Today is Tuesday, September 1st, 2009; Karen's Korner #1647
Last week our grandson, Luke stayed overnight with us before he started kindergarten later in the week. One of the things which we did was clean some of our dining room windows. While I was on a step ladder, Luke spent a few minutes stomping over a few of the bricks which edge one of our gardens.
"Luke, don't knock the bricks over," I said.
"But, Grandma, some of them are tipping over already," was Luke's response.
"Well, we need to set them all back up straighter," I said.
How is Luke going to know what the right thing to do is, if someone doesn't tell him?
**
While we were on our short mission trip to Minneapolis with our church a month ago, we went to a Twins baseball game the second night.
Driving back from the stadium to the Christian community center where we were staying, we had to travel near Hennipin Avenue.
It was Saturday night and we started to see neon lights saying such things as, "Open 24 hours"; "Women, women, women!" and "XXX".
I said to Alex who is now in fourth grade "Wow, Alex, better close your eyes! Don't look! This stuff is pretty hard on ten-year-old eyes!"
Then I clarified myself, "Hey, maybe I better shut my eyes too! I don't think 63 year olds should look either!"
We were just having fun, but I wanted him to know that it wasn't just for him. Maybe what could be happening in some of those places wouldn't be the best for young people or older ones as well.
***
I can recall when our daughters were moving through the elementary years and there would be something on a movie, documentary, or television show that didn't agree with my/our values or morals.
I would tell them what I/we thought.
If I didn't say what our thoughts were/are, how would they know?
I can't recall telling them what they should think or believe.
As they grew up, they would make up their own minds on what they would do and think.
I was always amazed that they chose more closely to what we thought/believed than I would have deemed possible in our changing culture
**
If you have an opportunity to mention to someone what you think/believe on something you value or on some issue, seize the chance to tell them.
How else are they going to know?
Or will we let the media do our job?
If I don't tell Luke what is right/wrong; good/bad, maybe he will be stomping bricks over on our front yard a dozen years from now....
***
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for the difference You make in each one of our lives. You tell us things we can and can't do, not because You are a mean Dad, but because You know what is best for us and because You love us so much. Help us to share Your love and care with others, especially the younger ones in our lives. Teach us, teach me to know what to say and when to say it. Show me when I should speak up and when I should shut up. We need more of You and Your ways in our changing world. In the Name of Your Son Jesus, Amen.
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