I Am Amazed

I am amazed

 At how we treat our children

Forcing them to like our stuff

And if they don’t

We get rough

And we get tough

I am amazed

At how we train our children

Forcing them to like our fashion

And if they don’t

We get in a passion

And treat them with aggression

I am amazed

At how we bamboozle our children

With our religion

That we know so little about

And how we shout

When our children opt out

I am amazed

At how we say no to our children

When it would be so much easier

To say yes

And give them our best

To relieve their stress

I am amazed

Why we make it hard for our children

In telling them to wait

Just for one minute

As a regular habit

And they see us like a cynic

I am amazed

When we criticize our children

Especially in their wrongdoing

Rather than smile

All the while

And encourage their style

     

I am amazed

When we try to guide our children

In the way of the Bible

Even in this modern day

Rather than let them have their say

In just how they want to stray

I am amazed

At how we regard our children

Not recognizing

They are far brighter than we were

Or ever will be

In spite of our jealousy

I am amazed

At how we try to control our children

Denying them their freedom

And their so-called rights

To do as they please

And sail through life with ease

I am amazed

At how we try to stop our children

From falling where we fell

And making our mistakes

So that in this life

They can get an easier break

I am amazed

At how we educate our children

By sending them to schools

With traditional standards and rules

To acquire the necessary tools

So they won’t be anybody’s fools

I am amazed

At how we treat to our children

As parents and not as buddies

When it would be far better

To be like their friends

And share the dividends

I am amazed

How we chastise our children

For our archaic and outmoded perception

Attributing to them rudeness and disrespect

Rather than introspect

And come to grips with what to expect

I am amazed

At how we reprimand our children

Spanking and punishing them

Instead of giving rewards

Despite their deviant behavior

That does not meet with our favour

I am amazed

At how we try to rob our children

Of their independence and uniqueness

Of the intrigues of this life 

Though seemingly weird

Classifying the same as strife

I am amazed

That we force church on our children

Making them angry and resentful

And then wonder

Why they are what they are

And with progressive minds not on par

I am amazed

That as we raise our children

That we cannot see eye to eye

With the proponents of the new ideologies

Their schisms and philosophies

Their tomfoolery and devilry

I am amazed

That in spite of having us for their parents

They are still blossoming and growing

They are radiant and glowing

They are reaping what they are sowing

Isn’t this mind blowing?

I am amazed

At the amazing strides

Our amazing communities are amazingly making

Because of our amazing children

And how amazingly

We have raised them

And if you are not amazed

Then I am amazed

That there are still

Some amazing old-fashioned parents

Numbered in an amazing minority

That still have respect for God’s amazing authority

Our children still need our guidance

As they traverse life’s deceptive maze

We cannot afford to abandon them

As they process each critical phase

As amazing as it may seem

God still holds parents accountable

Even in this postmodern age

For raising up a godly people

Stewart Russell © 2017