In the article Stanley stated that to keep a young attitude one needed to keep laughing, keep longing, and keep leaning on the Lord. I have noticed that far too many of our youth and young adults are no longer, laughing and enjoying life, hoping for a better future, or have a relationship with God. For many a pervasive sense of hopelessness and helplessness engulfs them.
For some young people the source of such despair could be traced to life in a dysfunctional family. While working as a volunteer chaplain at a juvenile detention facility one young man asked me what was wrong with his family. He continued by telling me that 16 of his relatives were either in prison, just left prison, or about to enter prison. When he named them the list contained both parents, one grandparent, siblings, cousins, an aunt and, uncles. He was afraid that he and his future children would continue the tradition. We talked for awhile about making some different choices and getting connected with a church when he was released. We ended with a prayer and he was released before my next visit.
But for many of us our own poor choices cause us so much grief. Some feel that they have fallen so far from grace that they can no longer see their way out. They may have confessed their sins and repented and they may even believe that God has forgiven them. But they may still worry about what others think and cannot forgive themselves. But there is always.hope in Christ.
We were created to live abundant lives. Not just an abundance in money and material things. Not even an abundance of family and friends. But an abundance of joy, hope, and the realization that we have a savior who has our back. It is with this abundance that we can find joy and laughter, even on some rough days. We can find hope during the storms with the knowledge that the wind and the rain will cease. And we can rest in the knowledge no matter what is going on as long as we have a relationship with and lean on the Lord, we will get through it.
How young is your attitude? This is a question for all of us at any age, from children living in dysfunction, to the young adult going through a crises, and the senior citizen with so many regrets.Remember today a change of attitude can change our lives. Find some time to laugh, it is the best medicine. Live with hope, write your vision of a hopeful future. And most important, cultivate and grow in your relationship with God. It's never too late to have a youthful attitude and enjoy the gift of life.