How “Youth of the Nation” Hits Harder Now That I’m a Christian Parent

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How “Youth of the Nation” Hits Harder Now That I’m a Christian Parent

It was a surreal feeling to see it all come full circle. I was 9 years old when Satellite by P.O.D. came out. Like most kids my age who were into that kind of music, my mind was blown when I first heard Youth of the Nation. I was obsessed. I had never heard anything like it. The subject matter made it one of the first songs I truly connected with as a kid.

Even at 9, the lyrics cut me to my 55-pound core. And that opening riff—its echoing delay still gives me goosebumps. When the drums kick in, I’m teleported right back: Speaker blaring, No rules hat backwards, trading cards and slurpee in hand. Sonny’s powerful rapping, combined with the raw subject matter, could stir anyone to want to make a difference in the world. Back then, I had every word memorized and vowed that if I ever saw them live, I would rap the whole thing out loud.

Little did I know that just blocks away from where I stood as a 9-year-old boy memorizing those lyrics, I would one day be standing—watching P.O.D. perform it live—rapping those same lyrics alongside my 9-year-old daughter at her very first concert.

I get emotional every time I think about that night. She was so excited for her first-ever concert, and the fact that it was in my small hometown—and with such an iconic band from my childhood—made it even more special. The videos I took of us at that moment are some of the most precious I’ve ever captured. A true treasure trove of memories.

But what’s even more incredible is how much deeper these lyrics hit now that I’m a Christian dad, doing my best to raise my children in the love of Jesus. I was certainly aware of the depth of those lyrics as a child, but now they are much heavier because I carry the weight of shaping and forming a child into the man or woman God desires them to be one day.

Let’s do a small analysis of the lyrics of this iconic song.

P.O.D. – “Youth of the Nation”

Last day of the rest of my life

I wish I would’ve known

’Cause I didn’t kiss my mama goodbye

I didn’t tell her that I loved her, how much I care

Or thank my pops for all the talks

And all the wisdom he shared

Unaware, I just did what I always do

Every day, the same routine

Before I skate off to school

But who knew that this day wasn’t like the rest

Instead of taking a test

I took two to the chest

Something I never had to consider as a child was just how fragile life really is. The Bible tells us in James 4:14:

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.”

The scenario in the first verse of the song happens all too frequently in our world. Every day, people like you and me set out to do whatever it is they have planned, fully expecting to return home later. Some, sadly, do not.

This reality shouldn’t haunt us like a phantom stalking us from the corner of our eye at every moment, but rather serve as a sober context in which we live our lives. We should appreciate every day that God allows us to have and understand that we are not guaranteed another.

As a dad, it’s important to me that I tell my children every day how much I love them, that their mom loves them, and that God loves them. If the worst ever happens, like what happened in the song lyrics, I want my children to know that they were loved and will be missed.

Uncomfortable, right? Extremely. But the song isn’t meant to make us comfortable. Kids actually do these kinds of things to each other. It’s heartbreaking. Sit in that discomfort, my friend.

Call me blind, but I didn’t see it coming

Everybody was running

But I couldn’t hear nothing

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast

I didn’t really know this kid

Though I sit by him in class

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love

Or maybe for a moment

He forgot who he was

Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged

Whatever it was

I know it’s because

There is no telling for certain why the kids who commit these heinous acts do it, but we do have some indicators that likely contribute to the problem. Notice the disconnection and unfamiliarity of the kids in the class. The person telling the story “didn’t really know” the assailant, even though he sat right next to him.

How often are kids roaming the halls at school like ghosts? How often are these same kids waking up day after day with no love or leadership in their homes, only to face exactly the same thing at school?

I am not for one moment excusing the behavior of such diabolical acts, and I believe the harshest consequences should be given to anyone who commits something so evil. However, I am saying that we should try to create environments where this is less likely to occur.

This also goes for sending our kids off to school. Every single night, I pray for our oldest—the one who attended the concert with me—that she will be kind to others and that they will be kind to her. As the lyrics suggest, maybe a hug or some act of love and kindness could be all that is needed to prevent such a tragedy.

Matthew 24:12

“Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”

Jesus tells us that a sign we are approaching the end is that the love of many will grow cold. What a chilling statement this is when we consider our world today. How many horrific things would be avoided if the love of many grew hot? The answer truly is that simple. The answer is love. I want my children to not only feel loved but to help others feel loved as well.

We are, we are, the youth of the nation

The famous chorus! The part that really gets me is at the end when the kids actually sing the chorus. What a ministry opportunity for the church today.

Christians, what are we doing to make an impact on the youth of our nation today? Our only hope is Christ.

Johnny boy always played the fool

He broke all the rules

So you would think he was cool

He was never really one of the guys

No matter how hard he tried

Often thought of suicide

It’s kind of hard when you ain’t got no friends

He put his life to an end

They might remember him then

You cross the line and there’s no turning back

Told the world how he felt

With the sound of a gat

Another heartbreaking reality of not only our youth today, but the world. Suicide is never the option my friend. What I teach my children, and what I say to the world, is that if you are alive and breathing still, there is hope.

Please reach out to someone if you ever feel like ending your life. We must teach the youth these days that God is the closest friend that anyone could ever have, and that with Him comes peace and belonging. Perhaps someone out there has not even a single friend, but let me tell you that you can have a friend in Jesus if you call upon His name.

Conclusion

We have an opportunity to make an impact on the youth of our nation. These lyrics hit so much harder now that I am a dad. My heart breaks that there are so many kids hurting, and I will do anything in my power to reach them with the good news of hope and love in Jesus Christ. It begins with my children and moves outward from there.

As I see my daughter in her P.O.D. shirt, I can’t help but smile. It was such a fun night and one of the best times we have ever had together so far. I will always do my best to teach her—and all my children—that they never have to end up like the assailant in the song, or Little Suzy, or Johnny.

I believe that God has so much more in store for my children, and many children in our world today, than the unfortunate realities spoken about in this classic P.O.D. song.

Jesus is always the answer.