BY ANDREW DONAWA
Why have we turned away from our beliefs during our drive to get on top? If we would go back to our core beliefs, then we wouldn’t have to fight to stay on top.
The fundamental problem with this question is that, as a society, we do not know what core beliefs are now. That’s primarily because parents are letting our kids raise themselves. We leave our kids in front of TVs, computers and other devices. We have taken our kids out of the church. So they don’t know what or whom to believe in. Many parents are more concerned with trying to impress others than with knowing and teaching core beliefs. And kids follow in the footsteps of their parents — even when there is no structure, for family, faith, discipline, honesty, or hard work.
Most parents used to instill these values in their kids at an early age. Today, these things don’t matter as much as they once did. We have lost the family units. Too many single mothers are raising children without the help of a father figure.
We are doing a full 360. We should not be going backwards when it comes to jobs, lifestyles or businesses. Race should not be a factor when decisions are made about leadership roles. And we should not pull the race card unless we know racism is a factor.
As a society, we feel entitled to things that we have not earned. If we had core beliefs instilled into us at a young age, we would not have to worry about discrimination based on race or gender. Instead we live in a world where individuals believe they can make up their own “rights” and “wrongs.” That’s not how the world works.
We have to have core values. We have put people in leadership roles who should not be in them. People who have not earned these positions have been given them for the wrong reasons. In the past, you would have to work your way up for a top job. Now, they are handed out on silver platters.
Meanwhile, society puts so much pressure on people to be more or that we feel we have to one-up someone else when we should spend our time asking ourselves what our purpose is. Is it worth it?
Too often we rob Peter to pay Paul. We are best friends with someone, then – without blinking an eye – we stab them in the back to get ahead or to get to the top. If we still had the core beliefs of family, faith, discipline, honesty and hard work, we would work harder for a promotion instead of expecting it to be handed to us.
We need to go back to the days when people respected the title that a leader was given because they respected the person behind the title. Let’s stop sleeping with the devil to get ahead. Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents built this country. They did that by staying in church and living by their core beliefs. If we could go back to having prayer and staying in the church, we would not have the problems we have now. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV): “Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
In closing, I would like to say if you trust in God, you won’t have to worry about what other people think about you.
Andrew Donawa is executive director of First Responder Support Services.
Well said!
Excellent Andrew!!!
You have covered all the bases and made a home run! There is a definite role reversal because it seems in many cases children are raising the parents. School has become their playground, respect is nonexistent, and the only time many children mention God is when it’s a prefix for a derogatory connotation! Help us to help this generation Lord!
It’s the older generation showing America’s true colors.
Thank you for your excellent influence on us all.
This was an excellent article. We must end our silence and preach and stand up for these values. Thank you for sharing
God Bless you for speaking out. You are right on when it comes to our society. Our children need something to believe in! Faye
Going to share this on Facebook and in email links to my friends. Well said, and badly needed viewpoint that more need to see. Thank you.
Thank you, Andrew. You nailed it… we can do better.
Nice Andrew. Well said
Very well stated Andrew . Now if only others will concur !
Oh so true and well said !! Thank you !!
Excellent writing, Andrew! Well said?
Very well written article that holds true across the board, regardless of race or religion. Now we need to reach out to the younger generations/our adult children and help them find their way back into our houses of worship. We need to explain why the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance and our Constitution are so important. Let’s never give up trying to teach these values.