From time to time something weighs heavy on my mind and heart and this is one of those moments. I woke up this morning and my mind began to remember of how it use to be when I was growing up. We as children didn’t have much, but we made great use of what we had. We did chores like washing dishes, vacuuming, keeping our rooms clean, feeding pigs, cutting grass, cutting up wood for heat, and pulling weeds out of the gardens. We were up early to beat the hot sun. Like many of us who grew up in Danville, Virginia in the 70s and 80s, we had gardens and grew our own vegetables... My family had a huge one where as kids we had to help pick string beans, butter-beans, corn, tomatoes, peas, potatoes...then we had to shell them...often it took hours. We also collected soda bottles to recycle for money as well as working hard in the tobacco fields. We did anything we could to make money back then. I went to school and made good grades (because it wasn't an option). I also played sports: football, track, etc...and still had time for fun. There were no abundant amount of toys so we created toys, made up things to do for fun...we played outside. There were no cell phones, computers, Xbox or cable tv and yet we were still content. I'm not saying that the chores were fun. I hated them too but I respected my parents and I wanted to make them proud and today I can look back and I'm actually glad I had those experiences. We had a roof over our heads, food to eat, and clothes to wear...all the vital things you need to survive. Not to mention we were a church going family. We loved the Lord. I attended regularly with my family and even played the piano during church services. I could never, ever imagine disrespecting my parents. I love my parents.
We were thankful for what we had. The family worked as one. We worked for everything we had and we were taught to appreciated all of God's blessings. I look at the generation of today and a lot of kids think they're supposed to have all the luxurious toys and gifts without having to do anything to earn them. They want to lay in bed all day, watch tv, smoke weed, yes I said SMOKE WEED, eat up everything, and then they still expect to be able to get what they want when they want it. All without any regard for the best interests of their family. They're so selfish these days. Kids today have no respect for anything....it’s all about them. Little do they know how very blessed they are.
There are children all around the world that are homeless, wondering where their next meal will come from, and barely clothed, with no families to love and care for them, some living in Foster care and praying to some day have a place to call home. There are children with arms and legs missing, blind, or suffering with life-threatening diseases... and yet they are still very thankful for what they have...thankful to be alive. If you're fortunate enough to be in good health and to have a roof over your heads, those two things alone are great reasons to thank God. No matter your circumstance, I promise you there is always somebody who is a lot worse off than you.
I've noticed that many of today's kids are very ungrateful and extremely disrespectful to their parents or anyone of authority when they don’t get what they feel they are entitled to. Then they look at us like we're crazy when we show them enough is enough. Anything beyond a loving family, shelter, food and clothing is a luxury. So to all the lazy, disrespectful, ungrateful kids out there... the next time you're watching tv or walking down the street and you see someone that has a disability, or is in some way less fortunate than you, you need to have compassion...you have the power, ability and resources to bless others. Use what God gave you to do good things.
So if you think you have it hard, you haven’t even come close to knowing what hard is. Think about that the next time your parents ask you to contribute to the household chores, to get a job, or go to school or to simply HELP with whatever they need help with. Your parents are NOT the enemy. We love you...Try harder to be more considerate, more kind...more thoughtful and more respectful. Don't tell us what you're going to do to to be a better person. Show us.
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