I have often told a story that happened when Marcus, my grandson was little. His mother was trying to get him to not use the word “stupid.” Using that word was usually accompanied by a bit of timeout in a chair as a reminder. Bob and I were visiting when Grandpa Bob called something “stupid.” That immediately lit up Marcus, who insisted that Grandpa Bob needed to enjoy the time out chair too. It took a bit of cajoling, but he did sit in that chair for a few minutes.
Lately, however, I am not sure if I can find any other word to use for some of the things I have been seeing. “Stupid” means “having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense.” Really, is there any other way to describe some things?
I watched a couple videos of the recent gas shortage on the East Coast. One woman was putting gas in a grocery bag, which she then put inside another, then another, tied the handles and put in the trunk of her car. Another was filling up what looked like small plastic tubs.
The other day I turned on the TV to catch the early news and got the tail-end of Judge Judy. I was convinced after five minutes that “stupid” really is often the best adjective.
Then there are the reality shows. I do not watch reality shows, of any kind, period, but at times I cannot help but see the commercials for them. Again, “stupid” rises to the top of the adjective list.
As I watched some of the real-life videos, the commercials for reality television and the people appearing before Judge Judy, two things came to mine. One was a meme I saw on Facebook that said, “Let’s remove all the warning labels and let stupid wipe itself out.”
The other was from Proverbs 3:35: “The wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor.” [HCSB]
Oh LORD, let me be found wise! Tomorrow “Spiritual Wisdom!”