Permission

This morning I've considered this world of permissions.  You want permission, you have permission, you're allowed, you get what you want.  When did this come to be?

When I was a child I looked to my parents, perhaps my mom the most.  She was my example.  The person I most wanted to emulate.  As I grew I listened to friends and my siblings, but my mom still had a hold on me.  As I grew to adulthood (or I presumed adulthood) I thought I'd made it.  I could count on myself though now I realize I've never done it alone.  I've always had support, even the Highest support.

Truly I do try to count on myself but I always have that support system.  What I mean is, my mom is still there, my siblings have been with me through what was a very trying period in my life and my kids, my joy, are always there to support me.  I've got my very own cheering section.  I am one of the very luckiest ones.  Even more lucky because I've counted on the Lord always.  (I'll tell you sometime of the prayers He has answered that left no doubt in my mind of the giver.)

I saw kids growing up around me that didn't have my support system.  They were left to themselves more than they should have been.  They had permission to do things I would have never considered.  I read about those kids.  I saw them on television shows.  I see them now as adults and wonder why.  Why didn't they get support?  Why didn't someone care?  Why wasn't someone there to show them that sometimes the answer is no.  Sometimes you have to work for the prize.

Has our society started to lose sight of what is right by forcing an attitude of political correctness of permissions?  I think perhaps we have.  At this time in our country's life we are seeing hundreds of thousands of people without jobs, we see women having children because they can make money that way, we see people with their hands out for everything and I wonder why someone doesn't say NO.  I've interviewed people looking for jobs but I also think I've had a few that answered in such a way that would lead me not to consider them.  I think my question is: are they proud?  Are they proud that they can have what seems like everything without expending any energy, without leaving home?  There is a lot to be said for sweat equity.

I think it's time for a new ethic.  I think it's time for someone to say NO.  I think it's time to stop political correctness and return to a time of responsibility and ownership.  Life wasn't designed to be an existence of complete allowance and decadence. 

I try to remember my every choice has an impact on someone other than myself.  I am not an island.  I have a cheering section to help me through the daily tribulations and occasional permissions and at the end of the day I am not alone.  I am the compilation of all that is around me.  Mostly, I'm responsible.

Long Live Texas