Kids at Church

It's been several days since I've taken time to sit and write.

I have been praying about the way I see kids acting today - especially at church.  I look at them and after hearing their stories, it's no wonder why the do what they do.  Their homes are a mess, mom and dad are putting on an act in front of people, and the kids are walking around looking for attention in all of the wrong ways.

The problem isn't just the kid, it's the parents and the lack of parenting skills.  At no time is it o.k. to be rude, disrespectful and mean toward other people.  Too many kids have cell phones with internet access, picture text ability and video ability.  I sit back and wonder if anyone has told these kids that what you put on the internet stays there forever.  Your sexting, barely dressed pictures, obscene status and all the rest stays there forever - yet these kids post things as though they are going to vanish into thin air.

My kids try to push the envelope at times and when I see it - I am all over it like a father Lion protecting his little babies.  I don't care that my oldest 19 and she is considered an "adult".  She needs to know that there is a level of respect that she needs to set for herself so that men don't look at her as a cheap tramp that they can take advantage of.  No, the picture is not cute enough to put out there for others to see.  You being on vacation with your family at the beach doesn't mean you can take something and us it as your profile picture.

As Christian parents, it our job to raise these kids in a God-fearing way of life. And by that, I mean in a respectful way.  Why is it so easy for our kids to talk to each other any kind of way, give themselves away so easily, hurt each other so easily and act like human life is meaningless?  Does social media have anything to do with it?  Does music play a part?  Does TV and reality show (what a joke) play a part?  Does the government taking away parents rights to raise children without spanking play a part?  Are parents just afraid of the their kids?

All of this and more play a part.  It is hard enough to raise small children - try raising a sr. high kid and one in college.  If I get one more headache, tightening of the chest, dizzy or shortness of breath - it will be too soon.  This is the hardest job.  I do not always enjoy re-teaching the same lessons over and over again.  Everyone tells me that it gets easier the older they get.  Don't get me wrong, I love my kids - but I am stressing raising young ladies.  When Billy Bad Butt thinks he can talk to her any kind of way in front of me - I lose my mind on him.  I don't want him thinking he can talk to her that way in my presence and don't do it when I'm not around.  If he is, she needs to find someone else.  No person is worth your self esteem, self respect, the value that I have placed in you, the time it took to groom you into a young lady, the years of validation, or the many nights of prayer for you to get a good God-fearing man in your life.

So, what got me on this rant?  I saw a kid at church tell her parents that they could go home and she would be there sometime that night.  She was going out with some friends who picked her up after church.  When they asked her where they were going - the response was - you don't need to know, see you when I see you.  My first response was a look of disbelief.  Secondly, my mouth dropped open when they said - she will be fine.  Third, I would have had her by the roots of her hair with one hand, while I was ripping her apart with the other.  They didn't even know the kids she got in the car with, they don't go to any church and the girl was only 15.  I don't want to turn on the news one day and see them wrapped around some pole and people in the background saying "she came from such a good home"  A good home doesn't mean good parenting.

Wake up, smell the coffee and take ownership of your kids!!!!!!!!!!