Today’s Thought “Ungrateful” G. Ward

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.” 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Unlike the many stories of the aged, I’m without an expression of having grown up poor. Moreover, I don’t have a story to share with young people that would relay how walking 5 miles one way to school in the snow was the norm (it sounds particularly foolish if you grew up in south Florida). I do however desire empathizing with children and young people regarding their expressions of appreciation for the gifts soon to be presented at Christmas.

Growing up, my Mother found it necessary to expend astronomical amounts of money to satisfy my siblings and me. Most everything requested, we received. Sales papers in those days were included in every daily newspaper (not just with the weekend paper), so our lists would grow rapidly. There however, was always something we neglected. Year after year I would always forget asking for Mattel’s Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots; so I purchased this for myself some five years ago. All the anticipation in having this quickly diminished upon opening the packaging. I immediately equated that with how a child appreciates the many gifts presented at Christmas time. Think back, at 10 years old, did you really appreciate the sweater Grandmother purchased? Of course not!

Amazingly, we have our children recite their thanks to whoever the presenter might be. Although with the appearances of disingenuous, it greatly promotes a potential reconciliation with true thankfulness in latter times for the child. This traditional act in reciting thanks is becoming a thing of the past. New generations of parenting allow for their little ones to absolutely stand lethargically un-enthralled while adults speak to them to get no response back; while foolishly contending with the defense mechanisms offered by parents, perverting the shyness of their children as acceptable. We were all shy in times past, but we still had to verbalize thanks! Happy Friday!