The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “Lawlessness” as a noun that means to not be regulated or based on law, not restrained or controlled by law.

It means to be unruly. Lawlessness is the total abdication of responsibility to the law. If it is continually practiced, it leads to anarchy.

Then what is “anarchy?”

It is a situation of confusion and wild behavior in which the people in a country, group, organization, are not controlled by rules or laws.

It is the absence of lawful order due to no governmental authority. “Anarchy” is, quite frankly, taking the law into one’s own hands. It disregards laws, rules, and authority.

Our world is a mess right now. Lawlessness is everywhere.

It’s not uncommon to experience knee-jerk responses to any injustice and to then observe the folks throwing out any rules of conduct at the least whim. Perhaps our focus should be diverted from stewing over world situations and wringing our hands. Instead, perhaps we should focus on the home front because respect for authority begins there.

Remember the mother who grabbed her teenage son out of the mayhem in the middle of the Ferguson rioting? She took her authority and like a mother cub, cuffed him, gave him a shaking, and marched him home.

God bless her! She nailed it.

Authority respect and respect of the law begins at home.

The home is a microcosm of society. If there is disrespect at home the problem germinates; e.g. disrespect of anyone who is in authority.

Parents must be aware to teach their children to respect authority. If someone doesn’t teach them, how will they know and understand?

And if they do not understand, how can they respect anything?

Of course, there are times when injustice is being played out, but in that case, let it play out through the proper channels.

To willfully disrespect and challenge authority with violence and anger is not wise. In fact, it is dangerous. Parents should be role models. And children will follow suit. Remember that the respect of authority has many hats.

The child who respects and obeys the authority of the home will grow to respect the law, his teachers, his employers, and his government.

Respect for authority must include the understanding that protest marches, and grievance lawsuits, to name a few, are proper modes of conduct to challenge unfair authority. Such consideration will give us understanding when we are in the presence of law and order.

Larned has officials put in place to enforce and protect the law. These police and sheriff deputies do maintain safety and security for the town. You see, it isn’t just the “OFFICIALS” who do the job. Actually, it’s the respect of the officials, and the willingness to obey the laws that keeps the town free of anarchy. It is us who keeps things orderly. The police and the sheriff enforce the law when it is not being kept.

Our position is to keep the law and respect it. I am one of many who appreciate our local police and sheriff ’s departments.

I want to make it clear that we have their back. I don’t know about you, but Fred and I can go to bed at night knowing assuredly that a police department and a sheriff ’s department that is facing danger every day of the week are maintaining the peace and safety in this town. …for us.

We experience a clear presence of safety and security. None of us know the full measure of all that this job of “enforcement” entails. We don’t know the half of it.

But, I read the newspapers and follow the news in the media. The drug epidemic is out of hand. Heroin is the drug of choice. Drugs, weapons, hot tempers, and disrespect of authority can turn the calmest village or town into a war zone.

Please consider God’s advice in Romans 13:1,2. “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those that exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”

So, thank you Larned police and sheriff’s department. You do have your work cut out for you. But we are behind you. We appreciate living where lawlessness does not have a place.

“A Woman’s View” is Judi Tabler’s reflection of her experiences and events. She is a wife, mother, writer, teacher, grandmother, and even a great grandmother.