Wednesday, January 24, 2007

"Drug" Problem???

This is from an email I received today:

The Drug Problem in America

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied: "I had a drug problem when I was young":
I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.
I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood;

and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

~author unknown~


Now, I'm not a big proponent of the woodshed, but to the rest, AMEN!

5 comments:

Nicole said...

That is so funny and TRUE!! These are WAY different times, huh?

Elle*Bee said...

Not in my house, they're not. Okay, so I haven't actually washed anyone's mouth out with soap (I'm afraid Son #1 might like it), nor do we have a woodshed (altho' I'm thinking of building one after Son #2's latest antics - but that's another post). I do, however, drag them to every family event, have them do community projects (the older two are in scouts, so that's easy).

Anonymous said...

I will second that AMEN! The world was a better place when people followed these rules. Sadly...the world today is a far cry from what it used to be.

Lala's world said...

I;ve read this before too! and I am not so sure about the woodshed either!

Alpha Dude said...

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 22:15

That verse changed my son's life. Luckily, we didn't need to use it often. Rather effective though.