Emerald G. Parsons
In today’s society, as we look around, so many of us are shocked at what our world is coming to (has come to). So much of what is going on in this world also has to do with the way children are being raised. It’s called “Home Raising.” Either you’ve got some – or you don’t.
I am proud to say that good “home-raising” manners were instilled in me from the time I could talk and walk. I’ve always teased by saying that I think I was taught how to say, “Yes Sir” before I learned to say “Mama” or “Daddy.” But I truly think my “Yes Sir” and “Yes Ma’am,” and “Mr.” and “Mrs.” (to a name) didn’t run too far behind my first words.
Manners were instilled in me from day one. And for this, I truly thank my parents. I think that, as parents, we can give our children nothing better (other than love) than good manners and the Christian knowledge of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” followed by “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
I was raised to work hard, never quit or give-up and believe I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. I was taught to respect my elders and to respect other people’s personal property. I heard the quote, “There’s nothing worse than a thief or a liar” continually, from my father. If I did something wrong, I was sure to be reprimanded for it; however, if I lied about it – I got “tore up.”
While growing up, and doing prankish things in school, I was called into the principal’s office (during the 9th grade) for putting tacks in other students’ desks. I was the only girl called in along with about seven boys in my class. I remember us standing in front of the principal’s desk as he went through the boys, one by one, asking them what would happen to them if he called their parents. I still remember the calm I felt when I told him that I wouldn’t get in as much trouble as he hoped I would. (Don’t get me wrong – I didn’t have “free will” with such stuff – but teenage pranks was not on the top of the list of my father’s “don’t do” list.) I explained to the principal, that day, that my father had done much worse in “his day;” however, I KNEW that if I was EVER pulled into that office for disrespect to a teacher, for cheating, or for destruction of property then I would truly fear going home.
While I knew of friends that egged houses and cars, or toilet-papered houses, I can say that I never did any of that. There are things I could have done/did do, growing up, that my Dad laughed at and then he would tell me of things he had done as a teenager. But, I knew what to NEVER do.
It is truly sad, the number of children growing up today, who do not have this “home-raising.” Our society is what it is today, because of the lack of respect that people have for one another. “Our” children are not being taught respect for others, respect for elders, respect for personal property, and to not cheat, lie or steal.
Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
When all is said and done – and we’re buried six foot under ground – our riches and values will be forgotten. But, we will always be remembered for how we treated each other.