We have had some situations going on in school with my 6th grade son that has taken me to my knees more times than I can count. This, my friends, is not a bad thing. It is just realization that we aren't in control and we need His help.
These are the boys that I'm praying like mad over these days. Aren't they cute? And, they are definitely worth it. If you are a parent, I know you agree. And as these kids grow up, you find yourself praying things that you had never considered before.
We were in church this morning and started a new 6 week series called "The Good Fight." The first week was today and was about conflict. GOT ME INTERESTED MR PREACHER!!!! KEEP ON TALKING!!!!!!!!
"I'm listening Lord. What have you got to say to me."
Basically...in a nutshell let me recap 30 minutes into something much shorter....like a few sentences. But first...some questions that we all wonder.
How does Jesus fight? When does He fight? Is it ok for Christians to fight?
First of all....isn't Jesus the Prince of Peace? Yep. Isn't God a God of order and not disorder? Yep.
Somewhere in Hebrews it says that we need to make every effort to live in peace. Yep.
However, Jesus also got a little ticked at times. We all know the story of the temple when He got so bloomin' mad at what was taking place in there that He turned a few tables over. For some reason I love this story.
So I have a feeling Jesus is saying "stand up for what is right" through that story in the temple.
One more time....."stand up for what is right."
If I have a child that is watching kids around him be mean to other kids.....then....
"stand up for what is right."
I'm going to tell my kids that they are more likely to make a difference to the child more than a teacher or principal if they are the ones to stand up and say to that child...."stop it, man. That's not cool."
Are you following me here? If you have a situation where you can benefit from this in your family.....adult or child....then, I'm praying that you think like Jesus. Jesus got mad in the temple because what they were doing in the temple was wrong. He got mad and stood up for what was right.
Jesus didn't get mad when people insulted Him. That is where He showed Himself as the Prince of Peace. He got mad when He took a stand for what was wrong so peace would eventually be present.
**A bully goes after the weak. Teach your child to stand up for the weak. Teach your child to stand up for what is right. Teach your child to do the hard thing. Studies show that other kids tend to make bullies stop. Kids listen to their peers.
Put that in the Spiritual Bank because I know it to be true. It's just so hard to teach to kids.
Love you all. Keep fighting the good fight.....no matter your age and what you are up against!!
I want to be able to teach my kids how to fight....from a biblical standpoint.
Hugs and blessings~
Monday, January 11, 2010
What does the bible say about a bully?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
You go Frannie!! Teach those boys to be David's in the Goliath of a world!
Amen!!!
I remember when my oldest son was in 3rd grade and Jason was in 1st...a bully was picking on David. David has a tender heart and would never hurt another BUT Jason, is different. He got tired of the bully picking on David and he sttod up to the bully. Of course there were other times we had to address Jason on handle situations right even at that young age. He did get them kicked off the bus for standing up against a bully.
So true, pray and teach them the Word!
Love you,
Patty
The thing about Jesus was that he loved justice and hated injustice. You see it all over the gospels in how He responded to people and situations.
Teaching our kids to love justice will help them to be able to recognize injustice and stand for those being treated poorly.
Keep up the good fight girl...I'm right there on the front line with you--fighting to raise warriors for Christ!
Love you.
Fran, I pray that the bullies will back down and recognize that they need to change their ways of interacting with others and I'll be praying for your sons. It is not always easy to stand up and be vocal about an injustice that we witness--even harder for a child. May God's comforting presence be felt by your sons as they go through their day.
TeresaL
Being a parent is hard!!
I applaud you for your honest and Biblical approach
We currently have a bizarre situation with a boy in our neighborhood who also happens to be in boy 1 class
This child has chosen to exclude boy 1 and did not invite him to his b'day party on Sat
The kid has also stopped playing with boy 1
As a mom I want to go tell the kid where to go - hehe
but I think I will try to foster a reconciliation since boy 1 has no idea why this kid will not play with him !!
Oh boy kids!!
Praying for you!! :)
A bully goes after the weak. Yep and SAtan is a big old bully. He prays on those who are weakest in their faith and those who are stronger should also stand up for and battle for those weaker of our brothers and sisters.
God bless you as you parent those precious boys!
Leah
When those hard situations come I am learning not so much to pray for deliverance from the situations, but God's strength and guidance of how to get through them...for me and my kiddos...
Love ya girl... Kim
I say just kick them in the shin.
That is all.
:)
Love this...we've been having similar conversations with Emma. There is a girl bully in her awana group.
Robyn's comment reminded me of Emma.
Right before Christmas, Emma got punched in the stomach by this child during awana's. When I asked her what she said to the girl, Emma looked me square in the eyes and said, "I told her 'do it again sister, I know how to break knee caps.' and then walked away."
She hasn't had a problem since. :)
Love you!
steph.
So true Fran! Thanks for the post.
Nice post. I realize that I'm coming to this just over a year after you posted, but I found this while preparing for a 6th grade Sunday School lesson on bullying. Great message - Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but he didn't stand down. He met lots of bullies, and not just the priests and Roman soldiers who taunted him. The devil tempted Him. His message through his actions was to stand strong. Peacefully, but certainly not passively. Think also about the lesson for dispute resolution in Matthew 18, and how that differs from the eye-for-an-eye lesson of the Old testament. Love your enemies, give them a chance at salvation, and if they don't change know that you were neither a victim nor an idle bystander.
Persistent bullies should be expelled from school if they caused real harm. Bullying is a hate crime. Bullies need tough love to learn there's consequences to be paid from hurting others. Being soft with them only encourages them to continue their meanness. They need to learn the fear of God.
I am a Christ follower and I totally get the concept of turning the other cheek and praying for one's enemies. I am trying to understand how to take God's principles and share them with a secular audience as to how yo effectively deal with bullying.
Post a Comment