Random musings

Every year, some Christians observe a season of Lent , which is a period of 40 days before Easter. Typically, Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, prayer and repentance.  Over the past few years, I have given up on food that I typically crave or enjoy during the Lenten season. I thought that in doing so, I was giving something back to God or telling Him that His death mattered to me. Of late, I question my intent.  I've heard a preacher mention that fasting in itself, without taking any time for inward spiritual reflection or prayer doesn't really mean anything. It is just a glorified form of dieting. I couldn't help thinking that this was true. At the end of 40 days, I would often feel a sense of accomplishment and then give myself a reason to pig out on all the things that I felt deprived of.  I couldn't say that I felt any different during this time. I couldn't say that my life had changed. I co...

Recently, I read an article that spoke about how a teen was planning on suing her parents because they did not want to pay for her college education. She was a straight "A" student, and she thought that it was her right that her parents should finance her education.  I'm all about encouraging kids to study and paying for their education as much as possible. I thought the whole suing part was a joke. But, it wasn't. The first thing that popped in my head when I read it was that she was one "entitled" kid. False sense of entitlement is defined as the right to something you did not earn. As a parent, we dread raising entitled kids. But, we live in a culture where what we dread happens. One of the most prevalent mindset is, “ The more you give your child, the better parent you are . ” So it’s easy for us as parents to feel obligated to give to our children — and pretty soon, they will grow to expect it.  The kids then live with a totally false s...