A mother was overheard in a department store saying to her three year old, “Now, do not touch the toys, okay? We don't want to break them, okay?” A teacher was heard telling her classroom full of students, “Now, we are going to do the next assignment in our textbooks, okay? Then we will be turning our attention to a writing assignment, okay?” Another dad was overheard saying to his two year old, “Now son, do not play in the road, okay?” Okay? Okay? Why in the world is there an “okay” at the end of all these statements? Today we're going to look at the possibility that one of the reasons there is anarchy when children turn to their teens is because parents, teachers and people of authority have been asking them permission to do what used to be mandated without any approval, okay? Okay?
Who remembers the time when a teacher said, “Clear your desk, get out a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. There is going to be a pop quiz?” How about when a dad said, “You are not to play in the road, period.” Or how about when a mother said, “If you do not wash your hands before you eat, you will not be eating with us.”, and there was no “okay?” at the end of those statements. Is it any wonder that police officers have so many more people who commit crimes in high school and after years when the predecessors they have had in their past all asked “okay?” at the end of their instructions? Why wouldn't there be rebellion from teens when parents ask their toddlers if what they want to do is okay or not? Why would there be a generation of young adults who would rather choose to be selfish than sacrificial when they are formed to be the determiners of whether they want to do something or not?
Perhaps there is a place at times for asking if tiny children want to “okay” something or not, but for the most part, authorities are to be authorities for a reason. Treason, anarchy, rebellion, pride and selfishness are the fruit of asking “Okay?”. Maybe someone, somewhere will read these words and begin a reversal in the “okay?” department of parenting and teaching so those who are under their authority will continue to have respect and honor for authorities when they become old enough to have children of their own.
Until tomorrow...Why Say More? Okay? Okay?
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Thank You, Jesus, for Ray and, in particular, for this post!
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