When I was younger, I was taught to respect not just my elders but people in general. I was told to say please and thank you, to not speak over someone, and to appreciate what I had. That if I didn’t have something nice to say, then I shouldn’t say anything that all. If you wanted something, you needed to work hard and earn your way to get it. Are parents still teaching their kids these simple values anymore? I have to wonder when I see entitlement and ungratefulness everywhere.
With all the things that have been going on around our country and the world lately, I think Tim McGraw’s song, Humble and Kind, means even that much more to me. Even if you don’t like country music, please read these lyrics. These are the values that we all need to be living by.
You know there’s a light that glows by the front door
Don’t forget the key’s under the mat
Childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind
Go to church ’cause your momma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
It won’t be wasted time
Always stay humble and kind
Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind
When the dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind
Don’t expect a free ride from no one
Don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why
Bitterness keeps you from flyin’
Always stay humble and kind
Know the difference between sleeping with someone
And sleeping with someone you love
“I love you” ain’t no pick up line so
Always stay humble and kind
Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind
When those dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind
When it’s hot, eat a root beer popsicle
Shut off the AC and roll the windows down
Let that summer sun shine
Always stay humble and kind
Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you’re goin
Don’t forget turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind
15 Comments
Such a beautiful reminder, thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I’m not a country music fan but I do love me some Tim McGraw
that video got me so choked up
What a beautiful message.
Something I think is missing so much from this era of time.
I was brought up the same way but most kids today are not being brought up that way & it’s sad to see. My oldest stepdaughter is a prime example of the pitfalls of this generation – she doesn’t feel that she needs to work or be kind/respectful/appreciative – & it drives me insane. My youngest is better, she sometimes tries to push it but she’s already done much more work & is much more kind/respectful/appreciative than most her age. So, I did something right with that one…I figure that I was too late for the other one. Ha!
Beautiful post and so true. I was brought up the same way, and it hurts me to see how many are not <3
I have the same feelings about the world we live in today. I hear absolute horror stories from my friends who are teachers about not only kids being terrible and not respecting them, but parents not caring and blaming the teacher when their child doesn’t do well in classes. Last time I checked, the student actually needs to put in the work in order to get straight A’s or even pass a class! It’s just so sad that this is happening and there’s not any respect anymore!
I love this song! I feel like Tim Mcgraw is just a good soul, always with a positive message.
I have mixed feelings on this topic, because I do think that over time there has been a shift in our values as society. If you look at Disney movies now, they’re about empowering yourself, which is good, but the main characters are a bit lacking in some of the virtues that the old princesses exemplified, like kindness. And when I see annoying kids or whatever, it’s very easy to think, “I certainly wasn’t like that.” But now we say that millennials are super self-absorbed, BUT back when the baby boomers were our age, they were called the “me generation” because everyone else considered them self-absorbed. So maybe the truth is just that there are always shitty people, raising their kids to continue being shitty, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect on the entire generation.
This is awesome and so true. I think things are getting worse – I don’t like being negative, but, goodness, there is so much entitlement! It’s truly disgusting. We were raised the same way and I’m so grateful for it!
I’m with you — I don’t know if people are still teaching their kids these values. There is so much bad happening lately, it just makes me wonder.
I was given all the same lessons as you & I hope I do a good job teaching those lessons forward to Sofia and any other kids we may have.
Love me some Timmy and his great music. Thanks for the reminder! xo
I’m not a country music fan, but I appreciate the storytelling it has. Those lyrics are great and the values are so right. Totally agree with you.
Isn’t that song absolutely precious! What a great idea for a post For what life is all about in this crazy crazy world! I heard there is Going to be a book that goes along with Tim’s song, anxious to see it. I you have a glorious weekend beautiful friend, stay cool and have fun!
I don’t know WTF people are teaching their kids…but I know a lot of people my age are swinging back and trying to do the child rearing style from when we were growing up. Something has to give.
i was brought up kind of similarly (no church or root beer popsicles lol) but to be kind, polite and not a little shit head. when i screwed up, my mum smacked me and i didn’t do it again. i think we are far too careful and worried about screwing kids up that we are screwing them up by being too coddling and letting them get their way. i mean, times change, we can’t expect our kids to have the exact childhood we did when there is so much more for them that we didn’t have, but i think as long as the parents have their heads screwed on right and treat people well, kids will learn from their example. i hope!
you know how I feel about this subject — I have no idea where all the respect and everything went, but I know that Sheffield will not be brought up to feel he is entitled to every little thing.
I was definitely raised this way too. And I so love this song!