers by praying daily for them, praying the rosary for them, and showing your love for God and for them by serving them–take out the garbage, load and unload the dishwasher, mow the lawn, and, well, you get the picture. All these things without argument or even asking you to do them. They will see that fire in you and it will be beautiful in their eyes.

 

[catholicrobot]

thanks everyone!
too the adults who responded, why is it harder to be on fire for your faith? I mean, at least for my dad and a few others, they are on fire for something. For my dad, its robotics.

It could just be me, but how could one not be in love with our faith?