Elaine and I were driving around the day after Christmas doing errands and we decided to stop at the mall to walk around, maybe check out a few sales. Our final destination was Border's but there was no place to sit so we went out for some air and sat in the courtyard. She looked at me and said, "These are our future leaders." I said, "Looking around at who I see, that is a pretty scary statement." As we headed back into the Mall I noticed she quickened her pace drastically. Now when you go anywhere with my best friend you have to be ready for anything. She can spot a premeditated crime a mile away. She always has her ears and eyes open for anyone that needs help. She has driven miles to return wallets on several occasions. Old people and kids are attracted to her. I think because they sense she will look out for them. By the time she reached the door she was almost running. It only took a couple seconds for me to realize she was on a mission, I know her.
She quickly approached a teenaged girl and stopped her. The girl wheeled around, a bit surprised. "Your money is falling out of your back pocket and some guy was planning to take it," she said. The girl was with her Dad, who was very thankful for her act of kindness. As we walked off we could hear him say to his daughter....."I told you....." We heard her tell her Dad that she had forgotten she put it there.
What happened was, my friend overheard a punk outside where we were sitting say, "Hey, watch this, I am going to be $20.00 dollars richer in a few minutes." There were some choice expletives thrown in. My friend's antenna went up and that is what tipped her off to follow him. She said God worked it out just right because the guy was ahead of her but two people got in his way and she was able to pass him to reach the girl in time.
In my Mom's day behavior like this would never have been tolerated. Young women especially were treated with utmost respect and looked out for. I know there were exceptions to that, but as she says, not very many.
What do you think? Has behavior generally gotten worse in your opinion? I have this discussion all the time and many think that there are simply more people now and more cameras to record bad behavior, but I disagree. The Bible says things will get worse before they get better. Despite that, I am thankful there are still many good and helpful people who will step up and do the right thing.
Speaking of the last days....
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.....and not to let believers off the hook, the verse continues: holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
1 Timothy 3:2-5
Are we there yet?
On a more positive note my dear Mom and Dad are celebrating 60 years of marriage today. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
images from google
Glad to see I am not the only one who drives my dogs around. This was a good post. I hope you have the best new years ever.
ReplyDeleteI think that as long as we still have people like your friend and you doing the 'right' things, we will be ok. There's a lot of junk out there, we must keep fighting it and praying. Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary to your Mom and Dad.
ReplyDeleteAndie
My good wishes to you both for a New Year filled with the hope that only He can bring! Looking forward to another year of blogging with this wonderful community of supporters....Lori
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