Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith

Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith

Last updated on: May 20, 2016 at 11:06 am by Susan Cottrell

Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith 2016-05-20T11:06:37-05:00 Susan Cottrell

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I took my laptop with me to the kitchen for a lunch break from writing — I like to enjoy TED Talks as I cook — and today it was “10 Most Inspirational Ads.” It was ad number eight, I think, that got me. I won’t do it justice here but essentially: the little boy was caught stealing medicine for his mother, but a kind man gave him a break, paying for the meds and giving him soup as well — then thirty years later when that man ended up in the hospital, the boy turned out to be the doctor and so was able to forgive the insurmountable hospital debt. On the bill, he wrote: “All expenses paid 30 years ago with three packs of painkillers and a bag of veggie soup.” You’ve seen the kind.

Suddenly, I wept. I turned off the burner under my leftover fajitas and let the tears fall, deeply moved by the profound and inherent kindness of which human beings are capable. I wept for how often people in this world need a hand to pull them up (like the little boy stealing the pain meds), need a very large break (like the man facing the hospital bill), need simple kindness (like the LGBTQ community and their families).

I wept at how many LGBTQ people need bread, but their families give them a stone — or worse, a snake (Matt. 7:9–11).

Kindness is woefully under-expressed in our human family.

I published the first edition of “Mom, I’m Gay” in January 2014, compelled to help terrified parents navigate the treacherous waters — societal, family, and church — that they suddenly faced because they had an LGBTQ child. I knew how disoriented these parents were, and I longed to help them — and especially their kids. I knew that to help the parents was to help the kids (of any age), and these kids have stolen my heart.

In these two-and-a-half years, much has changed. The Supreme Court has made marriage equality the law of the land. Many places now warmly welcome LGBTQ people. But in many ways, nothing has changed. The law still sanctions housing and workplace discrimination. Too many parents still live in terror of “homosexuality” and respond viciously to their own children. Parents who embrace their gay kids are still vilified. Unkindness and rejection are perpetuated in God’s name.

I fervently hope that the revised and expanded version of “Mom, I’m Gay” will continue to comfort both parents and their LGBTQ children, help put their fears to rest, and help revitalize them to this amazing life they have been given.

I believe that God is shaking the church until what’s left is the unshakable: God. I believe God is shifting the attention from behavior modification to the profound, transformative, life of the Spirit.

That is where our hope lies.

Our primary job is to love God and love others, and let God take care of everything else. We can have more peace than we ever knew possible, and joy beyond our wildest dreams, as our children flourish in God’s inexhaustible love for them.

I hope you will join me on this journey!

With love, Susan

Susan’s classic book: “Mom I’m Gay” – Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith has been endorsed by Human Rights Campaign and many others.

The NEW Revised & Expanded Edition has now been released!

Click here for more information.

Previous Post

May 9, 2016

Life is Short Enough. Don't Give Yours Away.

Next Post

May 26, 2016 God is NOT a Bully... Though Some Christians Are

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Church & Religion Dear Susan Family Support Gay Weddings & Marriage GCN Conference Jesus Blog LGBTQ Support Parenting Personal Stories Suicide The Real Jesus Theology Transgender Uncategorized X Archived Posts

Select a Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 June 2022 December 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 November 2018 March 2018 January 2018 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who does the Bible say is Lord of the Sabbath?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses Satan Jesus Man

Support this
Column