Too Bad Youth is Wasted on the Young - Remember That One?

There is an old expression that goes, "Too bad youth is wasted on the young" although I don't recall exactly how long it has been since I heard it.

Our favorite freshman college student is recuperating and should be back up and running soon - almost as good as he was - after a motorcycle accident.

All I know to do is pray for a full recovery and we have been doing that every day.

The thing that scares me about young people - and of course, my own experience with them is limited - is that I was also young once!

Every time I think about young people being on their own and making their own decisions, I get nervous. Why? Well, because I made some pretty stupid decisions when I was in my late teens and early twenties. Didn't you?

The whole thing when you are younger is that it seems that doing something once will not result in any major problem. Well, of course, it can . . . and sometimes it does.

I think, as their parents, grandparents and friends, we have to re-assure them that we indeed do still love them. We need to hug them and be thankful that they are still here on this earth. We need to help them with whatever the consequences are and help them back up and on their feet again.

Surprising though it may seem, bright young people do get it! They do know that this was perhaps not the best thing they could have done. There is an element of embarrassment that a major consequence this time was being hauled off in an ambulance to a hospital and parents being called. I know because this happened to me when I was 21.

If you think of the flip side of young people experimenting and having "good times", you probably know someone who has never had a productive life, never married, never even left their parents' home.

Every young person has to learn - even though it might be the hard way - for himself or herself.

We cannot live their lives for them. We can only be here for them when they come back - a little bit broken physically or mentally. We have to show them how much we do indeed love them and how happy we are they are still alive!

Over the years, more and more things have been invented to make it even harder for young people. They may be dealing with things not yet available when we were young.

One day, we'll awaken to a son, daughter or grandchild who has finally put it all in place. It might us a little while to really put it all together that this person has finally pulled their life together. The clue then is to just pretend they were always that way! That's the part they will really appreciate.

As we enter the holiday season, let us all make sure all our offspring truly know how much we love them and how much we want the very best for them - in spite of themselves!

And . . . to any young people reading this . . . please remember how much we want you gathered 'round with us at Christmas time. We may not be exciting but we are very, very loving!

As a little boy at a Christmas family gathering once said, "God Bless Us Everyone!"