I'm Grounded!

I know that my wife has this thing about how most people, especially teens, have the lost the ability to communicate. The reality is that almost everyone texts short cryptic messages that ten years ago few would understand. I admit that it is easier to send texts or e-mails out to hundreds instead of actually using my phone. The cute thing is that my Anne now texts all of the time. I especially love her special texts to me.

This week I got one of those texts from one of my kids/teens. It was I’m grounded L. This wasn’t necessarily a surprise because this one teen is more on the wild side at times. God is at work and there is progress but it is easy to push the button of your single hard working mom. I usually ask the obvious, WHY? I have had my share of talking with parents or grandparents about their kids and the obvious help me understand why my kid always does ___________?

This txt came back with a message about cell phone usage while on vacation in Cali. Obviously the mom was a little upset with a bill that was probably 10 times what is usually is. I have memories of another teen whose dad is still paying for their $1000 bill. I know have learned that the $20 a month for unlimited texting is a steal.

Consequences for choices and actions don’t seem to necessarily sink into to most in today’s world. I have another teen that ‘lifted’ one of our volunteer’s ipod touch. It took the Lord some time to get this youth to admit what they had done. My real question was again WHY? Don’t you see what could happen to you if this was someone different that might press charges? What were you thinking? The simple fact is that when we do ‘dumb’ stuff we aren’t thinking we are living with the mindset if I don’t get caught it is ok. I deserve to have that ipod touch or iphone or psp.

I think the challenge for most adults is that we have the means to get what we want and few voices around us say YOU DON’T NEED THAT. I will be the first to admit that I have lived by instant gratification to the detriment of family or friends. I live around many who don’t have the means to pay for their utility bill, gas for their car or money for their child’s uniform for school. The only way that I can use my God given resources better is by paying attention to what I am doing and choose to live on less. Wow – I am really capable of limiting my consumption of some things in my life that aren’t necessities.

I often give my ‘spiel’ that there are two kinds of people in the world; givers and takers. The reality is that most of us are takers who expect a free ride off of someone else’s dime or I really mean $100 no longer does a dime do anything. The only way that I can be transformed into a giver is through God’s work in my heart. Until Jesus has opened my eyes to see that He is the ultimate giver who enables me to be restored to God, forgiven, filled with His Spirit and grace that I can transition from always thinking about me, myself and I to seeing the world in a different light.

Yeah – I’m grounded. I need to learn to listen and be different in my approach to life and my possessions or more God’s gifts.