Jentezen Franklin - Love Like Youve Never Been Hurt: Hope, Healing and the Power of an Open Heart

O ur daughter glared at my wife, Cherise, and me. Her eyes blazed with anger.

If you have ever raised a teenager, you know what I am talking about. I dont know what it is, but most kids at this age seem to lose their minds for about six years.

You cant tell me what to do! my daughter shouted.

I looked at her square in the face. Were going to work this out.

Ugh, she groaned. No way! Im out of here.

Oh, no! You are not going anywhere until we sit down and talk! I said with clenched teeth.

The second our daughter turned toward our bedroom door, I jumped into position. Fullback position. Stretching out each arm, I blocked her path.

You cant trap me here! our daughter yelled.

Oh yes, we can, I shot back, my arms waving wildly.

My frustration mounted, but my heart broke. Arguments like this one had taken place many times, it seemed, not just with this daughter, but with others as well.

During that particular episode, we were smack in the middle of a family crisis. Each day brought another fight. Some clashes were more disruptive than others. Some aroused deep sadness. Others harsh words.

It started when our oldest daughter went off to college. Growing up, she was a model child. But during the first few weeks of school, away from home, she began to stray. She wanted to see what it was like on the other side of church life. She got involved with the wrong crowd. And she made some of the worst choices that a young girl could make.

As the situation grew more serious, my wife and I knew we had to do something.

I will never forget the day I was putting the final touches on a sermon I was about to preach in thirty minutes. Cherise flew into the room, on a mission. The look on her face said it all.

Jentezen, Im going to get our daughter. Are you going to choose the church and stay and preach, or are you going to choose your daughter and come with me?

The answer was obvious. I dropped what I was doing to take care of my family.

Cherise and I did not speak much on the three-hour drive to the university. Our daughter did not know we were coming, let alone coming to pull her out of school and bring her home. We didnt know what to expect.

Once we arrived, Cherise phoned her. My wife asked what she was doing but did not mention we were there. I waited in the car while Cherise walked into the building where our daughter was. Suddenly, my wife saw her walking toward the lobby where she stood. The minute our daughter saw Cherise, she broke down. Collapsing to her knees, she began to sob uncontrollably.