I am 44 years old and have lived in this community my whole life. I am married with two children, ages 20 and 19.
As I reflect over the past year, I think about two days out of the year that have been nothing less than devastating to us. Our 19-year-old has had minor alcohol consumption charges. He has, no doubt, made some seriously bad choices and knows that actions have consequences, as do we.
The part that is hard to accept is the relentless gossip, the shunning of him and the judging that has occurred. The people doing this do not know him, in fact, some have never even met him. These people announce their Christianity to all who listen. Where does it say in the Bible that gossip is Christianity, that shunning is Christianity or that judging is Christianity? Some sit around their living rooms or kitchen tables doing this without ever knowing him, while quite possibly their children have done or are doing the very same, just not getting caught. We were all teens once and some took chances and still grew into respectable, productive adults.
You know my son by two days out of 365. The people who really do know my son have 363 other days that show who he is. If you have never met someone in such despair, how can you possibly feel qualified to take time out of your busy schedules to degrade and demean him?
He is a smart young man, who made stupid choices, but we who know, and especially those of us who love him, have faith that he will find his way, with all of our support.
The old saying, "It takes a village to raise a child" must have been meant for only the exceptional children, not the ones who falter.
In closing, I would just like to remind the people sitting around judging others over neighborhood coffee dates, that unless your doorstep is swept clean, please don't judge the dirt on ours.
I hope that you can recognize yourself in this letter and think before gossiping again about someone you've "known" two days out of 365.
