Accumulated Mess

 

There has been a mess accumulating on my back porch since well before Christmas. With our recent snow, it looks even worse – shoes, shovels, wagons, dirt, twigs, and more. I am forced to walk through it to go to fill the birdfeeder (which has been emptied at least twice a day since our 18” snowfall).

Today, February 10^th, I cleaned it up. It took less than 10 minutes to put (or throw) it all away and sweep the floor underneath. Sigh. I waited all that time to do something that took so little.

Personal responsibility is a big deal in making a peaceful and orderly home and society. Based on the fact that God calls us to be self-controlled (Galatians 5:23; 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:8; 2 Peter 1:6), I think it is important to Him, too.

Over the years I have had many conversations with Moms who do not have reasonably high expectations of their children. I encourage them to “raise the bar.” Most children delight to meet our expectations. If they are low they will do what we ask. If they are high, they will shoot for them as best they can…assuming that is what we expect.

One of the most frustrating things about the governmental over-reaction to Covid 19 for me has been their low expectations of the average citizen to do the responsible thing and take the precautions necessary. They assume we are idiots who will not wash our hands or stay home if we are sick.

I was delighted to see these words in “The World View in 5 Minutes,” put out by World Magazine today:

Iowa lifts mask mandate, social distancing, limits on gatherings

Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lifted coronavirus restrictions in the state this week.

The order lifts a mask mandate, social distancing, and limits on social gatherings.

The proclamation encourages individual responsibility instead of mandating behavior.

It’s a little late but at least someone is acknowledging that men and women can act responsibly. We do not need “big brother” to mandate our behavior.

Over the course of the mandates many have argued that people cannot be trusted to do the right thing. We have to have the intervention, they say, because too many Americans will not think of others. This is an indicator of low expectations.

There may be a small minority of people who are this irresponsible. Based on this reasoning we would have to stop driving because drunk drivers would then not be able to kill anyone. We would have to close banks so there are no robberies.

We obviously are no longer living in a nation where Christian values are commonly believed, no less practiced. But, by giving up the expectations of parents to raise their children to be responsible and giving government schools the job of teaching them right and wrong, healthy and unhealthy practices, we have also given up the expectation of  children who will think for themselves.  Instead, they will think only of themselves.

Currently, this has resulted in a generation who wants their student loans paid and their checks to arrive from the government so they can go play. The concept of responsible behavior and exercising self-control has been given up by many for a “take care of me” attitude.

As with the mess that accumulated on my porch, a little bit of effort can go a long way. Acting with our own self-control, will we think forward about what our current child-rearing practices will produce? Are we diligently teaching our children (Deuteronomy 6:6-8)?

This nation is falling apart and we need all of the bold, courageous, and responsible adults with a biblical worldview we can get. How will they know what that is if no one tells them (Romans 10:14)?