I'm not so far gone that I've never worked out in the world before. I know young kids get into things they ought not to, and although it's shocking b/c for the most part once you've gotten to know them you want to think the best of them. You don't want them to be like the "others." You want them to be protected from the scars that will take root in their lives, not just now, but that will plague them down the road also.
I work with mostly highschoolers right now. I don't mind too awfully much. It's easier having a greater difference in our ages b/c I could care less what they think of me. Seriously I'm closer to 30 than these kids are to 20 so I really don't care if they think I'm an old fuddy-duddy!! Yeah, 5-10 years ago it would have bothered me a lot, but now, ..... whatever! I am who I am - take it or leave it!
I have to say I have been shocked over and over again. One girl super sweet. Great personality, can talk to anyone, is highly involved in many activities, overall just - Wow!! Then a few weeks ago, she came in some attire that just totally blew me OUT of the water. I seriously was so shocked I just froze in my tracks while my brain tried to recover. I didn't expect that from her - but there again - although she's nice - I hadn't prepared myself like I should have - telling myself even though she's the cream-of-the-crop in today's society, she is still not a believer, or separated for Christ in anyway.
There's also a teenage mom-to-be.
A kid who lives with friends instead of family.
Everyday I learn more and more and it really does just break my heart. If we're foolish enough to think the devil does not have his hand working overtime on these young people we're just where he (the devil) wants us.
In casual conversation once, I was telling a girl how I HATE getting smacked/whipped with a towel (especially a wet one!!), b/c there was a kid going around acting like he was going to do it, and then he'd whack a table, or the fridge. She laughs and says *I use to hate it when my ex-boyfriend would give me welts by doing that* I was smiling and nodding my head, and then she comes out with, "I would tell him, 'I am so not sleeping over tonight!'" I was still smiling all stupid like, nodding my head, with a dear-in-headlights look on my face b/c I could not believe what I had just heard!! OH MY WORD!!! What parent let's their daughter sleep over SLEEP OVER at her boyfriend's house?!?!?!?!?!?!? I haven't seen it on shelves, but is there actually a cereal called STUPID parents eat for breakfast??? Maybe these words are a little harsh - I wouldn't want to be a parent today - but there are some things I believe are just "common sense!"
Not only are there the kids but then there are those my age. A lady came in, and b/c she gave my the exact amount of change she said, "I help balance the universe." ????????? huh? If you get that please reply. I just smiled and took the exact change.
A teenage girl - quite young - with tattoos and piercings informed her friends she had to sneeze. I was kind of hoping she would so I could see how one sneezes and deals with boogers with a horseshoe piercing in the nose. My curiosity will have to wait b/c she didn't sneeze. A few minutes later "I" sneezed. I sort of felt that was the Lord saying - I should be kinder with my thoughts.
It's funny - why is it that "normal," average day joe's seem to be less and less?? Have we come so far that all these "weird" things I witness on a daily basis are now the norm??
School cannot come quick enough. If for nothing else I think the Lord allowed me to work this summer to pop my non-social bubble and give me a personal reminder of why I'm doing what I'm doing. Why I need to pray for my students, and work to show them why the Lord wants us to be different from the world. Why He wants us to separate our lives. No one likes to hear that they're a fuddy-duddy, but wouldn't you rather be a fuddy-duddy in the world's eyes and have the blessing of the Lord on your life and feel comfort, peace, and fulfillment; than to be swallowed up in this old world the devil has dominion over and constantly try to keep up with everything that everyone else is doing, never feel good enough, or that you have the latest in anything you can imagine??
If you look around, and see our troubled youth - and yes they are troubled, even if they're coming from 4-car garage mansions and have every latest gadget one could wish for; don't just roll your eyes and scoff. Remember - these are the ones that will decide our fate someday. They are our future leaders whether we want to really admit it or not. Let's not make excuses; let's pray for them, and teach them the best we can to be honest, hardworking, moral. Not all will make a decision for Christ, but if we can't be a loving example of a God loving / fearing "fuddy - duddy" we've failed them as much as their parents, teachers, and society (who in the name of trying to do everything right, have actually screwed everything up!)
4 comments:
Hmmm...perhaps society isn't the only force that bears the blame for having "screwed everything up." I think American Christians share the majority of that blame, as we have spent decades focusing on what isn't important and minimizing what is. We've emphasized so much religion at the expense of spirituality/love/forgiveness/hope, that perhaps we've forgotten what it is to manifest His love in those whose paths we cross. I think Christians have been doing the damage for a long time, and are just beginning to see the results in the emergent generation.
In the interest of first removing the plank from our own eye, I think the "fuddy duddys" are just as damaged in our own internal way, but we just don't evidence it as quickly on the outside as those younger than ourselves. Ironic, I think, since God values the heart over the external appearance. We've committed every sin in our minds that they've performed outright.
At least they're not heretical. We could stand to learn from that.
I guess I too have to comment...
Just love them Jess... don't let anger get in the way. You can be the one that really intruduces them to Jesus, just through your love.
... who did Jesus reach out to?
Kudos on that point about Christians, believers in Christ, dropping the ball in past decades. I know we learn from our mistakes, and I think it had to be proven to us that our methods and way of thinking were not always the best. The Lord can and will work through us though, regardless - he does say that in His Word.
My anger isn't directed at these kids - it's directed at the devil. I hate how he has the power to blind the eyes of people. I hate how I know the truth, but I can't tell them. I hear scripture in the back of my head everyday when different things happen - and these people don't have that. It's hard when you see souls, not just another kid.
Good post, Jessica. I'm sure by your example and the words you say that you will have a positive impact on them this summer. The Lord may well have put you there to be the influence that they need.
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