Little kids can get into some really dangerous things: household chemicals, fire, knives. and guns. But I consider those more of an accident than a decision. What I tell my children is that the older they get, the bigger the consequences of their decisions. I saw two young people at a KFC the other day, and it got me thinking.
First, as an aside, let me say thank God for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Before I got married, I did window ad painting (window splash) full time. It doesn't pay as much per job, but at the end of the week, the income is better, because it seriously eliminates a ton of office work and other non production stuff. I moved here about 15 years ago, have done very little window painting, and have been struggling since. Then, a couple of weeks ago, KFC calls, and wanted me to paint windows on 11 stores. Just like the good ol' days. Yesss! Check out their whole menu, they have a lot of choices regarding lunch type boxes with chicken strips, potato wedges, and...honey mustard sauce...Yum! Also, a really good sandwich on the value menu. It has a terrific fresh bun, chunks of chicken meat, and a tangy BBQ sauce. Very good.
So there I was, jazzing up their windows, and I saw a young girl, still had teeth braces, dressed in the typical sexy clothing that women wear these days. We've watched a video with Pam Stenzel a couple of times, regarding teens and STDs. It's a must-see video. Seriously. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job. She's informative. lively, determined, and passionate about her message. If you have kids, get_this_video. In the message, she says that there are something like 39 common STD's going around these days, and that 1 in 4 teens has one. Some are viruses, which you never get rid of.
So I look at this girl, and wonder if she'll get an incurable STD before her braces are even removed. What a sad icon of "life in the fast lane". Then I saw a young man with tattoos all over his arms, and the side of his neck. I've heard of some people that get them just about all over, but stop at the wrists and neck. That way, they can always put on a dress shirt, and the tattoos won't show. That option was no longer available to this young man, and I started thinking how long term and unwise his decision was.
Then it hit me: the other young people are making decisions just as serious, the difference being that his just show more.
