"Kids these days !" my Papaw Armstrong would say with a shake of his head."Oh, I know!" my parents would chime in, with my mother rolling her eyes. In the 1960's and 70's, the long hair of the Beatles and other British "invaders', protests over the Vietnam War, free love, and the ever increasing drug use among young people was a shock to the systems of The Greatest Generation. This older generation had sweated, fought, bled, and died for their country. From their youngest days to adulthood, life had been hard, pleasures few and simple, and the Good Book the unwavering standard. The American flag was loved, respected, and honored above all. After all, not so long ago, many of their friends and relatives had died under those beautiful stars and stripes in World War II and Korea. News reels now showed some young people actually burning Old Glory in the streets. Things were changing. What was happening to their country?
Well, at my age, I'm asking some of the same questions now. Why do some kids have more metal in their faces than the front end of most cars? How is it that most can't do math in their heads or answer the most elementary of questions concerning our nations history? I could go on, but its not that group of today's youth that inspires me to write today. I'm writing because of those kids that I see that are a beacon of hope for this great country of ours. The young folks who still believe in America's greatness... even while they are aware that our government may fail us from time to time. I see life and light in many of today's young people. After all, as has been oft repeated, our children ARE our future.
Patty and I were recently enjoying a meal at our favorite Mexican restaurant in a small rural town not far from the Chicken Ranch. The Mexican-American family that owns and operates it produces the finest south-of-the-border cuisine around. Their menu offers the best Chile Pablano I've tasted anywhere north of Texas. But, back to my original line of thinking.
As we were eating and talking, a group of four young folks came in and were seated a couple of booths from us. My guess was that their ages ranged from 15 to maybe 20. Three boys and a a girl. Two of them were dressed in shorts and tee shirts while the other two, a boy and the girl, were dressed in jeans and boots. The girl was the youngest, and from our table, she was the most visible. Her boots were scuffed some from seeing a lot of work. She wore jeans that were dusty and clearly work clothes. She was obviously an all American pretty little country girl. I wondered if some or all of them were showing livestock at the county fair starting this day on the other side of town? They were clean cut, intelligent looking kids.
I pointed them out to Patty because their manner of walk and talk impressed me. They were friendly and courteous to their waiter when they ordered. As they talked among themselves, they laughed and and chatted in a quiet kind of way. Honestly, they were far better behaved than a group of fifty somethings two booths behind me. These were young folks who had been taught social etiquette. When their food arrived they each politely received their part and thanked the waiter. And then they thanked someone else.
As I watched, they all quietly bowed their heads and gave an inaudible thanks for their food. Done quietly and appropriately, these kids prayed not out of show but out of gratitude. Our family always offers thanks for our food...no matter where we are. We prefer to do it silently and not draw attention to ourselves, but we don't feel right not offering thanks for what God's provided us,. Not many people do that anymore, and for these young folks to do it automatically told me a lot about their character. It told me a lot about their parents. "Train a child up in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Patty and I spent the rest of our meal talking about how encouraging it is to see the good side of our youth today. We talked about our appreciation for our grandchildren and their many friends who give us hope in a stronger, more God-fearing America. We finished our food and prepared to leave.
As I walked past these kids, I stopped and said a word to them. "I've been watching you young folks since you came in", I said, "and I want you to know that you impressed me. Your manners, your quiet offering of thanks for your food; these things I am happy to see. I'm a veteran of Desert Storm and I love my country and my flag immensely... even with its imperfections. I do feel like America is a little off the rails right now, but your generation, young people like you, give me hope. It's you who will right the train. We're counting on you."
Each one of them smiled and thanked me...and, I was walking away, one young man said "Sir?" I turned and he said "Thank you for your service." The others nodded in agreement.
With kids who feel gratitude for those who have served and died for this country, who feel grateful for the God who has blessed America over and again, the future looks bright and hopeful. Give us more and more like them. God bless these young folks. God bless America.
Happy Independence Day from the Chicken Ranch.
