This has been a very snowy winter so far. It's unusual for us -- we go about three years with very little and then get hammered in one year. What I find distressing is that the three years of snow famine seem to produce an attitude in young people of not knowing how to/wanting to shovel snow.
When we had the pre-Christmas blizzard, our entire family got out and worked. It was so invigorating that I went up and down the street helping some of the neighbors. It was fun to socialize and work together.
An elderly friend called and asked if my son could shovel her drive. Since we couldn't get out of our street I told her it would be the next day. In the meantime I called a family from church that lives within walking distance (even in the snow) of her house. They weren't receptive to the idea. The elderly lady later called back and said her yard guy had come by and done it.
This weekend on Saturday it snowed again and the elderly lady called again. I told her my son would do it after church. On the way to church, the guys told me they had a Boy Scout meeting that wasn't on the calendar. So at church I saw the young man who lives around the corner from her and asked him if he could go over and do it. I forecast it would take 30 minutes at the most. He said, "maybe." By 2:00 p.m., when the sun was strongest, I gave up. I went over and did it myself. While I was there the lady told me that for the blizzard snow removal she had paid $175 to the yard guy! OMG! She wanted to pay me 'something' and I told her she could donate to the Friends of the Library if she wanted to do something.
Now, I understand young people not thinking the money is good enough to do the work. I was a lazy kid too. What I don't understand is kids growing up in Christian households, going to Christian youth group and church and it not even entering their minds to seek out the elderly in their neighborhoods and shovel their driveways because it needs to be done, not because of any material benefit that might be forthcoming.
Is it just the kids in this area?
5 comments:
It's not just the kids in your area. I see the same thing here. Sad, isn't it?
I wonder if the kids have been taught that caring for the elderly in their neighborhood is part of their Christian duty and witness? I learned this by example. Apparently your children will, too, but what of the other kids?
It's awful how alone elderly people are anymore, and how vulnerable that leaves them. $175? No way.
I do think that today's schedules are too busy, with dance classes and clubs and this and that -- it's just too much and it takes away from family time.
Sounds like being raised in Christian homes and Christian youth groups isn't getting a message of charity and love across very well --
:-(
I hear ya, you're right! Sad!
You're a kind women for helping out your neighbor!
Catherine - I think it's our culture. We don't value the elderly.
Q - I'm not sure my children have learned it either -- they sure weren't jumping up and down to help.
Susan - I do think priorities are a bit skewed...and sadly, just being raised in a certain label of household doesn't ensure Godliness...
Peggy -- thanks, but I didn't mention it because I was patting myself on the back -- it was actually enjoyable! If it had been wet mucky snow, I might have been less enthusiastic. And I think that's my point for me. I need to model a better attitude towards it!
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