Teenagers...**eyeroll**

"Awww...look at little Katie. She's so cute in her new kindergarten outfit."
"Oh, I know! Isn't she adorable? Let's go talk to her!"///
"Oh, hey...it's the girl in the teen class who used to talk to us all the time after Sunday school."
"What's her name? Oh yes, Ronda. My, I feel sorry for the youth pastor."
"Yeah, I heard that she's quite a rough kid...likes to cause a scene."
**both shake head simultaneously**
///"Oh Kaaattiiiieeeee! **big smile** You look so pretty today!"
"You sure do! Would you like to help me play the big piano today or do you want some candy?"
"You're so sweet, Katie. Your parents must be so proud to have such a good little girl. You come and see us whenever you want, ok, honey?"///
 (As Ronda approaches and shakes the speakers' hands)
R: Good morning, ladies. God really made a wonderful sky today, didn't He? I hope you're doing well.
1: Hello.
2: Hi.
(As they walk away)
1: So Mrs. ^*^%, are you planning on coming to the play next weekend? I hear it's going to be a good one.
2: I'm not sure. You know I'd love to if I could. Oh look, Ronda's sitting next to that gothic-looking boy again.
1: **shakes head** You know, she used to be such a good little kid. I bet it's those friends of hers that brought her down.
2: You're probably right. What's becoming of young people these days?
1: I have no clue, but it's so sad to see them like this.      Teenagers...**shakes head**

Yes...obviously this is a made-up scenario...for the most part...but can you not see a problem with it? This has been an issue that has been making me <> angry for a very long time now. Little Katie is probably a sweet little girl whose biggest problem is sitting still during a lesson. She's adopted by all of the older ladies in the church, and when she grows up, she should have their support and love, right? Now look at Ronda. From the "story", we can deduce that she grew up there. She was probably one of the more rowdy kids, right? WRONG. She was an angel. She listened quietly to every message, and she always tried to talk respectfully to her elders, because that's what she was taught. She listened when someone told her to do something. So how did she become a "rebel"?

I'm sure that if you grew up in a southern church as I did, you would immediately relate to the picture of the older ladies talking to little Katie. As a child in that type of environment, everyone interacts with you, and everyone tries to teach you something. You are expected to sing Patch the Pirate songs and come to your adopted family when you have problems, and transgressions are easily forgiven. This was Ronda's childhood...but where was the change? Is it possible that it wasn't Ronda's attitude that changed with her age, but her "family's"?

Since I don't know everything, it would be foolish for me to present this idea as a solid fact, but I am not alone. The number of teens I have seen go through this experience is sadly growing higher and higher, and I seek to find an answer to it. Also, no one really reads my blog, so I can pretty much post anything within reason...^_^ The truth is that the world's image of what a teenager should be is so misshapen and ugly has crept into the minds of those same ladies (and gentlemen, for that matter) who dote on the little kids. Now it seems that when a child reaches a certain age, they are expected to be lazy, selfish, angry, rebellious creatures, and it is no wonder that's what more and more of them turn into. I don't understand. If you spend all of those years teaching a child how to live a Christian life, how to act, and how to respect and serve others, why would you change your expectations for them? True, Ronda is me, and I know I wasn't a complete angel, but the situation is still true.

I grew up in kid's church, Patch the Pirate Club, Girls' Club, and a Christian school, and I was expected to behave, to learn, and to think. My class graduated just this May, and I find that there are no more smiling faces waiting for me at church. Granted, I don't want the older women in my church coming up to me and pinching my cheeks. Since I am older, I can actually use my powers of thought and speech to have a decent conversation, but if I don't want to take part in gossip, spout an endless stream of small-talk and compliments, or listen to an entire room full of church ladies sit and complain about how many ailments they have and call it "sharing each others burdens", then I am a rude and insensitive child who does not deserve a second more of their time than the new teen who has a million body piercings and creeps them out. Now I do realize that hurts and pains are a part of life, and I will have them too some day. I'm not "downing" the idea of sharing burdens, but what happened to the cheery attitudes and helpful spirit I saw in the same ladies a few years ago? They made me want to be like them. They made me think that, with some hard work and reliance on God, I would be able to go through life alright, but that appearance seemed to have run away on my sixteenth birthday. Maybe it's because I just see more now? Now basically the only impression I get from them is that gossip is a part of life; it is ok to judge newcomers; complaining is now a community activity; and acting out against any tradition like these will just ostracize you more from their company.

I love those ladies...I really do! I have learned so much from them, but it has stopped! All trust between us has been crushed by their itching mouths and ears (pardon the weird phrasing there). I can no longer communicate with them, because I do not like being fake. Does that make any sense? When I talk to someone, I want to give them all of my attention, and listen to them. I'm not going to say, "Oh, that's so good!" or "Oh, I just loooove that!" if I really don't mean it. Words mean something! Some of my friends get irritated when I don't tell them I love them all the time. Those are special words. They don't need to be thrown around...even between friends! The more you say something, the less they mean. Have people forgotten that? What's with the fake smiles that turn into eyerolls when the back is turned? Why are they surprised when someone decides not to "serve"? Did you know that service is really not service unless it is voluntary? Forced love is not love at all. If someone can sing, and the church automatically expects them to join a choir, they are faced with disapproving looks and stern lectures about serving God if they do not. For goodness' sake, let the person join on their own! Why would you join a choir if you were doing it solely because you had to! That's like asking me to play piano forever while standing over my shoulder. It is forced...and it loses every aspect of "service". It is no longer from the heart. If you treat a child a certain way for long enough...they will most likely start acting like that. Anything they do in your eyes will be seen through that mindset, and there is no escape. No wonder there's so much anger...no wonder you hear all of those horrible stories of good little Christian kids who grew up with a giant adopted family to support them and then became horrible people. Goodness! It really is ridiculous.

I really need to go now, but I don't want to leave you with my frustration. I do realize that the best thing to do is be obedient no matter what, and remember that God has placed me where He has placed me for a reason. People will fail you, because no one is perfect, and the only constant is God. That is a great thing. That is something that causes joy. My intention in this was not to complain, but to rant and explain something important that will probably never be heard of outside of this page. Thanks for taking the time to read this. :) Have a wonderful day, and don't forget that SOMEONE is looking up to you!!!

*~FUR~*
Proverbs 31:30