Monday of this week I arrived home around 3:30 PM and wasn't feeling well. I laid down on the bed, where Deb covered me with an afghan and I napped for nearly two hours. Upon getting up, I went to my chair and just sat watching television for the rest of the evening. I even had my supper on a snack tray.
I went to Frndly and watched an episode of Gunsmoke.
Doc welcomed a new, young doctor to Dodge and was delighted to talk 'shop' with this man. The man's wife talked him into staying in Dodge and setting up his business. Doc visited and wished them well. But, of course, they got no business because of the deep trust everyone had in Doc.
Eventually the young doctor's wife began spreading lies about Doc's drinking habits. She coaxed people to turn to her husband. Festus overheard her and told Doc about it. Matt and Kitty also picked up on it and expressed concern to Doc. But Doc was unmoved by the accusations and reports.
Eventually, he confronted her about her lying and she denied it. He insisted on taking her to see a couple of his patients so that she could see the poverty and conditions that most people lived in around Dodge. He explained that his pay was often in eggs or occasionally a chicken. Often, all he got was a promise that they'd pay him when they could.
While out, they were called to a home where a farmer had injured his leg several days ago but had not sought treatment. Gangrene had set in and Doc told him that he would have to amputate the leg. Reluctantly, he agreed. While Doc stepped away, she convinced the man that her husband could help him and save his leg.
Doc saw what had happened and returned to town. Meanwhile, she and her husband went to the farm again. He also saw that the leg had to be amputated, but now it was even worse. The farmer died.
When it was over, I turned to Deb and commented on the positive values communicated in this episode! Doc refused to respond in kind! He confronted the woman over her lies and slander. He yielded when she persuaded the farmer to let her husband operate on him instead. The values he exhibited were wonderful and appropriate.
Later in the evening, after watching our favorite show, we flipped to a new show that we've been wanting to watch. It's about a tracker that hunts for people that might be lost or disoriented. The advertisements made it look good, and with my backpacking background - I thought we might enjoy it. But, unfortunately, by the time the show was half over, we turned it off and I went to bed. The values were discouraging and not something that we wanted to be influencing us.
I know! These are the laments of an older man! Shows from decades ago tended to teach wholesome - even Christian - values. Shows like 'The Waltons', 'Little House on the Prairie', 'Bonanza', 'The Rifleman', 'Sue Thomas - FBEye', 'Doc', 'Touched by an Angel', 'Highway to Heaven' and so many more consistently reinforced values that strengthened the fabric of American culture! We learned how to live right - just by watching TV.
But these values are in a slim minority today! Thank God for 'The Chosen', 'The Baxters', 'The Great American Family Channel' and you may think of a few more...
And the end result is that our culture - sadly - mirrors what we're viewing to a large extent!
There's OBVIOUSLY a market for these old shows because they are available on many venues at almost all times of the day. It seems to me that wise parents would sit and watch some of these old shows together and find creative ways to discuss them afterward.
A phrase that my kids should remember is: "LEARN TO DISCERN!"
I said it to them over and over again during their growing-up years! That was part of my role as their father! Often, when we'd watch a movie together [or even an episode of 'The Cosby Show'], I would ask them questions about what we'd viewed. Oh yes, this was always greeted with a groan! But I wanted to know how they were processing what they viewed. I didn't want them to just accept everything that they saw on TV! I wanted them to learn to discern!
I wanted them to form their values from a source far more significant than TELEVISION!!!!!!!
This is a parent's role! They monitor and evaluate what their kids watch! They question them about how they would react in similar situations. They teach appropriate responses! They also model appropriate values [this is far more important than our words]!
Living in the 21st century has taught us that we can't trust the schools - AND CERTAINLY NOT OUR UNIVERSITIES - to inculcate Christian values in our young people and children! And remember: church membership is now less than half of our population, so Sunday School [which is disappearing] isn't shaping our kids anymore!
IT'S UP TO US, as parents and grandparents to form our kids and shape their consciences! No one cares more about them than we do! Be bold! Be aggressive! Take on the challenge! Talk with your kids! Learn how they're processing information. Help them to embrace values that will allow them to contribute to the shaping of a better culture!
Last tip: Take them to church and pray with them!
