What We Can Learn From Kids

I'm learning that as we grow up from children to adults, our hearts overtime become hard, cold, and callous. It's a hard truth I've been trying to avoid but is something that I must face. Some people (such as myself) sometimes veer off into space, dreaming of a world that is different, more peaceful, maybe envisioning a world where people better treat each other. However, we must snap out of those pipe dreams and face God reality that this "utopia" doesn't exist. I mentioned in a previous blog that I had to go "old school" on some people I've known for years I haven't seen in months and confront them on some issues that's "disrespected my friends and family." Of course, they took the punk route. Not saying hello when they saw me (that's just good southern hospitality). Looking at me like I'm the one who did them wrong when it's the total opposite. People who want the beef/drama to continue when all they have to do is 'fess up, apologize, and maybe begin the process of reconciling our relationship. But these people are borderline sociopaths, one of them said, "I'll never apologize." As much as a cold hearted mo-fo I can be, that hurt me deep to the core of my very being. Inside, I'm crying because my family helped these people so many times but they "lifted up their heels against us." A common Judas punk move. My mind has been reflecting on a thought one of my best friends shared with me a couple of months ago (whose also going through a similar situation). He told me, "Dave, why can't we be like kids, fight one day, maybe argue, but at the end of the day, be friends again?" That's a good question, my friend. I'm afraid the answer is found in the first sentence of this blog post. It's true. As children (not for every child), the heart is "tender", the spirit is pure, the bigger picture of treating people the right way is locked in front of eyes. Then comes the abuses, the fights, the embarrassment, the bad habits, the rapes, the robberies, etc. Hard times. Rough times. Hard lessons. Selfish intentions. Impure motives. Overtime, we become something we never would've dreamed of as kids and the kid inside of us doesn't like what he or she sees. I think that the greatest gift on this earth is human life. It's God's greatest creation. Overtime, this earth been a 1st hand witness of the hearts of men and what a hard, cold, and calloused heart will lead one to do to another. We can learn a lot from kids if we just sit back and see how they enter act with each other. Most times I've seen interactions, there's a little fussing and fighting but there's a reconciliation and bonds that aren't broken. Us adults, we think because we're making money in our perspective careers, kids of our owns, college degrees, etc., we're God's gift to the world. I think you need to look in the mirror. I wish at the moment, when the "demonic" part of me came out, those moments would've been different. Them seeing me, at least saying hello and not looking at me with disgust because I don't "fit the bill" of what a 33 year old black male should look like in their "book of perfection." I wish that an open door of honest conversation would've taken place and them just admitting to themselves and myself, "hey, I screwed up" for whatever reason. Wishful thinking, huh? It's ok to dream but it's necessary to snap your mind back to reality. I can this is what kids sooner or later are going to have to learn from us "wicked adults", right? But the main lesson we need to learn from kids, is to be friendly, to cherish good friendships, and make it right with those you've hurt with a simple gesture. There I go wishful thinking again.....

Til next time..........