Happy Labor Day!

Hi all,

How's everyone today?  Today marks the end of a few things to most of us here in the United States.  Of course, it is Labor Day, so we celebrate that holiday.  All the public pools will be closing at the end of the day.  Many people will be putting away their tents, campers, etc. after today.  School has now restarted for our children, both young and old.  And, parents will now have to get back into the swing of running kids around all the time.  You know:  basketball games, football games, track, dances, plays, clubs, get-to-gather with friends, and many more activities.  I'm sure most of you parents with school aged children, have already had a back-to-school night.  You've met your child's teachers and perhaps the principle.  Now you just have to pray that the school officials can keep them safe.  Well, with God's help, they will. 

What is wrong with the world we live in today, that we have to consider the chance of our children getting gunned down while in school?  This, of course, includes grade school, high school and college.  I truly just don't understand what is happening to people today.  Do they have so little love for themselves that they're willing to do something horrendous to hurt other people, then they either kill themselves, go to jail for life, or receive the death penalty? 

So well I remember the days of my youth.  Oh sure, there were some petty robberies and the like, but people didn't walk around with concealed guns, knives or any other weapon.  We did lock our doors at night, because that was the sensible thing to do back then.  Even this petty stuff that occurs today, didn't happen so much back then.  Things like:  taking a key and scratching some one's car; breaking into some one's car and stealing a bit of change; purposely destroying some one's porch furniture; stealing the baby Jesus from a Christmas display; and on and on! 

Do you ever ask yourself "why"?  Why is this all happening?  I can't really give you an answer, except to say that I see that so many of our youth, today, seem to have a chip on their shoulders.  They believe they have an entitlement coming to them.  They show no respect to anyone, much less their elders.  They also show no respect for the home in which they live. 

But, this last thing isn't just the young people.  Many older folks have no respect for their homes, especially if they are renting, but not just renters.   And, certainly, not all renters.  I know people who rent and they take care of their homes.  I see people throw down trash everywhere.  Weren't they taught not to throw their trash down, to keep it until they could dispose of it in a wastepaper can? 

There definitely seems to be a big lack of respect in many people today, and I'm not just speaking about children and teens.  People walk on other peoples private property and think nothing of it.  It's not just walking sometimes, it destroying their property as they walk.  They just seem to think that it's okay to be so disrespectful of other's property. 

I remember when my three girls were very young.  I'd put one in the stroller and the other two would walk by my side as we went for a walk.  Some times one of them would get off the pavement onto someone else's grass.  I'd immediately scold them to get back on the side walk.  Telling them that we don't walk on someone else's property. 

Don't get me wrong.  I know it's not all children, teens, or even adults.  As much as I love and respect my six Grandsons, I do know that they're not perfect.  They're normal kids and they do get themselves into a bit of trouble once and awhile.  But, I know for a fact, that my Daughters and their husbands raised them to respect other people and other's property. 

There are some renters who live right across the street from me, who are always sweeping off their porch.  They keep the property they rent clean.  That's taking pride in your home, whether it's a rental or you're buying it.  Whatever happened to the saying:  There's no place like home!  When I think of that saying, I think of the place where I live.  The place where I feel safe and secure.  The place that I keep fairly clean and tidy.  The place I love! 

How about you?  I'm sure very many of you feel the same way I do about your home, whether you're buying it or renting.  It's the other people, I simply don't understand and I suppose I never will.

I do hope you have a wonderful Labor Day, whatever you'll be doing today.  Stay safe and if you're with family, appreciate one another.  We just never know if we'll see them again!
Susan