I wonder if the generation before me worried as much about our abilities to carry on the torch as some of my generation does.

Often times, wisdom comes with age, but so does the lack of ability to trust.

I look at the younger generation with all their cell phones and technology and wonder how they are going to cope.

Will they be able to carry on a civil conversation face to face?

Texting seems to have become the main mode of dialogue.

And for the first time in my life, I have also found myself questioning hairstyles, clothing choices and music young people like.

There was a time when I was much more accepting of all the new genres of music — vowing to always stay “hip,” but with some of today’s tunes, I can’t even understand the words.

And while it has always been my objective to dress appropriately for “my age,” I still continued to try to be cute and contemporary.

Sadly, some of today’s styles are just too relaxed.

I like feeling comfy and cozy, but wearing bedroom slippers and pajama pants to the grocery store is a bit over the top for me.

The world is changing, and as the years go by, it seems more challenging to see eye-to-eye with the younger generations.

But isn’t that the way it has always been?

I have seen clips of newscasts from the 50s, where adults were incensed with Elvis and all his gyrations.

In the 60s, the hippie movement was born. Young people began to reject established institutions and embrace “free love.” Guys and girls grew their hair long.

Like never before, it seemed as if the generation gap was growing even wider.

And here I am, a product of this tumultuous era, now questioning the ideals of today’s youth.

That was until this week when I came across a reading that gave me reason to pause.

In one of my devotional books that it is a compilation from the BBC Radio 4 series “Prayer for the Day,” the Rev. Dr. Mark Wakelin writes that while there are many sad stories in the press about young people, which involve violence or a desperate need to belong, it does not mean our world is going to Hell in a handbasket.

“The truth is that so much of the news is filled with creativity, hope and life, and the young people of our nation are by and large hard-working, moral, caring creative and extraordinary human beings,” Wakelin writes.

I look at my children, my nieces and nephews, my cousin’s children and my friend’s children, and I think — he is right.

So they do things a bit different and they see the world a bit different.

This is a good thing. This is how we all grow and learn.

It’s time to stop worrying.

I think they’ve got this.

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.