by Gee Sprague on October 07, 2022.
Notes to my Grandchildren 15 Which fads did you embrace while growing up?
Fads are fun! In my lifetime I have seen and followed many fads: from Bell Bottoms to Leisure suits; Double Breasted, Single to three button suits; wide ties, narrow ties; paisley to polka dots, penny loafers to cowboy boots; moustaches, goatees, beards, sideburns, clean shaven, just to name a few!
The fad or fashion I followed most was probably my hair. In the early 1960’s the musicians of my time made long hair and facial hair the fad and fashion. As a young teenager and a guitarist, I wanted to look like my favorite band members. Through the course of my life my hair has been many different lengths, highlighted and I hate to admit even artificially curled (not my best look!). Sadly, as I entered my 50’s I had increasingly less hair and what was originally brown, now was white! That is how you will remember me! Here’s a few examples of your grandmother’s and my hair over the years.
College Years 1973
1981 1985
1990
Each generation tends to embrace a sense of what is acceptable. I was a pretty good kid and really didn’t cause my parents a lot of trouble. The length of my hair was probably the biggest cause of disagreements leading to some pretty heated arguments. My parents wanted it trim and neat; I wanted it long and shaggy. Eventually they won! In college, their influence was not as persuasive. A whole semester could go by without a haircut and by then I think my parents figured it was a losing battle, more people were wearing their hair longer and it was becoming the norm.
In our arguments, I would try to use Biblical examples. There was the story of Samson whose strength was associated with his long hair. Of course Jesus had long hair! They didn’t buy into my Biblical arguments. They were right! Let me warn you about using the Bible to justify your behavior. Be Careful!!!! None of those examples were really great justifications. People love to use the Bible to justify their actions both good and bad. Once again, Be Careful! In the case of Samson, there is so much more to the story than justifying a teenagers desire to fit in! God did not send His only Son into the world to die so teenagers could follow any fad and fashion. Jesus died so we could have life and life abundant.
My parents were a bit over protective and worried about the fads of my day. As a parent, I tried to be less concerned about your mother. There were some arguments about choice of style and what was appropriate, but I think we had a healthier way of communicating. You should ask her.
Here’s an example which might show the difference and how things have changed. When I was a teenager in the 60’s and early 70’s very few girls had pierced ears. It was not commonly accepted at the time. I am pretty sure my sister didn’t have pierced ears until she was out of high school, maybe even college. Your grandmother’s age group most girls had pierced their ears by the time they were in middle school. When she and I started dating the new thing was to have a second piercing in at least one ear. I remember discussing this with her in the late 70’s whether or not it was appropriate behavior. To this day she still has only one piercing per ear. Your mother had her ears pierced in elementary school and she had Harper’s ears pierced before she was even 6 months old. Guess who took your mother to have a second piercing when she was in middle school. Me! Our discussion 40 plus years ago about second piercings was no longer an issue.
By the time you are reading this, much of what I am saying will seem be irrelevant but let me offer a bit of guide when following fads. Here are a few lessons I would like to share about fads.
Try not to follow a fad which can’t be un-followed easily. Movie Stars, Professional Athletes, politicians, social media influencers have a short life cycle. Don’t bet the farm on any of these.
Following Jesus is not a fad! “Hebrews 13:8 NRSV 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Try not to follow a fad which is permanent until you are certain you want to have it represent you the rest of your life. Ask yourself, is what I am doing really an improvement on how God created me. “Genesis 1:27 NRSV 27 So God created humans[a] in his image, in the image of God he created them; [b]male and female he created them.” It is hard to improve on God’s creation, so be careful!
Don’t think your generation is the first to try something new and different. “Ecclesiastes 1:9 NRSV 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Be careful not to judge others! This one can be really hard, especially as you get older and start to form your own opinions. This is definitely the stage of my life. It will be hard not to judge the fad someone else is following. All people struggle with those who look and value different things. We are entitled to our opinions, and there will be fads and fashion statements that will always challenge your values. Be careful, however, to always value who a person is, and not just how they look. Religious, people have a tendency to do this. It is an easy trap into which a person falls, especially when we embrace Biblical Values. Here’s what Jesus had to say to a group of overly religious people. “Matthew 23 NRSV 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, [e] so that the outside also may become clean.” Over the years I have become much less judgmental of the appearance of other people (I still have some growing to do). Some of it relates to how people viewed me with long hair. I certainly have my biases and so will you. Some of which we are entitled. I hope, however, you will consider the things I have written as a guide. In the end, our outward appearance really doesn’t matter. God knows our heart! Work on having a pure heart and what is on the outside will never really matter!
Finally, enjoy the fad while it lasts! There are things you will want to do as a teenager that will seem pretty silly when you are in your 20’s. It will apply to almost every decade of your life! This goes back to my previous point about embracing things that are permanent. “Isaiah 40:8 NRSV 8 The grass withers; the flower fades,]][a] but the word of our God will stand forever.” Seek the things which are eternal!
On a final note, remember my obsession with long hair. This last photo was taken in October 2022 as we celebrated her 3rd birthday at Disney World.
October 2022 Disney World for Harper’s 3rd birthday.
God’s Word is true! “The grass withers; the flower fades, the hair thins, hairlines recede, tattoos will fade, piercings will seal, the clothes you wore in high school will seem silly when you start your career, the arguments you had with your parents over the fads of your day, will be the arguments you will have with your children. God’s Word, Faith and Trust in His Son Jesus Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit are the only things that matter for eternity!
Gee Sprague, October 07, 2022
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