June 19, 2005

This evening as I watched a tv program...I was reminded of my childhood days & my years in school. It's true what they say, "kids can be cruel". Sadly though, that cruelty often leaves behind lifelong scars. I know. I have many. Through the stripes of Jesus we are healed. No matter what the affliction. I'm scarred, I'm healed but, the pain is still there from time to time. The first time I walked back into my grade school as an adult, I walked the entire building. I was able see the images of what happened there in my mind as though they happened only yesterday. The tears began to run down my cheeks. It's been 11 yrs. Those same kids see me now & think nothing of it. Except for a few who finally realized what they'd done & felt guilty. One of the boys apologized. Being a christian himself, he can't understand how I could forgive them & not hate them. I did at first. But, we're grown now & their lives are a mess. Mine has only gotten better. *grin* Sometimes I hope that God can allow them to feel what they put me through. The hurt was so bad at times. Many attend class reunions. I won't go near them. Mine finally quit sending me invitations. My mind can't seem to grasp why they were so cruel. I tried to be nice about it all at first. But, you know how it is. After a while you just explode. Also not having Christ in my life didn't help me at all back then. I wonder how many other children today suffer because kids are not taught to be nice to others anymore. They can't possibly be. Some yes but, most of what I see are very mean & violent teenagers. Ones that can't even manage polite, reponsive behavior towards customers their serving. I often wonder what goes on at home that would make them tune out everyone that isn't in their world. They mostly seem to be interested in clothes, computers/games, cell phones & cars. The parents let them out of the house in skirts cut to their chins & the boys in pants that hang at their kneecaps. I find it hard to believe that there is much parental involvment there. I can't imagine bringing a baby into the world & basically turning it loose at 13. Perhaps I'd be too protective but, look around at the world we're in today. If the worst that happens to your child now is him/her getting made fun of at school...that would be a good day. If I had a child...the poor kid would be a shut-in til it turned 21. *laughing* My mother used to tell me that the hardest part was seeing me cry & not being able to fix the hurt. There was no emotional bandaid. Do your children deliberately hurt other children? Do you even care? If you do, please, I implore you to sit down & explain to them what they're doing. Try to raise the kind of kids that say please & thank you. The kind of kids that say hello, smile & open doors for people. It's time we teach our kids to dress appropriately when they leave the house & not to walk down the street cursing their friends & ignoring the people in the neighborhood who are offended. Respect & loving kindness seem to be slipping into the past. Don't let it get away from you.