Set Free
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Ken grew up thinking he was no good at anything. To say he had an inferiority complex would have been an understatement. Deep down he felt he could never do anything right. This attitude affected his entire outlook on life -- the way he did everything. If you were to ask Ken's parents they would tell you that they were good parents. They never physically abused any of their children, never beat them, never locked them in the closet or anything like that. They had a nice new home in the suburbs, new cars, and the children had an ample amount of toys. Each child received a brand new bicycle one Christmas. To outsiders they seemed like the ideal family.
The problem arose in the way they treated their children. Specifically it was the words they used, their attitudes toward their children that robbed the children of positive self-esteem. "You're stupid" or "Can't you do anything right?" were often heard at the dinner table. When Ken was in his teen years his parents still treated him like a child, as if he couldn't do anything for himself. Ken would frequently overhear his mother say she didn't know what kind of a job he could ever get since he could not make change from a dollar.
In his twenties Ken still lived at home with his oppressive parents, afraid to step out on his own. His parents continued to discourage him from moving out. Whenever the subject came up, his not-so-loving parents would tell him he did not have enough money to live on his own. What would he do to wash his clothes, never mind the fact that he did not know how. How in the world could he even afford a washing machine? his mother asked him one day. Ken was convinced that if he ever moved out on his own he was bound to fall flat on his face.
Then one day in a fast food restaurant Ken met Lynn. Just joking around he asked Lynn if she would like to go out with him, expecting she would immediately say no. To his great astonishment she said yes and they began dating. An amazing thing happened to both Ken and Lynn. They both changed as a result of feeling loved for the first time in their lives. Friends commented on the change in Ken; he almost seemed like a different person. Ken and Lynn loved and affirmed each other. Two years after they met they were married.
After they were married for a while Lynn asked Ken if he would attend church with her. While growing up the church had played an important role in Lynn's life, while Ken rarely attended. At first Ken only went to church to please his wife. If going to church with her made her happy then he would go -- after all, he told himself, it was only for an hour.
Something unexpected happened. While attending church Ken discovered the Living Christ for himself.
He listened to the words about abundant life and soon claimed that life for himself. Once he met Christ he could not turn away. He wanted the abundant life that only Christ can offer and it changed his entire life.
The problem arose in the way they treated their children. Specifically it was the words they used, their attitudes toward their children that robbed the children of positive self-esteem. "You're stupid" or "Can't you do anything right?" were often heard at the dinner table. When Ken was in his teen years his parents still treated him like a child, as if he couldn't do anything for himself. Ken would frequently overhear his mother say she didn't know what kind of a job he could ever get since he could not make change from a dollar.
In his twenties Ken still lived at home with his oppressive parents, afraid to step out on his own. His parents continued to discourage him from moving out. Whenever the subject came up, his not-so-loving parents would tell him he did not have enough money to live on his own. What would he do to wash his clothes, never mind the fact that he did not know how. How in the world could he even afford a washing machine? his mother asked him one day. Ken was convinced that if he ever moved out on his own he was bound to fall flat on his face.
Then one day in a fast food restaurant Ken met Lynn. Just joking around he asked Lynn if she would like to go out with him, expecting she would immediately say no. To his great astonishment she said yes and they began dating. An amazing thing happened to both Ken and Lynn. They both changed as a result of feeling loved for the first time in their lives. Friends commented on the change in Ken; he almost seemed like a different person. Ken and Lynn loved and affirmed each other. Two years after they met they were married.
After they were married for a while Lynn asked Ken if he would attend church with her. While growing up the church had played an important role in Lynn's life, while Ken rarely attended. At first Ken only went to church to please his wife. If going to church with her made her happy then he would go -- after all, he told himself, it was only for an hour.
Something unexpected happened. While attending church Ken discovered the Living Christ for himself.
He listened to the words about abundant life and soon claimed that life for himself. Once he met Christ he could not turn away. He wanted the abundant life that only Christ can offer and it changed his entire life.
