This Changing World

Just sitting here thinking how much the world is changing.

When I was a young girl in school in a small southern town, we did not dare do some of the things that are being taken as "ordinary" nowadays.

Even in high school, we were not allowed to wear jeans to school... we wore only skirts, blouses, dresses...no high heels..no pedalpushers (as capri pants were called in those days), certainly no shorts.
would you believe that when we had our class of physical education every day, we even had to wear a bloomer-type of gym uniform or we got our grades cut. Weall hated them, of course, but we did not question it. It was a rule to do it.

We did not even think of drinking or smoking, even on our prom night,when we all felt we were "of age".

We were told by our parents whom to hang around with and whom to avoid....to keep our reputation pure and clean above everything else. Parents were very strict and we accepted it. I hated it then, but did it anyway. Now I am glad that I did. We needed guidance and that is what parents and teachers are supposed to do.

We did not even own a car, so when we went to the movies or anywhere around town, we walked...and if, when coming home from the movies with a date, we held hands, our family knew about it before we got home. We were not allowed to sit in front of the house if our date had a car...we had to come in as soon as it was parked. I felt my parents were so very strict, but everyone else's were like that too, and we did not question it or sass them back about it.

It just was not done.

We were never allowed to cuss. We went to church every sunday because we were told to go and because that was where all our friends were. We went to the youth fellowship every sunday evening after church..it was usually at the preacher's house...and sang fun christian songs and had cookies and punch. Life was simple and it was good. We did not feel we were deprived of anything. We had our school friends and our rules and we lived by them or got punished for it.

Now I look at the youth and I know they have so many benefits and advantages...such speedy internet...such wonderful cell phones, and all those conveniences...but I feel bad that they are missing so much of life.

They would laugh at me for saying that. I know that. But they can not know what they missed by missing my era without having lived in it and having done it.

A simpler time. A time without profanity and so much sex on the tv and radio. A time when you had time to enjoy life and had time to think. A time when companies advertizing their products did so with clean thoughts to encourage the sale of the product.

I must say, though, that I give lots of praise and loads of credit to the parents today. They have done a wonderful job of raising the children. I know it is all a different time and a diffent kind of rules, etc, but they are turning out to be something that even the "old adults" can admire.

I guess, as I sit here thinking about all this, and about the changes that have come about....that my parents and their parents before them....said the same things and thought the same thoughts that I have had. How can those young people do it? And, yet, as I look around, they are turning out beautifully and I love to watch them as they mature and "grow up".

It is just a changing world, isn't it? And we should all face it with an open heart, open mind, and open arms to welcome it. God is still in control.
























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