Tradition

It seems as if many young people today, especially those in the church, are averse to tradition.  It seems as if they often think that if something is old, it has no value, and instead are ever clamoring for something new.  Don't get me wrong--new things are good, but they should never supplant the old.  Proverbs 6:20-23 states:

"My son, keep your father's commandment,
and forsake not your mother's teaching. 
Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck. 
When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life." 
If we listen to our parents, we are listening to tradition.  If each successive generation listens to its parents, and passes on their wisdom to the next generation, tradition will not be considered old, crusty ideas that nobody really believes anymore.  It will instead be recognized for what it really is: wisdom from experience.  We don't have to make the same mistakes our parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents have made.  We can learn from those mistakes, learn from the past, listen to the teaching of our parents, and, when it comes time, pass on the tradition to the next generation.  Stand on the old, and build something new.