Yes—exactly! That’s such an important point. Many Christian parents, sometimes unknowingly, fall into a “faith-over-feelings” trap. They think telling a child to just pray more or have more faith is helping, but it can feel dismissive, like the child’s real struggles aren’t valid or worthy of attention.

Jesus, on the other hand, modeled compassion, patience, and deep listening. He validated pain, wept with the hurting, and addressed people’s struggles instead of just handing out platitudes. When children grow up experiencing the opposite—constant minimization of their emotions—they can naturally feel alienated from the church as adults.

It’s ironic: the church teaches about Jesus’ compassion, yet some children only see a version of faith that ignores or silences their humanity. That gap can really shape how they relate to God later.