Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Generations Redefined




















The Christmas season is a beautiful time of year for anyone and everyone that chooses to celebrate it. For those who celebrate the true meaning, we know it's more than about what is under the tree, it's what about is in the manger of the nativity scene. For most grade school students across the country, the true meaning of Christmas is no longer recognized and/or emphasized enough. We are a materialistic country and as parents want to give our children the most and the best and nothing less. Do I think it would be realistic to do nothing but sit around the nativity scene and talk about the true meaning of Christmas? Of course not...that would be impractical and quite frankly, boring. However how many families take a brief minute to go to the household nativity or even say a quick morning prayer for the thanks that Jesus brought to our lives by being born?


Generations are redefined every year. Growing up, I was always told that my generation was lazy. I never believed and brushed it off because it was annoying and I didn't believe it. Come to find out....those who told me were absolutely right. My generation is very lazy and in future years will prove so. United States drop out rates aren't declining the way they should be, and the percentage of students that choose to continue their educational career after high school isn't growing. Sure, presidential flashcards have some part to play in that, however I believe it's more than that.
Christmas is just a bold example in the society we live in that defines generations that are created. Kids ask. Some receive, some don't. Some get more, some get less. Some get all, some get none. Growing up, I was never on the top of the list of getting "everything I wanted" or "all the hot items on the list" in my school, however I was FAR from the bottom. No matter what I got, or what I didn't get I was thankful for what I received and was never short changed in my mind. However many kids these days are expecting nothing but the most, and everything but the least under the Christmas tree. So my question goes out to alllll the parents who will give their fourth grader a cell phone for Christmas and not just any cell phone but the best phone. Or allll the parents who will give their 16 yr old a brand new sports utility vehicle or sports car that most doctors and lawyers only dream of........What in the hell are you thinking?! What exactly does giving your child everything he or she asks for teach them? Or why would you even give your child the false impression that impracticality can ever be a real life reality? Do the real life lessons that will guide your child through the struggles of life come in the back seat of the new Mustang you want to have in the garage on the 25th? Are the morals and values that are needed to stay strong and defeat corruption found in the back of the owners manual of the new iphone he or she is getting?
There's nothing wrong with giving children a nice Christmas. There is nothing wrong with giving children everything they ask for AS LONG AS it's practical....and I HOPE that anyone that is "smart enough" to be able to reproduce and bring a child into this world, is "smart enough" to realize the defining line of practical and impractical...because I'm 20 years old, with 0 kids, and know the difference...The live long lessons of a hard work ethic, morals, and values are quickly being erased in the American Dictionary day by day.... Kids aren't lazy by choice...they're lazy by chance. If parents don't give their child the chance to be lazy, it's no longer an issue...correct? My generation doesn't know what it's like to truly go without because many of "us" weren't taught the meaning of "less is more"...
There's no doubt that common sense is not so common anymore.....just because gas drops TEMPORARILY for a month doesn't mean you go out and buy the most impractical SUV on the market (like many automobile corps have reported HAS happened recently)....just because the newspapers, tv media, and left wing shoe throwers tell us the economy is below the level of dirt and will collapse any day does not mean you have to spend Christmas with no presents, no tree, and no joy....just because the sun doesn't come out today, doesn't mean you should believe it will never come out again. The point is...for those who have children that are between the age of infancy and maturity (1-18 yrs old), give them a gift this Christmas and this season and this year that will live in them forever. Those kids are at the age, where real life issues and real life responsibilities do not exist and need proper guidance. Not implying you should give a 1 yr old the same lesson you give a young adult but it starts from day 1. Sure, some of them work part time at McDonald's or the local movie theatre, some of them may pay their own gas, but unless they are a rebellious bastard child who has ran away to live on their own, than they most likely reside under his or her parents house, eat their parents food, and use their parents utilities. So the point is to not give your child the boot for xmas and tell them good luck on your own...but to let them know that just like the irresponsible spending on wall street, there is a MAJOR difference between being realistic and unrealistic...between fantasy and reality...and between want and need. Give them the lessons they NEED to make sure our economic foundation is strong, not the materialistic positions they WANT that will be another dusty item on the shelf by time the "sun comes up tomorrow." The walls might have hairline cracks, the floor might squeak, and the ceiling my not keep out every drop of rain, but the concrete and the foundation of America's economy are strong. It is my generations responsibility to keep it that way but SOMEONE has to supply the building supplies. You can't fix walls without a hammer, and you certainly cant build the blueprints for ones knowledge of the real world from the roof down. This holiday season and new year, let that SOMEONE who gives a true life lesson be YOU.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
God Bless.

Adam

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