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LET’S HEED OUR MENTORS

      It seems that every time we read about a teen or young adult involved in a horrific crime, one of the first things that ‘leaps’ out of his/her background is the fact that he/she was the product of a broken—or single parent—home.  What the ‘mainstream mess’ and social media bytes leaves out is how many times this teen/young adult hoodlum (ie gang banger or thuggette) received good advice from a trusted relative, teacher, friend or mentor and STILL decided that they wanted to do things ‘their way’…and are now in front of a judge.

      You reap what you sow—especially IF you have been told where NOT to go!

      Let’s fess up folks.  In looking around my own neighborhood, there are MORE married couples than single ones.  Of course, the married folks own their own homes, many of them keep a tight leash on their children, and there is a rather large support system of extended family that aids in steering the younger children in the right direction.

      OK…we’ve seen some adults ‘wearing’ single parenthood as a ‘badge of honor’.  Watch many of your video commercials and see many of the ‘single’ actors/actresses ‘bragging’ about how hard it is to be a single parent.  IF the truth be told, MANY single parents (women) are single because of their OWN stupidity because THEY didn’t listen to a trusted relative, friend, or mentor.  Worse yet, they held onto their single attitude so tightly that they ‘forced out’ their spouse!

      Now you know where the child gets it from.  Amen!

      God allows each of our paths to cross the paths of other individuals who can serve as mentors to show us the RIGHT way to conduct ourselves and provide some much-needed wisdom in our lives.  What I can’t seem to understand is that there is such an overabundance of mentors to help folks in the workplace—but when it comes to the home, mentors are woefully lacking OR sorely ignored.  In the long run, home is MORE important than the job.  IF solid relationships cannot be forged and founded in the home, the results become VERY visible in the school, workplace, or society.

      In the KJV Bible, the subject of mentoring gets very serious discussion.  In the Books of I and II Timothy and Titus, older ministers are to mentor or ‘teach’ younger ministers; older men are instructed in the art of teaching younger men; and older women are instructed in the art of teaching younger women in how to keep their homes, children, and marriages.  The reason why is obvious—those who have gone before us have accumulated much wisdom of how life works in Jesus Christ and society in general.  Their wisdom—again—is based upon those who are being mentored heeding what has been taught to them.

      Folks, we make a ‘big deal’ about our ancestors.  Here’s a tip…why don’t we listen to the older folk who are here WITH us in the present, instead of treating them like a piece of furniture?  The REAL reason why many folks cry at funerals is that they failed to take advantage of what Mama and Daddy told them to.  The treasure of wisdom that has been buried with the gravediggers tools is rich, indeed.  Now that they have ‘crossed over’ Jordan, there is a need for their wisdom.  Too bad that they were not heeded while they were here.

      Mike Ramey is a Retired Minister, KJV Bible Teacher, syndicated columnist and Bible Prophecy Specialist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “The Quick Scan” is one of a variety of his columns appearing and abounding in print and cyberspace, written from a biblical, business, and common-sense perspective since 1996.  To drop him a line—or a whine—the address is still the same: mgmikeramey@yahoo.com.  ©2023 Barnstorm Communications International.