I feel sorry for our young people

I was thinking about how much I feel sorry for our young people today. Their lives are so different and seem to lack some innocence and opportunities for some of life’s great lessons.  

I feel sorry for them because they never have time to be bored. We fill their schedules with so many activities that they rarely get to experience downtime. Being bored teaches you how to relax and do nothing or how to find something to do on your own. Being bored, as a kid, is a great thing. It teaches us how to be creative. 

I feel sorry for young people because they can’t put the TV on or change the channel without being exposed to violence or vulgarity or something else that does not help us be better people. 

I feel sorry for them because they don’t know how to dress for church. Many have not been told that they shouldn’t wear inappropriate clothing to church because its God’s house and inappropriate clothing offends people. It’s rude.

I feel sorry for them because no one is teaching them that there are places where a cell phone should not be, like the dinner table or church. 

I feel sorry for them because they only eat in the dining room about once a year and are not taught how to dine in this kind of a setting. Then we are appalled at their table manners when we take them to a good restaurant. 

I feel sorry for them because many schools are getting rid of gym class to save money so they don’t get to have any physical activity during the day.

I feel sorry for them because they are full of very unhealthy high-sugar and high-caffeine drinks that are readily available at every store.  

I feel sorry for them because visiting with parents, grandparents and adult friends has been replaced by a computer game or texting. 

I feel sorry for them because some have never come home from school and smelled chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. 

I feel sorry for them because they go to sporting events and see parents yelling and using bad language towards coaches and referees, demonstrating this is good sportsmanship and appropriate behavior. 

I feel sorry for them because kids today seem to be growing up so much faster than they used to. They are missing out on some lessons that prepare us for life and make us good adults.

I feel sorry for them because they are missing out on opportunities to be patient and kind and recognize situations when a person should do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.   

I wish our kids got to experience some of the childhood innocence of days gone by.