How Rude!

I'm trying my level best to remember the product of a commercial. What caught my senses in their advertising was the level of introducing "Caring" about our fellow brothers and sisters of mankind. We have become a very rude people. Are we so different than the rest of the world. No, but as my dad would say...Because everyone else does it doesn't give you the privilege of acting that way. The commercial is where people are observing people assisting others, paying attention and then passing that same kindness or awareness on to others. Helping hands, taking that little extra step to be a blessing to someone WITHOUT expecting a thing in return. Problem today is when you extend a hand people have come to expect that hand over and over and take advantage or are just simply not grateful. It's what is being taught...grab it it's yours for the taking. No it isn't! I received and e-mail with some fun reading for me, steps away from the usual, so that's fun. I am going to share it...I don't take credit for it and I don't know who wrote it so I hope whoever did doesn't fault me for using their concept. But I have to tell you there was a time when being rude and not doing the right thing by your fellow man meant you were not a person to associate with. They were out of the norm...my how things have changed.
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.
The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before: television, penicillin, polio shots frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill.
There were no credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon. Your Grandmother and I got married first, . . And then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, "Sir". And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir." We were before gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey or even the rock and roll we had. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 &10 cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar and I'll never forget the smell, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, . . . But who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in and ' "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office, " chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store and "software" wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap... And how old do you think I am? I bet you have this old man in mind...you are in for a shock! Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.

64 years old! Now what's the point here! Well just this...we grew up in a time where it was necessary to be a part of each other and rudeness in children or adults was just not our way. I listen to the media and how people viciously tear each other apart. Television shows that cheer language and disrespect for parents and authority figures and it's thought to be just expressing one individual thoughts and we should allow every person that privilege. Nonsense! Freedom is not free. Because so much of this has been allowed throughout our society everyone has entitlements. I'm entitled to think what I want! Yes, you are! However, you are not entitled to do harm just because you think your entitled to. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could realize that a kind word and a smile will change the atmosphere of everyone around us. I know it's not a fluff world but when we have the ability to stop...look around...and calm the waters. Jesus said it best...A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.Proverbs 15:1-3. It is the truth. It truly is hard to fight with someone who isn't fighting back at you. There was a time when things, I heard people say, was simpler times. No they were simpler and difficult also. We had to work hard without all the conveniences of today. The only thing that softens people today is tragedy but that softening never lasts. We need to turn our hearts back to brotherly and sisterly love and stop the I and ME everyone gravitates to.
D.L. Moody wrote: The Bible speaks in Galatians about love, the fruit of the Spirit being love, joy, peace, gentleness, long suffering, meekness and temperance. The way this writer has put it -- and I think it is very beautiful -- is that joy is love exultant, peace is love in repose, and long suffering is love enduring. It is all love, you see, a gentleness is love in society, and goodness is love in action, and faith is love on the battle-field, and meekness is love at school, and temperance is love in training.
When the Lord was here He was all the time stripping the Pharisees of their miserable self righteousness. They professed great love for Him while their hearts were far from God. Let us not profess to love God with our tongue and lips, while our lives are far from it.
We can be a people that truly represents our claims to other nations but first we must become loving to one another before we can ever reach out to Nations. Over the years I have seen Americans come together in unity and care for one another hundreds of times. We are all guilty and we need to make a habit and bring it back around full circle. Teach our children right and parents rule in Godly love! Be blessed in Him....Crystal