I realized today that I tend to judge the "younger generation" when it comes to maturity and spirituality. That thing that drove me crazy when I was younger has come to roost in my attitude of late. I'm not proud of it. I don't think it's called for. But I am aware I do it, and I do want to talk about it.
I think there are two main reasons (notice I do not say excuses) I do this. First, because I did have it rough as a teen, being expected to "be the mom" for my siblings. I was an Honors student. I played a sport. I held down a part-time job. And I had a boyfriend. I paid for my car, my insurance, and my college classes. I also bought my own clothes.
I tend to see today's young people as coddled, kids whose parents do so much for them. But being a young person today is intense. Morals and values are not nearly as clear as they used to be. Everything moves so quickly. Information is thrown at them constantly. Travel sports, music lessons, and gifted classes are "must dos" now in order to be "competitive" in life. The pressure is turned up. This requires a type of maturity, too. Balancing the demands of life in the 21st century requires sophistication (and diplomacy in a lot of instances). Just taking a stand for beliefs in today's culture takes immense grace.
I still believe that today's young people need more "hand's on practical" skills and today's parents need to back off and let their kids take some risks while the stakes are still low. But they don't need to replicate my experience to be mature. Why would I wish that on someone? Do I wear my struggles like a badge to be reckoned with? Do I think my struggles count more than someone else's?
With a closer look I see great maturity in the young people around me. They are encouragers, entrepreneurs, and have an out-of-the-box view of life. Even in my own home I see maturity. My children, who have found ways to earn money since junior high, pay their own expenses. They know how to do so much around the house. They know how to manage bank accounts, emails, itunes, and ebooks. They've managed college classes while still in high school, and they've taken on leadership roles of various types. They talk more openly about struggles and dreams than I ever did, and they seem more comfortable with who God made them to be at their young ages than I was until age forty.
Lord, help me to see the potential and gifts you have given to the young people around me, and please strengthen them for the journeys ahead...
I think there are two main reasons (notice I do not say excuses) I do this. First, because I did have it rough as a teen, being expected to "be the mom" for my siblings. I was an Honors student. I played a sport. I held down a part-time job. And I had a boyfriend. I paid for my car, my insurance, and my college classes. I also bought my own clothes.
I tend to see today's young people as coddled, kids whose parents do so much for them. But being a young person today is intense. Morals and values are not nearly as clear as they used to be. Everything moves so quickly. Information is thrown at them constantly. Travel sports, music lessons, and gifted classes are "must dos" now in order to be "competitive" in life. The pressure is turned up. This requires a type of maturity, too. Balancing the demands of life in the 21st century requires sophistication (and diplomacy in a lot of instances). Just taking a stand for beliefs in today's culture takes immense grace.
I still believe that today's young people need more "hand's on practical" skills and today's parents need to back off and let their kids take some risks while the stakes are still low. But they don't need to replicate my experience to be mature. Why would I wish that on someone? Do I wear my struggles like a badge to be reckoned with? Do I think my struggles count more than someone else's?
With a closer look I see great maturity in the young people around me. They are encouragers, entrepreneurs, and have an out-of-the-box view of life. Even in my own home I see maturity. My children, who have found ways to earn money since junior high, pay their own expenses. They know how to do so much around the house. They know how to manage bank accounts, emails, itunes, and ebooks. They've managed college classes while still in high school, and they've taken on leadership roles of various types. They talk more openly about struggles and dreams than I ever did, and they seem more comfortable with who God made them to be at their young ages than I was until age forty.
Lord, help me to see the potential and gifts you have given to the young people around me, and please strengthen them for the journeys ahead...
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