Wal-Mart always does it to me….leaves me stunned, appalled, and broken–hearted.
Maybe it’s only the Friday night trips…
But if the youth represented there represent the trend of the culture…HOW DID WE GET HERE?
I’m accustomed to being around young ladies who are feminine, love their parents and siblings, graciously look to the needs of others, and generally wear a graceful countenance.
I’m accustomed to young men who open doors for ladies, carry things for them, and show a respectful distance from girls their age.
I know that’s not the norm, even though I believe it should be (and once was!), and maybe that’s what creates such the stark contrast as we “venture out into the world”.
But our trip this weekend was so disheartening. Girls–young girls, 13 or 14, wearing skin tight shirts, baring bellies, skin tight shorts baring other things–including some message blazed across the rear-end for added attention.
As disturbing was their demeanor. Loud, boisterous, ungraceful carriages, many of them hanging onto the shoulder of some disheveled boy with several body piercings. They randomly blurted out profanities, unashamed of who heard them, with no regard for anyone within earshot.
And no parents in sight! These children were completely unsupervised.
Isn’t it amazing, in how little time the youth of our culture has lost all respect for themselves and for those around them? Isn’t it amazing, how the parents of our culture have lost the desire to raise up respectful, others-honoring children?
I am encouraged by all of you out there who are raising up a godly generation of young people.
I am encouraged by all of you who even understand how receiving all the children God gives you will increase the impact on our culture.
I am encouraged by your vision.
May God be praised as we anticipate a revolution!
11 comments
I hear ya!
Being a tad younger, I unfortunately don’t have any friends with children of the age you discuss, so I haven’t been given the opportunity to be around respectful young children. I can’t WAIT until my friends’ kids grow up, because I know that they WILL be different.
Until then, can I come hang out with your family? It’s disheartening to constantly see only disgraceful, disrespectful kids in public!
Oh wow!
This articly helps me be more focused on training Emilee up for the Lord, not for my own image to look good. (Yes, I struggle with that!)
It’s so sad how many parents don’t want to offend their children, want to be their “best buddy” and believe that their children can make up their own code of ethics that will “be okay” without parental guidance.
Right now, we know a family that is like this. The mother is very sweet, but worldly. She has 3 boys who are all sweet in their own ways, too, but have so many problems. One of them set up his mentally handicapped brother to be beaten up by his friends. The youngest has “come out” as gay, while the Mom says it breaks her heart, but “that’s what he is.”
Where ARE we as parents, as our children are growing up? All too often, I have found, too, that parents are completely happy to sit at home and watch Family Guy while their kids are out running around with their “friends” doing only God knows what (because the parents surely don’t know).
Only the Lord can bring about change in our nation. Only He can move through these people’s hearts. Sometimes, He choses to use one of His children to reach them – are we ready?
Thanks for the motivation, WW.
Every time this subject comes up, I want to be sure we point some of the blame on the local church. We are a body, after all.
How are we supposed to raise and train children to reflect God’s glory when (so often) all we do is merely entertain them within the walls of the church building? When “children’s ministry” becomes a synonym for “baby-sitting”? When our “youth groups” are nothing but stand-ins for the High School subculture?
When are we going to actively and strategically parent? When is the local church going to learn to leverage the influence of Mom and Dad to assist in this process? When are Mom and Dad going to learn to leverage the resources of the local church to make them better parents and families?
… deep breaths… I’m okay now.
Thanks again,
Hatushili
“I’m accustomed to being around young ladies who are feminine, love their parents and siblings, graciously look to the needs of others, and generally wear a graceful countenance.
I’m accustomed to young men who open doors for ladies, carry things for them, and show a respectful distance from girls their age.”
Yes, Kelly… very sadly, that’s not the norm these days – but it should be!!
Great comments…Hatshuli, amen to your point…so crucial.
I want to clarify something…
When I mentioned being accustomed to young people who are respectful, etc., of course I’m striving to raise respectful children and do appreciate their love for the Lord, but I was referring to an even broader circle that we are a part of where I get to witness MANY young people who demonstrate these
characteristics.
I wanted to point out that respectful children are not so scarce as one might think, and we have the privilege of knowing so many wonderful families whose children exemplify the character of Christ.
Just didn’t want you to think I was boasting about my own children!
Honestly sometimes I feel so disheartened when I spend time around some of “today’s youth”… But I think the Lord is really raising up a new generation of His children that desire to follow His plan for the biblical family! I can’t wait to see what the children of this movement accomplish. 🙂
I know that the “churchy” answer is that this makes your light shine brighter, that where sin abounds grace much more abounds…
But…
I know very well what you’re talking about and dh *insists* upon our older two children going to school with all of these people. Even though my older son HAS been threatened with being shot by the kid down the street… even after he’s had sticks thrown at him at the bus stop… etc.
I have to admit it’s “easier” to send the kid on the bus but if I think too much it breaks my heart.
Mrs. C
Mrs. C.,
I’m sorry about your plight..I know that must be very difficult. Perhaps prayer is your most powerful instrument in this situation. I wish you grace and strength!
The sad thing is that some of these children may even call themselves Christian!
amen amen amen!!!!!
I totally relate to what you’ve posted.
Blessings,
~Toni~