A CLASS ON LIFE!!

     In the last few months, I have had conversations with friends and co-workers about a certain topic. LIFE! No, not the Board Game pictured above but something that has always puzzled me in my 55 years on this planet. Why have the school systems of our nation never had a class on life?

     I attended school from 1968 all the way to 1986, from preschool all the way to Northeastern Bible College. I can honestly say I have used many things I have learned during those years. Math, English, maybe some science and some wood shop maybe. I can’t say I used any geometry, art and very little biology if any in my day to day duties. But in all my years, I was never taught how “Life” works. Simple things like how to budget money and time, how to deal with conflicts with others and difficult people, how to treat a lady I am dating, how to use proper manners, how to balance my checkbook, how to stay pure and avoid sexual temptation, how about the effects of alcohol and drugs on your system or even how to deal with road rage. Just think about it! In Middle School and High School it would be mandatory to take a class called “Life.” In order to graduate, you would not only need this class but you will need to pass it. If I were the teacher or the Principal in charge of any school, Christian or Public, this is what my class would look like.

BUDGETING MONEY AND TIME: Money does grow on trees. That’s the old saying. However, many kids today don’t understand what it means to budget their money because, quite simply, Mom and Dad give them what they need without teaching them how to not only manage their money but how to budget their money. What about time? I can’t say I was good at budgeting my time especially when I was in my early twenties. It took one of my bosses to straighten me out by saying “Get your butt here on time no more lateness’s, do you hear me?” This topic would certainly hit home with our young people today!

DEALING WITH CONFLICTS AND DIFFICULT PEOPLE: Ever since I was a kid, I have noticed television and the movies depict the majority of people as kind and compassionate. Of course we know there are Archie Bunkers out there but shows like “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Brady Bunch” make everyone look perfect in every way, shape and form. The reality is simple. There are people out there who love confrontation and, there are people who also love being difficult and for a simple reason. To get what they want in life. How about we teach our kids how to deal with both scenarios and prepare them for what is out there for, unfortunately, many years to come.

HOW TO TREAT A LADY/ OR GUY AND PROPER MANNERS: Do our young men today seriously know how a lady wants to be treated? Do they understand what she wants in a relationship? How many young men do we see hold a car door open for a lady or even a door to a restaurant? What about our young ladies? Do they treat a guy with respect? Don’t even get me started about manners. I can’t tell you how many times I have asked a Millennial “How are you doing” and their response is “Fine!” You would think they would ask you how you are doing back? Recently, a young lady who was looking down at her phone while walking toward me literally walked INTO me. I didn’t even get an “Excuse me Sir.” What I did get was a dirty look. We need a class on this! Kids today don’t say please or thank you. Rather I hear “Gimme that” or No thank you whatsoever.

BALANCING YOUR CHECKBOOK: I realize that checks are not used as much and we do get computer printouts from the bank but our kids do need to learn how to balance out their checkbooks!

STAYING PURE AND SEXUAL TEMPTATION: I realize that there are Youth Groups and churches that teach this and I applaud them for that. I also realize that many of our young people don’t realize the effects of premarital sex. Growing up in the 1970’s, very rarely did you hear the term “Child out of wedlock” or “Single Mom’. Nowadays we hear it every day. Do our young people realize the ramifications or premarital sex? Do they know how to control their bodies? Why not teach them this topic?

DRUGS & ALCOHOL: I will never forget a Health class I took in 7^th grade? It was taught by a nurse and she did a class on the effects of smoking on your body. She literally lit up a cigarette, smoked it in front of the class and told us how terrible it is and how it’s bad for your body and not to do it. “Avoid it at all costs” she said as she took a huge drag. In my opinion it gave her an excuse to smoke. I don’t think kids today understand what drugs do you their bodies. Almost every day at our drive thru at Chick Fil-A I will smell marijuana smoke from one or two cars sometimes more. Do our young people today understand what drugs and alcohol can do to your body? Do they understand how addicting it is? This needs to be taught in this class!

ROAD RAGE: This is slowly becoming a major issue in our nation. There are so many “Hot heads” on our highways and byways. I remember one time a lady screaming at me at a traffic light. She thought I cut her off. I kindly said to her “Ma’am you have the wrong guy. I just got on the road!” I believe we need to prepare our kids for this so they properly know how to deal with the Nimrods who operate motor vehicles who have some anger issues.

     I am sure there are more topics that can be discussed and maybe you have ideas as well. I realize I had to condense it all so that my blog didn’t become my latest novel. We need to pray for our young people and especially prepare them for what is coming up in the 2020’s!

GOD BLESS YOU AND ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL FALL SEASON!