We need to pray for a Holy Ghost filled revival to sweep across our nation and touch the hearts of the youth in America, tomorrow’s leaders. The parents of these kids need our prayers as well. This writing is merely food for thought to anyone with an open mind; no condemnation intended.
Watching the youth of today
and listening to how they rattle off certain words of filth in the presence of
women is despicable. The disrespect they
show to teachers, police officers, authority figures of any kind, including
their own parents is shocking.
It’s hard to grasp,
with understanding, what is happening to this generation of youth. I can only speculate. We must be going into the end times spoken of
in the Bible; the beginning of sorrows where children become disobedient to
parents and the love of many shall wax cold.
(Matthew 24:3-44)
The rude and untamed tongues
of some of the youth show their rebellious attitudes and
contempt for authority through the words they use and the unacceptable deeds
they do. It doesn’t matter where they
are or who hears their foul mouths, they don’t care.
These kids have someway lost,
misplaced, or haven’t been taught the value of shaking hands with ‘an
allegiance to kind-heartedness’ and the importance of respecting others, hence
the Golden Rule.
I’m not saying that all kids
are like this, far-be-it, but it is apparent to me that things are not as they
once were; miles from them. Rebellion is
raising its ugly head like never before.
I was taught to respect my
elders, and those having authority over me, especially Mom and Dad. I certainly did not talk back or disrespect
them lest I suffer the consequences of my harsh words and uncontrolled attitude.
Disobedience didn’t happen,
because I was raised with integrity to treat others the way I wanted to be
treated. I cared how people perceived
me, and yes, I had trepidation regarding punishment, if you know what I mean. I knew where the line of demarcation was, and
I didn’t cross it.
Trying to reason in my mind
why today’s generation of children and young adults are the way they are, it
seems to revolve around a common denominator that is becoming more prevalent as
time goes on.
I suspect that some parents
are finding themselves subject to the wants and whims of their kids, while
trying to be their friend. These parents
would rather give into their child’s demands than to rock the boat and
disappoint them in some way.
I understand the frustrations
that accompany parenting at times. It’s
hard work that is not appreciated in many cases, but worth the effort when a
child expresses moral values, principles, and above average ethics.
Expecting, or in some cases, insistent
on respect from children requires verbal requests with action to support the
expectation, which takes wisdom and follow-through. Kids become accustomed to empty and shallow
words that have little or no impact, because there is a lack of consequences coupled
with enforcement. Kids are quick to find
their parent’s number, figuratively speaking, pitting one parent against the
other.
I’m not talking about the
nonsense of, “Do as I say not as I do” type regiment. Children learn by example and through the
teaching of right from wrong, which befalls the parent or guardian to do some
soul searching in their own life that involves self-examination that can
produce self-control and the example they should be in the home.
It is a grave responsibility to live a disciplined lifestyle before our kids that we expect them to live. With God’s help we can achieve integrity in our children through prayer and supplication before the Lord.
(Proverbs 22:6), “Train up
a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from
it.”
There are four words that
express my ‘go to advice’ for today’s rebellious generation, “God is the
answer.” The depth of despair that
children are experiencing and exhibiting through words and deed shows me how
much things have changed from the days of my youth; it’s mind boggling.
I believe obedience and
respect are learned. This process begins
in the home at a very young age—the informative years. But know this, there is hope in Jesus no
matter how old a progeny is. God is
still on the throne and prayer changes things when we pray for our children. It’s never too late for a miracle to happen.
My wife and I did our best to instill
good character habits and goodness in our three children, as our parents
ingrained in us. They showed us by their
example how to behave and become successful in life. It took persistence on their part; it just
didn’t happen.
It’s difficult to comprehend the number of spoiled kids that are out there. In my opinion, they need to hear the words, “No, not this time!” with proper follow-through behind the narrative. Arguing back-and-forth, begging in some cases, propositioning, or asking a child to do something more than once is frustrating.
Some kids are totally irresponsible,
because their parents have allowed this behavior to develop and become habit-forming
early on. Some of these children’s heads
are in the clouds regarding most things.
As the saying goes, “They couldn’t fight their way out of a wet paper bag.” I’m not trying to be curt or brisk.
I’m sure you know what the word ‘enabler’ means. It involves caregivers, moms, dads, or guardians that always make decisions for the children under their care. They insist on taking responsibility away from the child.
Most parents would rather
their children not have to suffer any discomfort whatsoever. They don’t want them to struggle at all, of
which I can understand. We want the best
for our children; there is a ‘but’ coming.
But in my opinion, having
raised three responsible children, a parent needs to learn when and how to
backoff from being an overprotective ‘helicopter’ type parent, the enabler that
is always hovering. It is quite apparent
that without responsibility there is no accountability, as I see it.
I believe that children must
learn responsibility and be accountable for their own actions in life. After all, they are the child and not the
parent. They need to know their place in
the home, surrounded with love and controlled discipline.
Children should not be allowed
to become the authority figure that’s in charge. I’ve seen parents walk on eggshells around
their children hoping not to hurt or offend them in some way. I know a few parents that find it very
difficult to let go of the reigns and allow their kids to learn by their own
mistakes and how to work things out for themselves.
Responsibility builds
character, self-worth, and self-assurance in the face of challenges that life
brings. Their mom or dad may not always
be around, then what?
An ongoing ‘put out the fire’
type of intervention by those in charge, teaches a child that it’s okay to not
think for themselves, that someone else will most likely pick up the pieces if
they wait long enough or work the angles just right.
A young person that is always
looking for a designated hitter to assume their responsibility may very well be
an Achilles heel through life. This
ineptness will ultimately affect children, negatively, to depend on other
people to bail them out of situations that they’ve gotten themselves into.
God wants us to think for
ourselves and make wise choices, having sound judgement as we walk with the
Holy Spirit. We are freewill moral
agents to choose for ourselves what is right and wrong. We must give our children the ability to make
decisions for themselves, while maintaining a visual with open communication.
www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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