Spirit– Motivating the youth
Pastor Pushie Watson says be a positive INFLUENCE on youth.
We can and should be intentionally shaping our future, and that of our youth.
When I was growing up in Liberia, life was pretty straightforward. You woke up, you went to school, you came home, you played outside, you had a bath, you ate dinner, you went to sleep, and you repeated the whole routine the next day. I grew up in a very secure environment that moulded me into a relatively confident child. My parents raised us in a way that afforded me the opportunity to blossom into all that God created me to be. I was confident that there was nothing I could not do or be if I put my mind to it. I was very content with who I was, because I had love. Not money. Love. Safe love. Love that gave me a sense of acceptance and belonging. In this atmosphere, my dreams had no limitations. My sense of self came from within my home. It was not until my young adult life that I ever heard that I “could not” because of circumstances beyond my doing, such as my race, ethnicity, gender, culture or background but by then, honestly, it was too late. The belief that I could achieve whatever I set my heart to was already deeply engraved in my core. It could take me longer than desired, but I would achieve it nonetheless.
Our children are growing up in a totally different time today. The alarm on the phone wakes the kids up, and they may quickly check their social media. They could, perhaps, be at an educational facility where they are required to use tablets and access the Internet, or they may go on to Whatsapp or Snapchat during their break. Things are changing so rapidly. We live in a conundrum of movement, innovation and technology, all within our grasp. Young people are inundated with a myriad of images and influences from all over the globe. Their home is not the sole source of their influence. These are not the days of our youth. Thre has never been a greater need for us to remain relevant in an over-exposed world. Because the “village” is no longer raising our kids anymore, the world is. And what is the world saying? Can our kids hear us among the clatter of endless chatter through the airwaves? My belief: yes, most definitely, and absolutely. Our voice can and must be heard. It is said that whatever you surround yourself with is what you will become; that the people in your present life are a mirror of the potential of your future. I believe that we can and should be intentionally shaping our future, and that of our youth. I intend to be the loudest voice in my children’s ear, a voice of purpose and direction in the ears of our youth and young adults in the church, and a voice of hope and determination through the media and public platforms for youth around the world. I will not leave the future of our youth to whoever wants it. And this is what I want to say to them: