There was a time when people came to our homes to visit, the television was turned off and people could talk without interruption. That was a time when people were courteous and considerate, for they thought of people as more valuable than the television.
Today, however, it is rare to visit people and see the television off. On the contrary, the television is on as well as on in every room throughout the house.
Every generation seems to ask the same question:
"What is wrong with kids today?"
But perhaps we should ask the question:
"What is wrong with parents today?"
As parents do, the kids do likewise.
As parents do, the kids will likely do double.
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in frames of silver." (Proverbs 25: 11)
When was the last time you heard a word of encouragement from another person?
When was the last time you heard a word of gratitude or a word of appreciation from another person?
During your time of grief and sorrow last spring, it would have been wonderful for a neighbor, a family member, or a friend to visit or call you on the telephone; instead, they send a card and let Hallmark do the talking.
Remember when you were sick two months ago and later people said, "We thought about visiting but we didn't want to disturb you?"---when disturbing you was exactly what you wanted!
When people come to visit, do they come to see you, or do they come to watch you watching them, as well as to watch you hearing them? And before you have a chance to get a word in edgewise, they say, "Oh, dear me. Where does time go?" And up and away they go and usually before the coffee's cold.
You had so much you wanted to tell them; so much you wanted to share. But not today.
And now we have arrived in an age when one greater than television is on the ground and on the scene---the mePhone: the self-addiction of a selfie generation.
For every hand there is a reason, and for every other hand there is a mePhone.
Everybody has one, right?
Every member of every family has one, every kid in every class has one, and every member throughout the congregation has one---and where the "on" button never closes. We can't miss a call. We can't miss a text. We can't miss talking pictures talking back and forth.
"Honey, the sermon's over now."
"Oh, when did it start!"
What is wrong with kids today?
What is wrong with parents?
Whatever happened to: "My son, watch the Lamb."
John the Baptist never had a mePhone. Listen to him crying in the wilderness:
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1: 29)
Today, however, it is rare to visit people and see the television off. On the contrary, the television is on as well as on in every room throughout the house.
Every generation seems to ask the same question:
"What is wrong with kids today?"
But perhaps we should ask the question:
"What is wrong with parents today?"
As parents do, the kids do likewise.
As parents do, the kids will likely do double.
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in frames of silver." (Proverbs 25: 11)
When was the last time you heard a word of encouragement from another person?
When was the last time you heard a word of gratitude or a word of appreciation from another person?
During your time of grief and sorrow last spring, it would have been wonderful for a neighbor, a family member, or a friend to visit or call you on the telephone; instead, they send a card and let Hallmark do the talking.
Remember when you were sick two months ago and later people said, "We thought about visiting but we didn't want to disturb you?"---when disturbing you was exactly what you wanted!
When people come to visit, do they come to see you, or do they come to watch you watching them, as well as to watch you hearing them? And before you have a chance to get a word in edgewise, they say, "Oh, dear me. Where does time go?" And up and away they go and usually before the coffee's cold.
You had so much you wanted to tell them; so much you wanted to share. But not today.
And now we have arrived in an age when one greater than television is on the ground and on the scene---the mePhone: the self-addiction of a selfie generation.
For every hand there is a reason, and for every other hand there is a mePhone.
Everybody has one, right?
Every member of every family has one, every kid in every class has one, and every member throughout the congregation has one---and where the "on" button never closes. We can't miss a call. We can't miss a text. We can't miss talking pictures talking back and forth.
"Honey, the sermon's over now."
"Oh, when did it start!"
What is wrong with kids today?
What is wrong with parents?
Whatever happened to: "My son, watch the Lamb."
John the Baptist never had a mePhone. Listen to him crying in the wilderness:
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1: 29)
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