 This is a common statement used by many....unfortunately I have used it myself. I came across this article, a letter written to a young man's mother and thought I would share it with you. I pray that we would use what time the LORD gives us wisely, after all we only have this short life to prepare for all eternity. Dear Mom, Would you please stop worrying about me? I'm all right. Remember, I'm just away at school, not in Vietnam or some place dangerous. This is just a small school. All the kids do not get drunk every night, take dope or riot every other day. Of course, there are a few wild ones in every academy. One thing I've found out here at school is that I've been too protected. I've missed out on a lot of things; so now I have a few beers (not enough to get drunk) and even smoke a little. I don't really think there's anything wrong with doing those things. It's even been kind of fun! I know you're probably having a fit at home, feeling that I'm living in sin and everything. Come off it, Mom! You've been pushing religion for years; and, to tell you the truth, I'm tired of it. I stay in bed on Sundays without someone yelling at me to "get up or you'll be late for Sunday School." I finally have some freedom. Don't get me wrong; I love you. But I just want to find things out for myself. My whole life is ahead of me and I want to live. Later on, when I've had my fun, I'll get established in life and start to go to church again. But there's plenty of time before I die to settle my life. I'm doing pretty good in school, maintaining my 3.0 average. The meals aren't as good as yours, but I'll soon be home for the summer; so get the kitchen ready. Tell Dad that I'm on the tennis team and will get my letter. The tennis coach has talked to me and wants me to be sure to come out again next year. He feels that after a year of experience I can move up to singles competition. This should make Dad feel that all the times I've dragged him to the tennis courts weren't in vain. I have some news for you, Mom, that you probably won't like: I'm going steady. I know how you feel about going steady, but everyone around here does it; so it must be okay. Her name is Jean and she comes from a small town in Maryland. She was born in France but moved to America when she was seven. She has just a touch of an accent that's really great. Now keep your cool, Mom. She's not a Christian and not even Protestant, but her family never goes to church; so it's not as if there was a really big clash of religions. I have invited her to come and visit us next summer. She even said she could go to our church! That should relieve your mind. When you write, would you send me a check for twenty extra dollars? A bunch of us kids are going to the ocean for a week end. It should really be a lot of fun, and a couple of seniors are coming as chaperones. One of them is a preacher's kid so I'll be guarded closely. Well, that's about all I have to write. Love, Bob P.S. Please don't send those religious tracts. The other guys are making fun of it. Note: As Mrs. Hade looked up from her son's letter, she saw her husband come into the room with a telegram in his hand. His face was grim, and the telegram trembled in his hand. "Mary," Mr. Hade said in a tight voice and put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "We just received this telegram. Bob has been killed in a car accident." This is in many ways a very sad letter and of course the ending is very sad. This young man, who wrote, in many ways a disrespectful letter to his mom, thought that he had all the time in the world. He didn't. None of us know just how much time we have.
I want to live my life for Jesus and with eternity in mind.
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I came across this article in a sword of the LORD book and thought it would be good to post it. I believe it address' several issues that are still relevant to today. Please take a moment to read it and feel free to pass it along! It is important that we take a stand for what is right and I must say I would have been proud if my son would have been a part of this "Club"! Would you? There is a "Girl-Watchers" club at Lakeside Junior High School in San Diego. It has a membership of 39 boys. Near the close of the last semester of school, the club published and distributed to all girls on the campus the following proclamation:
"We, the boys of the Girl-Watchers Club, have been watching girls for the past four weeks. Some of what we have observed has pleased us. But, much of what we have seen displeased, disgusted and repulsed us. Therefore, we have agreed and resolved that some changes must be made. We feel the changes must be made. We feel the changes suggested are reasonable and fair. In general all we are asking is that girls again become feminine in their thoughts, words and deeds.... We are tired of constantly being forced to look at girls' underwear. For example, Petti-pants hanging out; skirts not long enough to cover underwear during such normal activities as sitting, stooping, reaching up or running. Boys do not like the carelessness girls display when sitting with legs apart or lying on floors, grass, benches and retaining walls, constantly making others look at their underwear. This is no thrill for boys or anyone else - just obnoxious. We find girls draped in boys' or mens' clothing unattractive and unfeminine. Many are wearing sailors' pea-jackets, boys' shirts with tails hanging out...and sundry other items of male clothing. Wear your own clothes and let us wear ours. We are concerned about girls; choice of vocabulary in both spoken and written communication. We take a dim view of girls using both profane and obscene language in their conversations with each other and with us...Clean up your mouths or keep quiet. We think girls passing notes or letters around is silly, but girls passing obscene or vulgar notes is revolting and intolerable. Stop writing dirty notes - period! We are concerned about the large number of girls whose general behavior is becoming increasingly unfeminine and boylike... Girls who smoke, ditch(cut classes), shoplift and hitchhike are well know to all of us and respected by NONE of us. Suggestion: Don't smoke; attend school, pay for the things you need and walk where you are going." The "proclamation" concluded with an announcement that girls failing to comply with it would be subjected to "a total boycott of all friendly relations" with all 39 boys....The boycott started with the posting of the proclamation on a school bulletin board Friday morning. All girls got a copy of the proclamation in the home rooms Friday morning and they all froze. They were still sore all day Monday, but by Tuesday they showed so much improvement, particularly in connection with underwear, the boycott was lifted pending a Girl-Watchers' meeting Friday. |
Photo used under Creative Commons from j van cise photos
