Today’s society yields a load of disrespectful youths. In recent events, I have encountered quite a few young people who have decided that ‘respecting your elders’ is a thing of the past. “What has brought the increase of this behavior?” and “Who do they think they are?” are questions that are asked by several adults I converse with. Well, my dears, I have a theory!
Have you heard of the saying ‘monkey see, monkey do’ or ‘the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree’? These sayings are quite accurate! Children usually mimic the behaviors of their parental units (and/or other adults in their lives). From a broad range of topics, such as, cell phone use to money management, kids will normally copy the movements their parents/guardians make.
As a former security guard for events, I came across a few unruly parents who wanted to get a glimpse of celebrities as they were leaving a show they just performed. These parents were informed by a colleague and myself not to stand in a particular area due to it being private property, and then suggested a place where they could stand that wasn’t too far from their current position. Immediately, the parent starts to yell and curse at the two of us (in front of her children) about how she has the right to stand in any place that she chooses. Once again, we politely (Yes, politely! She is not the first we encountered with this sort of attitude) asked her to step aside to the area we suggested for her to stand. And once again, we were met with the same behavior (what happened after that needs no further explanation). The point is these young ladies witnessed their mother handle a situation with disrespect towards authority. She just indirectly gave her children permission to disobey and disrespect authority (their elders).
My children and I went shopping at this store called Five Below. The shopping experience was horrendous due to Christmas only being a week away, and the fact that nearly everyone who passed us either bumped into us (I hate that! Plenty of room people!), or forgot to take a shower (there were some mighty strong bodily odors wafting about). As we were standing in the checkout line a conversation between a separated couple began (one was in front of us and the other behind us). The bloke behind us decides to yell to his wife in front of us that a certain former Governor was eating at a restaurant at the current moment. He then proceeds to ask her if she would like to go and ‘shake him’, which in return she said, “I would love to pour a milkshake all over him right now! That sounds like a lot of fun!” At this comment, my youngest daughter looks up at me, notices my face, and asks me what was the matter, and I said very audibly, “I am surrounded by stupid people”. Upon entering the car, I was asked by another child of mine what ‘shake him’ meant. I explained to her what it was, and with rightful curiosity she asked, “Why would they want to do that do someone…especially the Governor?” After explaining how the world is operates in the world of respect (or lack there of), I was left to ponder, who speaks that way…especially in front of children?
All-in-all, it boils down to this! Adults, you are being watched by today’s youth! Parents, it all starts in the home! If there is no respect in the home, there is an extremely high probability that respect outside the home will not exist! You may not like a certain governor, president, police officer, teacher, or parent of yours (Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God), but O.M.G are you being watched in how you respond to those particular people! You cannot expect good results from your children if you, yourself cannot control your own attitude towards authority. It is your right to have your opinion on such topics, and it is only natural for your children to share the same opinion as yourself. However, you have to teach your children that even though they have their opinions respect is still required.
I will leave you with this from Titus 2:1-8: You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
I love you all and GBY!
Comments