ALERT - If you go to church with me and are offended easily, grab your steel-toed shoes, your toes may be in danger. ;)
Ok, first of all, I'm not a parent. I understand that fact and know that it prevents me from being an expert on the topic at hand. However, I myself had a great set of parents and what I like to call, a structured, old-fashioned upbringing. For example: "You can't date until you can drive", "If you put it on your plate, you eat it", "Children are to be seen, not heard", "You can wear makeup when you can buy it", "Don't sit your Bible on the floor" and "Never run in church". Which brings me to the reason for this ranting blog.
I know there are things that I was taught growing up that aren't necessarily the norm for parents to teach their kids today. I understand that times are different and parenting styles have adapted to the ever-changing world we live in. I also know that God never changes; He is Holy, All-Powerful, Omnipotent, and worthy of all we can give - our time, talents, affection, love, praise, adoration and reverence. I'm not sure when it happened, but somewhere along the line, someone forgot to teach the meaning of reverence. I learned it as respect. When you come before God, you address Him with respect, when you go to His house to worship, you conduct yourself with respect. You don't run, scream, wrestle or cause disruption to others. You don't sit and whisper during the sermon. You respect His house & you honor Him with your actions.
I enjoy hearing the laughter of children filling the church. I enjoy seeing the smiling faces of the next generation in the halls and sanctuary. I know that Jesus said "let the children come to me." And I know that some of the things I was taught growing up may have been a little over the top. But when I was nearly pushed over in the hall at church today as 3 tweens chased each other at top speed, and as I stepped over 2 boys wrestling with each other over a bean bag in the hallway after service, it took everything in me not to find a parent and request that they discipline their child. I thought about saying something to the children (because if that were me at that age, an adult would have jerked me around and marched me straight to my parents), but I didn't. I'm terrified that I'll upset someone because they've chosen an alternate form of raising their children that lacks true discipline or worse, they haven't taught their children about respect at all.
So here I sit... blogging about the topic, hoping that it will encourage those who are parents to remind their children that God deserves our best. Our best attitude, actions, words, and respect - not only in our everyday life, but on Sunday at His house too.
