It's Time! This is what came to my mind the other morning as I listened to Dr. James Dobson on 106.9 FM radio (can also find him on family.org).

Dr. Dobson's topic, Bringing Up Boys, really touched home for me because I have two sons. Mr. Dobson talked of how parents and teachers feel children have to learn to cope on their own. He disagreed and pretty much said we have to step in and help the children, especially those who can't defend themself! Those children would include (and I probably have added some to the list) ones with wounded spirits, of single parented families, taller ones, overweight ones, ones with disabililites, ones who have been belittled, self-esteem asaulted, and the list could go on.

He described a story of a bunch of balloons being let go. Some ascended straight to the sky and others didn't! "That's the way children are. Some are tough. Some are born to excel. Some are born with feelings on sleeves. Hopefully parents will realize how important it is to teach the skills. Give them something to help deal with those moments (assault on confidence) that occurs in adolescent years," Dr. Dobson said.

Dr. Dobson talked of how parents and teachers can tone down a lot of situations, where there are talks of revenge, signs of depression, high emotional situations, and etc. He encouraged one to always treat eachother with dignity and respect.
As I listened, I thanked God for the message. Sometimes I think we adults feel youth should respect us but forget we should respect the youth, as well. We have created a generational barrier between adults and youth by the way we treat them and by the way we judge them. Some of us have forgotten that we used to be a child.

But God looks at all of us and will judge all of us, accordingly. As I listen to and watch the news today, I often see where God is allowing the covers to be pulled off and exposing the wrong and inappropriate actions adults are doing behind close doors and in the dark. What is interesting is that more and more of the adults appear to be in leadership and in authoritative positions.

I say this because society appears to be so hard on judging the youth and their actions; but personally, I don't see a lot of intervention to help them. Maybe a select few are being helped and there are some whose inappropriate actions are just covered up. So guess what? And I have said this before......the ones that are covered up and the others who don't receive the help they need grow up to be the adults we are seeing in the news today. So why is all of this happening now, I have asked myself. My answer.....God is trying to tell us something......we are not doing right by our youth! This includes ALL of our youth. God is showing us that He knows our every actions and even our every thoughts. God wants us to be more
loving, kind, and generous in our thoughts.....to have thoughts that build up rather than to tare down. Then our thoughts will generate better actions.

After hearing Dr. James Dobson's message and reading Dr. Maya Angelou's writing, I'm even more convinced that we should be doing more to help our youth. I thank God for people such as Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Maya Angelou, and others who realize there is a problem and are speaking out. Just maybe more and more people will start collaborating to help our youth!

Dr. Angelou has recently released A Pledge to Rescue Our Youth (http://www.mayaangelou.com/ShortBio.html). Now I know.............

IT'S TIME!

It's time for ALL good men and women to come to to the aide of the youth! It's time to take a long serious look at yourself and ask.......Am I doing all I can to help a youth? Am I part of the problem? How can I be part of the solution?