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Grandparents helping grandchildren
On the surface churches are prospering yet at the same time are losing their spiritual influences upon society and government. Many youths grow up attending church regularly with their parents, only to drop out around driving age or shortly thereafter, and become involved in drugs, alcohol and sex about as much as kids who never went to church. Why is this so?
To cope with a world where corrupting influences are pervasive and good character seems not to matter, what can I do to help a growing child develop an honest, upright character where morality and life styles really do matter? I look back to some of my own childhood experiences for help.
My parents were decent, honest folks brought up in the simpler rural life where the local church was an important part of their lives. A one-room school met in the church building. Although not all our neighbors went to church, a majority did so. Most everyone, including those who made moonshine whiskey and drank it, respected the church and those who attended it.
There was no TV with immoral, corrupting shows and ads when I was a kid. We also had adult family members around us most of the time. My parents, grandparents and most close relatives were kind, helpful folks. Children played up and down our mountain valley without fear of brutality or sexual assault. Our decent, law-abiding neighbors imparted good manners, proper conduct and a healthy outlook on life. I especially appreciate learning to think for myself, to be responsible for my life and conduct, and be self-reliant. I could make up own mind what to do and not blindly follow others or their ideology. I knew that what I did in life did count and that I was responsible for every act and word.
My motherÕs love of reading helped me to understand the wide world better and to enter it later on. She and I checked out numerous books from the bookmobile. I read fiction, such as western novels by Zane Grey, adventure stories by Jack London, and Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I also read true stories of famous peopleÕs lives and deeds. I grew to love history and thus read of ancient peoples, nations and wars throughout the world and historical times.
Children watch far too much TV. Thus we encourage our grandchildren, Alex and Kelley, to read more books. I shared my boyhood reading of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Call of the Wild, Robinson Crusoe, Tarzan, Treasure Island, etc. Last week, while returning from a fishing outing, Alex read from Tom Sawyer and shared some details of his adventures. When I said I had forgotten one episode, he replied, ÒHow can you forget that?Ó
I couldnÕt believe my ears! When we got home and were discussing books, Kelley spoke up and said, ÒPapa, get me a Black Beauty book.Ó She loves horses and is drawing and painting them in very life-like style and wonderful colors. I went out and bought ÒBlack BeautyÓ plus a book that shows every kind of horse in living color! I think the teamwork of parents and grandparents may be making headway here.
When I was young I was among elders whom I respected and trusted. Today I can point the way the best I can, having learned from study and others, and from my own experiences and painful mistakes. What our youth face today in the way of drugs, false ideologies, lies, half-truths and temptations is far worse than what I had to cope with in a simpler time and place. The Bible, which is under attack in America, says something about truth. Jesus in telling his disciples to abide in His words, closed with, ÒAnd ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Ó I want my grandchildren to seek and understand truth and thus remain free.
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