Do you remember a time when... .

1. people spoke their minds in a civil manner, and those who were rude or crude were politely put in their place?
2. people said what they meant and meant what they said?
3. cussing was shameful?
4. people were not afraid to greet one another by shaking hands?
5. children were required to do daily chores?
6. parents disciplined their children because they loved them and weren't afraid of being arrested for common sense actions like taking away the privileges of a child because of his or her disrespectful behaviour?
7. children respected their elders by not talking back and by contributing to the support of the household by willingly doing their chores?
8. grandchildren sat with their grandparents and learned from their stories?
9. boys carried a pocketknife for no other purpose than for whittling a stick or carving his name in a log, or for sharpening a pencil, or for slicing up an apple for lunch?
10. a tomboy was just an energetic and perhaps outdoorsy kind of girl that could hold her own with the boys?
11. families sang and played music together?
12. dad taught you how to fish, mend a bicycle tire and start a campfire?
13. mom taught you how to bake a pie, knit and sew a hem by hand?
14. a man would remove his hat when entering a building and he tipped his hat to acknowledge someone?
15. goodwill was common and appreciated?
16. passing strangers smiled at one another and said, "Good day"?
17. someone who took advantage of others was held to account?
18. people arrested for serious crimes and repeat offenders were held in custody until trial?
19. people who did the crime actually did the time?
20. the punishment fit the crime?
21. a bee or a spider was not a cause for histrionics?
22. people said 'please' and 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' or 'my pleasure'?
23. children said 'yes ma'am' and 'yes sir' to their elders?
24. people apologized when they said or did something wrong?
25. people knew how to use a knife and fork at table, and didn't talk with their mouths full?
26. grammar was studied and practiced and pronouns matched a person's sex and weren't a thing with which to beat people over the head?
27. everyone avoided a gossipmonger?
28. the hard things in life weren't avoided and people accepted their responsibilities?
29. people learned from their own mistakes and the mistakes of others?
30. people happily wasted time walking and talking with each other about the beauty of the day, and about almost forgotten memories of good times, and laughed about innocent childhood exploits?
31. parents and children did things together like make cookies, went on picnics and visited the playground, and went to the beach to play and relax?
32. public spaces were for all people, and loitering and blocking sidewalks were prohibited?
33. people looked out for one another?
34. no one wanted to be known as or called a coward?
35. kids were allowed to be kids and were helped to be responsible?
36. innocence and modesty were shared norms?
37. people understood the importance of the Christian religion to the public square and to the common good?
38. it was odd that someone didn't have faith?
39. Sunday was a day of rest?
40. the good old days weren't perfect, but those days were less complicated, and less complicated people were more common, and for those reasons the good old days really were the good old days?

2 Timothy 4:1-5 | I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.