Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. i. 😀🌹🎀🎁💝🌺 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026. "DICTATOR, DOORMAT OR DIPLOMAT? (2)" ‘…His father…had never disciplined him at any time…’ 1 Kings 1:6 NLT THE PERMISSIVE style: This parent has few rigid rules, and explains to the child their rules, standards and decisions. The child’s opinions and ideas are heard and included in decision-making. Reason is used rather than force. These parents talk and discuss perspectives rather than using threats. Unfortunately, few household responsibilities are demanded of the child, denying them the opportunity to contribute and learn to function co-operatively. The parent is a ‘facilitator’ and ‘resource person’. In such homes children ‘self-regulate’ in areas such as bedtime, dating, the car, friends, dress, the Internet, music, and curfew. What are the pluses of this parenting style? Kids usually adore permissive parents, feel close to and safe with them. These parents never belittle kids, their ideas and perspectives, nor shame and embarrass or make them feel like failures. Rather, they encourage their thinking, innovation, initiative, social and communication skills. They model forgiveness, patience, and flexibility. But let’s look at the minuses of this style. Parental guidance is missing, and low demand for household responsibilities leaves kids unprepared for life in the real world. They lack the structure and boundaries needed for relationships and the workplace, and have difficulty in accepting the word, ‘No!’. The absence of a parental role model for leadership and decision-making leads to motivational deficit, requiring someone to ‘jump-start’ them to get them going. This style provides many healthy, positive characteristics, producing kids who may be happy, but suffer losses productively and relationally. Bible In A Year: Gen 32-34, Luke 9:46-56. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. ii. INJURY AND BITTERNESS "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." - Hebrews 12:15 A few years ago, an old man was stabbed by a 16-year-old offender. When the police asked the offender why he committed such a horrible act, he said he had a brother who was handsome, intelligent and a sportsman. 'my Mom always says that I am stupid and wishes I was like my brother.' Bitterness This is one of the examples how young people are emotionally hurt and start doing things nobody would expect. A person does not break because of physical injuries, but by the bitterness which is a result from such injuries. Bitterness starts as a small seed and if you do not deal with it, it gradually grows into a huge monster which destroys a man. We read in the abovementioned Bible scripture that we should pay attention so that bitter roots do not grow in us, because they will cause trouble and corrupt many others. Dear parents, God has placed an incredible ability in your child to forgive and forget disappointments and emotional injury. However, when a child is injured over and again, this causes bitterness and will soon not be manageable any longer. The medicine for bitterness Not only children, but also older people are injured and have bitterness towards their family or perhaps a pastor. What can you do about it? I have the answer from the Bible. Jesus says in Matthew 6:14-15: 'For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.' You will never have peace in your heart if you do not fully forgive others. Forgiving is THE MEDICINE against bitterness! https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. i. Morning Prayer And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ⏤ Colossians 3:23 God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful. ⏤ Mother Teresa O God, who brings joy to both the morning and the evening, we thank You for the gladness of this new day. You didn’t let our night be filled with pain or sorrow, but instead, You gave us peace and comfort. It’s because You kept us safe that we are so richly blessed. We lift our hearts to You in gratitude for the light and joy of this new day. Bless us as we go about our work. Bless our efforts and help us to be diligent. Keep us from growing weary with the routine tasks we must do each day. Help us to do all our tasks with a cheerful heart. Teach us how to do our everyday work for You. It will be easier if we do it all for You. The burdens won’t feel so heavy if we are carrying them for You. The tedious tasks won’t seem so dull if we do them for You. Teach us to live our whole lives for You, so we can truly honor You. Give us grace to be kind and helpful to everyone we meet today. Sometimes we get impatient, or we aren’t as polite as we should be, or we get irritable in the stressful moments of life. Not everyone we meet is easy to get along with, and sometimes we have to endure rudeness. O God, keep us loving and gentle, no matter what we face today. Help us to always keep a sweet spirit. We want to honor You in everything we do, say, and feel today. Bless us with Your love. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we can be like Jesus, no matter how others treat us. Make us true blessings wherever we go. Keep us from stumbling. Grant Your grace to everyone we love. And to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we give all the glory. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/40/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.