Root of the Problem

Over the past year, I have noticed a huge gap in society. Humanity as a whole puts incredible emphasis on careers and "making it" at a young age. So much so that I believe our children are the ones paying the consequences of our actions.

The news is overloaded with crazed maniacs who go on shooting rampages and have thoughtless acts of violence for no found reason or cause. Everyone has their outlet to blame for the behavior and many think it's an issue of lax laws.

Now I am by no means stating that the parents of those who have committed crazed crimes are to blame; I am however proposing that our generation as a whole has lost track of what is truly important.

We get so wrapped up in ourselves and our own name and accomplishments that we forget what is around us. We spend hours upon hours advancing our careers, but at what cost? Our children are being raised by daycares, strangers, & extended family members. Children ride buses home after school to empty houses for hours on end. They have friends that no one acknowledges or cares about because we are too wrapped up in our own advancement that we don't have time to worry about those "petty" things. They will be just fine, we say... Or my favorite, "I turned out just fine."

Statistically, it is not fine. Teenage birth rate is at an all-time high in my state. Emotions are rampant in and out of the school system and our children are the ones that face the long-term consequences.

Stay-at-home moms are shunned for not being in the workforce. They are labeled as "spoiled" or "pampered" by a self-seeking generation.

Yet I see it completely differently. I see stay-at-home mommas as the real heroes. Without mothers who care enough to take their own agendas off the table in order to establish their children, our world would have already self-destructed. Biblically, women were created to be man's helper. No, I am not being sexist or medieval. I am simply stating scripture.

"Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make

 him a helper suitable for him." 

Genesis 2:18

Yet we live in a generation where if you are a housewife or a stay-at-home momma, you are shunned and deemed lazy. 

The past 9 months I have been a housewife. Although I have my bachelor's degree, my husband and I both feel like our house would run smoother if I was at home to take care of what needs to be taken care of. I am by no means lazy or spoiled, I simply am a wife who CHOOSES to be of aid to my husband. Being a coach's wife is often times a full-time job. Yet, over the past 9 months I have received SO many opinions on the decision my husband and I have made. I am always shocked and appalled when someone references the choice I have made as if it affects them. 

Now granted, some mothers do not have the luxury of a choice and need the income to support their family. I GET THAT. There is no shame in that nor should there be. I am talking about a generation where choice is an option, yet is overlooked in order to advance themselves. Is it possible to be in the workforce AND still be an involved parent? Absolutely... yet more often than not, that doesn't happen.

When looking out over the America that has risen up in today's society, I see one that is self-seeking. I am saddened by outcome and the consequences we are leaving behind for our younger generations. Yet all I can do is pray. Pray the Lord puts someone in the paths of these young people that is able to guide and lead them on a path of righteousness. For although my heart is constantly heavy for those children, His hands are forever faithful. 

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations." 

Deuteronomy 7:9

Danger in Dismissing

Over the past several weeks, I have looked at more obituaries than ever before. As I received yet another text with heart-aching news, many questions flooded my mind. Why him/her? Why now? How did this happen? Where were their friends and family? Did no one see the danger that was waging within them?

And then quickly I remembered the book of Romans and the downward spiral of man.

Young people didn't die in past decades like they do today... at least not for the same reasons. In centuries past, "young people" already had major responsibilities and viewed life in a completely different manner than we do in today's society.

Today we have an irrational perspective upon life. We say there is an end, yet we live like we are invincible. We say we grieve for those who are suffering and under Satan's affliction, yet we only really care if it affects us or our surroundings. Now-a-days, the world really does revolve around "us."

One more step away...

Too many times the death of a young person can be prevented. Parents are too afraid of the way they or their families will be viewed if they take action and get their child help. Friends hide their friends pain and secrets because it's easier than facing them. Society in general dismisses crucial signals and signs that are presented because it's no longer politically correct to confront them.

One more step away...

