Helpful Feature in Awake!

The publishers of Awake! realized the need to provide specific material that would deal in depth with the special problems of today’s youth. Starting in January 1982 every issue except one dealing with youth has had the feature Young People Ask. . . . It has been designed to provide truthful, practical answers.

“The series is evidence of your continued interest in the plight of young people today,” wrote one appreciative reader.

“A Depth of Understanding”

“I hope and pray that these articles never end,” wrote a young woman, Daphne. “They show a depth of understanding we need in dealing with our sometimes confusing and disturbing emotions.” Another letter from a young reader agreed: “I share many of the feelings in those articles.”

So, too, concerning this new series, a youth in Mexico wrote: “The articles deal with reality. They give not only the cause but also the remedy.”

Scriptures are marshaled that come to grips with the problems. Object lessons from the Bible are tied in with the perplexities of modern youth. Experiences and comments from young people are used to illustrate the value of such lofty principles and show how some are applying them. “This sound advice is practical and in harmony with the Bible,” wrote one young reader.

Does It Help?

A number of letters and reports highlight the value of the series. An 18-year-old, Cristina, writes: “Though this feature is new, already it has helped me extremely in making personal decisions.”

“The articles on making friends helped me the most,” stated Georgia. “I learned not to be so sensitive and to overlook the little irritating things others might do.” Adding to this a young man wrote: “Sometimes I’m afraid to show my true feelings, but I liked how you pointed to Jesus as a model to follow. The article showed that he even cried in front of others.”

“I used to date regularly just because I thought it was the thing to do,” wrote a young man, Paul. “I thought nothing of marriage. Then I read your Awake! magazine. It changed my values for the better. I have stopped dating until I am ready to marry.” Josephine, a youth in New Jersey, adds: “I could see the logical and clear truth in the article on dating. I am able to understand some of my own feelings more clearly.”

A Valuable Tool for All

It is hoped that parents especially will use this series to increase the dialogue with their teenage children. These articles bring up some delicate subjects that parents may not know just how to discuss with their children. A practical format is provided for a balanced conversation. Many parents already are using each issue as a part of a weekly family Bible discussion. A mother in the U.S. wrote: “As a parent of three teenagers you can well imagine how grateful I am for the articles. I wish I had the words to tell you how much I value the article ‘Love or Infatuation.’ It helped our 18-year-old to make the wise decision to marry ‘only in the Lord.’” However, much effort by parents is still needed. Sixteen-year-old Roxana said of the article “Getting Ahead​—Is That All There Is to Life?”: “The information, along with many talks with my parents, helped me make a wise decision as to my choice of a job.”

The feature’s value is not limited to teenagers or those in their twenties. “The recent article on ‘Love and Infatuation’ opened my eyes although I am 61 years old,” wrote one woman in Australia.