The Saturday Journal: Kids These Days

She shook her head and rolled her eyes and said, “Kids these days”. And if I am being truthfully honest, I wanted to pop her right in the mouth. Now, I would never do that and we can all agree it would not have been the Christian thing to do. Instead, I will respond with this…..

This second grader--his pants were two sizes too big and if not for his belt–they would have been around his ankles. His shoelaces were untied and his smile–always bright–always the same. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tangerine and said, “Miss Miller, I saved this for you.” And my heart cried a little on the inside.

Kids these days–

He went with his Mama and Daddy to the Ronald McDonald House to drop off pop tabs their family and others had been saving. The charity recycles these which results in funds for them to use for their expenses. And while visiting he was curious--asking questions to one of the employees about the Ronald McDonald House, and then he boldly asked, ‘Can I see one of the rooms?’ And now this young boy is collecting pop tabs for his youth mission project at his church.

Kids these days–

Kase's Mission Project--Hilltop Baptist Church

Stuck between being a child and an adult–she was in her teens. There had been trouble at home and now she made her bed at a children’s home. She sat quietly with other girls from the home in the Sunday School class on this Sabbath. And when it came time for her to share her favorite Bible verse, this is what she said—Psalm 27:10, When my father and mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Kids these days–

She’s a few months past three years old and she loves the playground. He’s a little bit older–not much–same height. And when they saw each other they took just a few minutes to say hey in their own language and then they were inseparable. And her mother said to the toddler’s dad–funny how children can make friends so fast.

Kids these days–

The family was gathered around the dinner table and the dad was giving the talk–be thankful for the food you have. Many children and people do not have what we have. And Katie, then a third-grader, had an idea. A cabbage was growing in her backyard–a giant of a cabbage–40 pounds to be exact–from a seedling she grew from the ‘Bonnie Plants Third Grade Cabbage Program’. She took her special cabbage to a local soup kitchen, Tri-County Family Ministries in North Charleston, South Carolina. The ministry took her cabbage and made cabbage soup which served 275 people and Katie–she was blessed to serve and see the individuals enjoy her cabbage. Katie was nine years old at the time and since inception, her organization, Katie’s Krops has donated over 500,000 pounds of produce to local organizations and ministries. (Katie's 24 now).

“Katie’s Krops started in my backyard and has now grown to over 100 gardens growing across the United States in 30 states. Every Katie’s Krops Garden is youth-run. Thousands of children across the country are getting their hands dirty working to end hunger in their communities.”

(Source of quote: https://katieskrops.com/katies-page/)

Kids these days–

He sometimes nods off during class but only for a few minutes and his teacher–she looks the other way. Because she knows he’s been working late hours to help with family income–look after his siblings, and keep up with his school work–the best he can.

Kids these days–

In between sports and band practices and other after-school activities–they take extra college classes while in high school. When most of their friends have a full schedule of four classes per semester–they are taking five per semester, in addition to summer classes. And when they enter their first year of college–many enroll as juniors.

Kids these days–

There are more stories like these–students working to pay their own way through college--earning scholarships too. And there are juniors and seniors earning certificates while in high school and after graduation going into the workforce as skilled welders and in other trades–some starting their own businesses, and some choosing to serve in the US Military. Others are opting for more education–excelling as young doctors, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, teachers, business leaders, firefighters, EMS workers, and the list travels on and on....

Kids these days–

He was helping his dad with construction work–digging ditches–laying the drain pipe–driving a skid steer. And he was doing it all with confidence. Never complaining about the summer heat beating down or mud up to his knees. And this young boy–he’s short of having his driver's license by a few years.

Kids these days–

When she was first asked to teach the Beginners Sunday School class–she never flinched. Never wavered. She said yes. This will be her second year teaching the beginners. And not only that–she leads the choir on Youth Sunday and always takes part in the church’s Christmas program and serves as a leader for Vacation Bible School. And this year–she will graduate high school.

Kids these days–

They were all eager–they had been waiting awhile. Their race numbers pinned to the front of their shirts. They gathered around foul territory on third base line and off they ran–their feet kicking up dust. They ran around the outfield and then turned the curve entering into the infield. First base–second base, and rounded third. The finish line–home plate. These kids were ranging from three years old to ten–there were probably 25 to 40 of them running in the Fun Run for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Running to honor and help raise money for pediatric cancer research for children–children their own age.

Kids these days—

'The gravel is on the way and once it gets here we will be able to finish the drain line,' they said. And within minutes here came this large truck loaded with gravel. And the driver of the gravel truck–a young girl.

Kids these days—

They try new things. They work diligently on their gifts–their talents–working toward goals and dreams and their interests–spending hours upon hours at the dance studio–the art gallery–at home learning how to sew–crochet–paint--practicing on different sports fields, and in gyms in team practices, along with devoting extra time to individual coaching lessons.

Kids these days---

Courtesy of Jill Miller Woodie

I have spent many hours on various sports fields–watching my daughter play softball and volleyball, and my son–football, basketball, and baseball, and at my nieces' and nephews' sporting events. And I worked as a sports journalist for years logging countless hours covering high school sports. Many of my most treasured stories have been made on a sports field and on this particular evening, the story was no different. I watched these kids, maybe 10-11 year-olds– two boys and a girl playing the game of toss in the outfield, while the t-ballers were playing in the infield. When they got ready to leave, the one boy ran up to where I stood against the fence, near the gate. He started to open the gate and the other boy yelled, ‘Why are you going through the gate when you can go this way?’ And he and the girl threw their gloves outside the fence, took a running go and jumped over the fence. And I couldn’t help but laugh.

Kids these days–

Kids these days–they are brave. They are kind. They are doing hard things. They are overcoming obstacles. They are listening and asking questions and seeking ways to help others. They are determined. They are hopeful. They are stepping out in faith. And they aren't waiting for the future to make a difference in our world--they are doing it now.

So rather than criticize them--let's do this. Let's learn from them. Let's lift them up. Let's believe in them. Let's listen to them. Let's truly see and take time for them. Let's lift them up with encouraging words and help them every chance we get. Let's pray for them. And let's remind them and remind them often--they are loved.

A humble thank you for reading The Saturday Journal.

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All photos copyright @Tathel Miller, unless otherwise credited to another photographer.