Brothers and Sisters,
As a career police officer, I know that the subject of teens is a very "iffy" subject, and it really needs to be put into context with one's thoughts at the time from their perspective. It appears there are several perspectives being considered in the last few posts, and I have a few other perspectives from law enforcement.
All this has me thinking. And yes, thinking IS painful for me!
I think it's true that we all come from different perspectives on this. What saddens me though, is that one teen is being held up as a scapegoat for ALL teens.
And the subject of "teens" has always been around and always will be. Each generation remembers how things were "back in the day"....
First, I can tell all of you that I taught my children to show respect, and there were obviously many things that I didn't tolerate. I'm sure that the same is true for all Christians who love their children.
One of the many lessons I want my kids to learn is that, even though it's not always easy- we have to see any person, of any age, through the eyes of the Lord. And in His eyes, there is worth! Not one of us is any better than the other! And though we all have different personalities, there is a place for us with Him!
I knew teens who were already career criminals at 13 years old. I also knew alcoholics and drug addicts at 10 years old. I worked with many teens who didn't live to 20 and many others who had their third or 4th trip to prison by age 20. In short, I'll tell you that I remember many who broke my heart and the hearts of other police officers who had been working with them, on and off duty.
Amen! I've worked with kids for 25 years in the classroom, in counseling, in Sunday School, and in my own home. I've worked with "normal" kids and every exceptionality in Special Education. I've had desks thrown at me and guns pulled on me and even been asked out by some.
Oh yeah, I even had one young man pull off his leg (literally - it was wooden) and threaten me with it. That was all in the emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered class, by the way.
Though they were a volatile group, they were also amazing in their love!
The group of kids that I saw that were most misunderstood were the special education kids in the "Gifted" classes. Those were the best and brightest of all kids- test wise- with high expectations thrust on them because of their "giftedness".
Parents were most often the primary cause for teens who were headed for prison or the grave, but that wasn't the case all of the time. There were actually many cases where the parents became prisoners in their own homes and threatened or abused by their own children. I know that sounds odd, but it was really pretty common, especially when gangs, alcohol, dope, and single parent homes were involved.
The biggest problem I've seen has to do with the fact that parents have become so materialistically minded that children are left to raise themselves. They don't need more "rod", they simply need parents to care and be there for them! Our societal expectations have decreased the value of doing without "things" to care for what the Lord calls "blessings".
It's true that I don't know how to define a normal teen, but I have a pretty good idea about how to describe decent teens who have a very bright future and they're simply struggling through the very difficult teen years. I probably also have a pretty good idea about how to describe exceptional teens who might be leaders or anything else they might wish for the future, and those I mainly know from church settings.
It's funny, but I remember being a teen and I remember them being much like they are now, personality-wise!
And for the record, I don't ever want to be a teen again!
It hasn't been long ago that guns became the most common way for a teenager to die. I say this only to make a point that society obviously doesn't have a very good handle on ways to deal with teens in the gangs, dope, and other things associated with going down a path to their own doom. I have many ideas about how parents should have done different things, but it's really too late in the teen years to correct out of control problems that have been brewing for the majority of the teen's life. It definitely involves teaching respect for authority, the parents being the first to receive proper respect. However, you now have to talk about parents who were drug addicts, alcoholics, and involved in criminal activity or otherwise very poor role models in teaching anything, especially respect for authority. So, teens who are out of control or on a path to doom probably had a lot of neglect and/or abuse from improper parents.
Amen! Only today's parents demand respect without earning it and by that I mean that they simply aren't there for our youth! Our youth are simply left alone to raise themselves!
I mainly wanted to mention a few things that would illustrate how multi-faceted this discussion could be and is. Regarding Sapphire, he probably fits into the category of exceptional teens who will be leaders or whatever else they wish in the future. That doesn't suggest that they don't have a few rough spots to go through. I don't know of any teens who don't have a few problems to deal with.
Amen! And I'll say it again- I don't ever want to be a teen again!
Ref. this thread, I really think there were some misunderstandings because of folks thinking in different perspectives - all correct I might add. But, regardless of how many perspectives our society has tried to think about teens, many of the results are a crying shame for a civilized country. There has to be better answers, more perspectives considered, and society as a whole trying to stop what is happening to SO MANY teens in this country. I have dozens of pictures of their faces still in my mind - the ones who went to their dooms.
In my heart, I'm positive that raising children in the LORD is the biggest key to having a young adult ready and able to make it in this harsh world. I am so happy that I knew and got to see many teens over my career who did make it, and they will be the leaders with a happy and productive life. What good and caring parents can't do, JESUS is with the Christian teens, and I smile every time that I think about them. This should be a matter of prayer for every Christian all over the world.
Amen! As a parent, knowing God has His hand on them sure makes me rest easier!
Name calling is not proper when Christians are involved in a reasonable discussion. It might even be good to get some input from Sapphire for this discussion. I know beyond any doubt at all that fine young adults are not an accident, and you would be surprised to find out how many fine young adults have been involved with police and other agencies in trying to find solutions. After all, many of them have become victims of the gang members, dope dealers, and other criminal types.[/b]
Amen again! And I don't see how calling a Christian brother in Christ as "weak" is helpful when he actually has a valid point about Christians only speaking out against something.
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