Recently, twenty-two year old Jenny Ballantine made this statement to Presidential candidate, John Edwards.
I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I don't know what I want to be when I'm an adult. But I'm 22 right now, so people are like, "Honey, you are an adult." You know what? It's about me. It's about me voting for you or supporting somebody who's going to be the next president. So it's all about me right now. Just give me something.
With brazen honesty, this young woman expresses the prevailing philosophy of our day: "It's all about ME. Just give me something." So much for "ask not what your country can do for you!" I'd like to believe that this woman's attitude is unique and that very few people actually believe this. But I'd be wrong. Most are just too afraid to admit it publically.
I grew up in a world that nurtured the idea that life was about me. Sadly, just like this young lady, I believed it. Marriage and homeschooling are two mechanisms God used to root out that ridiculous notion from my head. (Most of it anyway!)
I remember the first night I brought my new baby home from the hospital and she started crying. My husband shook me silly. Finally I was roused out of my blissful slumber and snapped, "The nurse will bring her to me!"
"Honey, there ain't no nurse anymore, it's your job now."
If I missed the message earlier, the pathetic cries of a newborn wailing at 2 AM got the point across LOUD and CLEAR. Each additional child was another reminder that this life of mine was no longer my own. (And even then I still had more to learn.)
Family does that sort of thing. With eight people living together 24/7 anyone who thinks life revolves around them is quickly brought back to reality. Life's not about me, it's about HIM. Jesus said to his disciples,
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Mathew 16:24)
The greatest lesson we can teach our children is that life is not about them (or us.) Lest they too turn away from Him and begin to look to others (or the state) to "just give them something."
(This guest post was written by Spunky. )
TOS Items of Interest
Apr. 5, 2007
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