The conversation ranged from "Oh my gosh can you believe she wore that?! What a skank!". "What a sorostitute!" To "Dude, he's HOT! Def would do him". To "Did you see how wasted she was?". And finally "I f?$&ing can't stand her. Have you noticed what a fat a?! she has become?".
I'd like to tell you that these girls were all from the same sorority. At least I could have said "bad apples" or "bad news" in that particular house. I'd like to tell you these girls were trashy. But I can't. Three different sororities represented. Three different sorority greek letters proudly displayed on their clothing. All absolutely beautiful girls. I started to say something. But I stopped myself. My daughters voices ringing in my head "Oh my Lawd, Mama! Please don't !"
I feel absolutely confident that at some point during my collegiate career I gossiped. And if I had to guess I probably dropped a cuss word a time or two. Most likely while smoking a cigarette on back campus of my all girls college (the "nice" girls did not smoke on front campus in plain sight of passerbys). Honestly, I doubt I cussed in a public place. Let alone within ear shot of adults who definitely looked like alumni greek sisters. Or someone's Mama. Call it good manners or guilt but I had a definite fear of the Lord and my elders. And it was a healthy fear. A respectful fear.
As of late I've almost become immune to being shocked by the antics of college females. This disturbed me though. Even my own daughters, in their worst behavior, have impeccable manners in the presence of adults. So what is it? Are we missing something in the upbringing of our daughters (and sons)? Because I can tell you, first hand, that a "good upbringing" doesn't always guarantee choice behavior.
So just for my own amusement (and to take my mind off the girls I wanted to strangle) I used my Blue Letter Bible App to look up what God says about our daughters. Not what they say about each other in the public arena. But who God says they are.
I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10)
I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)
I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
God has chosen me and set me aside for a special purpose ( John 15:16)
I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)
I am the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 7:6)
God's power works through me (Ephesians 3:7)
I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
I am His treasured possession ( Philippians 4:8)
I am a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)
I am a holy temple (1 Colossians 3:19)
God clearly treasures us! The question is why don't our teens and college students believe this? Most of us were raised in church. And I'd be willing to bet our daughters were fairly active in youth group and or Young Life while in high school. And if they were not I would hazard to guess they attended, at some point, with a friend. Or they were involved in a team sport or drama performance in which the coach or director had high moral expectations for their students. So what makes gorgeous and educated young women throw their standards out the window when they leave for college? Become spiritually disengaged?
There is always the obvious: freedom of choice. Free will. Finding their voice. Learning to think on their own. But for some reason, I believe it is much more complex than that. Our kids are growing up in a time in history where everything is available instantaneously. Because they don't have to wait for anything they have developed zero tolerance for boredom. They have to be stimulated every single second of every single day. If I had to guess? They became "bored" with youth group or Young Life by their senior year of high school. They thought they weren't being taught anything. They were just being entertained. After awhile the entertainment, without meaning that is permeating, became boring.
So then you have to ask what separates those of us raised in the 60's, 70's and 80's from today's youth? My personal opinion would be the fear of the Lord. Back then the fear of the Lord meant something. Our society was still deeply rooted in biblical principles. Our Sunday school classes, youth group, and Young Life actually spoke of and taught the consequences of disobedience of God. Schools said the pledge of allegiance. Court houses and school buildings across the nation hung the ten commandments on the wall in plain sight. Our nation still believed there were consequences for our actions. We still revered a Majestic Maker who knew better than we. Am I resonating with anyone?
So if you are a teen in your senior year of high school attending Young Life, church camp, Sunday school and are accustomed to being entertained what happens to your foundation when you become bored with the entertainment? Well, there is no foundation to begin with. You are not vested in a relationship with God. A personal, intimate relationship with the Lord. It hasn't been taught. Demonstrated. You've been taught "love" "tolerance" "generosity". All of those are extraordinary traits of the saints. But as the saying, which is applicable for marriage, goes "One can not survive on love alone". That is true of our relationship with Christ as well.
A biblical foundation has to be set. The teen has to understand the sacrifices Jesus made for us. The crucifixion needs to be viewed in all of its gruesome detail. Our youth need to understand that someone loved them so much that He gave his life for them! That their life means something. That God has a plan for them. That there are eternal consequences for their lack of belief.
The bible tells us that our words are a direct reflection of who we are inside. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (
By the end of my manicure I had a full on revival going in my head. The urge to go over and hug those ugly spirited girls was real. I wanted to let them know how beautiful they are. That they deserved better of themselves. That there is a Maker a Creator who loved them so much He died for them. That if they got to know Him their lives would be transformed. Honestly, the struggle was intense. I wanted to say "Hey! Sorority girls! Wake Up! Jesus is coming soon. The real party is going to be in heaven not at the KA house!" But out of respect of my kids reputations I refrained. BUT I prayed it all the way home.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly"-Colossians 3:16