Yet I sit back and watch as our politically correct society spirals downward out of control. People are filling voids in their life with things of this world that will never satisfy them. So the war that is waging within them fuels itself until complete destruction has occurred.

One more step away...

I grieve for the families who have lost their loved ones, for children who are now orphaned, and friends who will never forget what happened. I pray these horrific times do not slide by the wayside, but rather that it changes a life. I pray people stand up and stop dismissing behavior simply because it's easier on them if they didn't confront the problem. I pray society in general stops sweeping things under the rug and begins to battle the psychiatric war that is plaguing our world.

Things do not change on their own--people make the change.

I'm a believer that He is strong enough to hold you now where you are.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home--

Here in the power of Christ I Stand

Boston 4/15/13

Attitude of Entitlement

Over the past few years, I have watched as America {as a whole} has swiftly settled into an entitlement attitude. Our children "deserve" their grades, adults "deserve" to be fully supported by the government, and the list goes on. 

It's slowing destroying society. 

This attitude is quickly being accepted by the younger generations, yet little do they know that this will only hurt them in the long run. 

Showing the youth of the nation that you can get things that you have not earned {or worked for} implies that they do not need to do anything in order to gain everything. This is the farthest thing from true American ideals. Our forefathers would be incredibly disappointed in us, as a nation, for allowing this attitude to progress to the extent it currently is. 

"If a man does not want to work, neither shall he eat..." -2 Thessalonians 3:10

This distorted mindset is evident in all aspects of life in today's society. As a coach's wife, I see it destroying the youth of our nation as they are growing up without the knowledge that success requires hard work. There are NO short cuts!

On the side of a semi outside of Target this week. 

It is scary to think about where our country will be in 30 years if this attitude is not swiftly addressed. 

My husband {being the John Wayne lover that he is} sent me this quote today:

Wayne responded to questions about whether entitlement programs including Medicare and Social Security were good for the country:

"I know all about that. In the late Twenties, when I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist myself — but not when I left. The average college kid idealistically wishes everybody could have ice cream and cake for every meal. But as he gets older and gives more thought to his and his fellow man's responsibilities, he finds that it can't work out that way — that some people just won't carry their load ... I believe in welfare — a welfare work program. I don't think a fella should be able to sit on his backside and receive welfare. I'd like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living. I'd like to know why they make excuses for cowards who spit in the faces of the police and then run behind the judicial sob sisters. I can't understand these people who carry placards to save the life of some criminal, yet have no thought for the innocent victim." - John Wayne 

Wayne didn't sugar-coat anything in this statement. He wasn't afraid of being "political correct," rather he was concerned with what was right. This approach is exactly what made our nation the America our forefathers created. Oh how we have drifted so far from there... all of the "political correctness" is keeping those in influential positions from speaking out. These are crucial times for our nation. Speak out! Contact your Representatives and Senators and let your voice be heard! 

This is OUR nation. It is only ours to lose. 

Football & Politics

On this Super Bowl Sunday, I thought it would be interesting to see what some significant men in American History have to say about the game of football...

"It's a lot tougher to be a football coach than a president. You've got 4 years as President and they guard you. A coach doesn't have anyone to protect him when things go wrong." -President Harry Truman

"In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is, 'hit the line hard; don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard.'" -President Theodore Roosevelt 

"An atheist is a guy who watches a Notre Dame-SMU football game and doesn't care who wins." -President Dwight Eisenhower

"Politics is like football. If you see daylight, go through the hole." -President John F. Kennedy

"I had pro offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers who were pretty hard up for lineman in those days. If I had gone in to professional football, the name Gerald Ford might have been a household name today." -President Gerald Ford

"Going to college offered me the chance to play football for four more years." -President Ronald Reagan

Although this next quote doesn't fall into the American History category, I found it a bit humorous and thought I'd share...

"Amongst all unimportant subjects, football is by far the most important." -Pope John Paul II

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!