Today, I am writing something very personal as it involves one of the issues a parent fears most … bullying.
For the past weeks, we were disturbed by how a little boy in my son’s class could threaten and terrify Josiah in school. After talking to their adviser and principal, I found out that most of his classmates have become an object of target for this boy. But mostly according to them, Josiah have been picked on most with words like “killing,” “I will hurt you,” and “I will box your eyeglasses so it will hit your eyes.” Big words used as a weapon of hurt.
Josiah being an innocent sweet boy that he is, told me about these things making him no longer want to go to school.
As a mother, I had mixed emotions of anger, fear and sadness. I was angry because this child being new in school have invoked fear in my son’s heart and the other kids leaving them as open preys for the enemy for the past two quarters and gotten away with it. I felt fear for the safety of my son, especially since he’s not used to violent words. So sad because this boy obviously needed help.
Meeting with the parents, I got to know more why this child was acting up. Nonetheless, fact remains, it is our responsibility as parents to first take care of our kids before we minister to others. I pray for this child every dat for deep down, I know he is in pain.
During this crossroad, our family chooses to forgive as we show grace and love not only for the kid but the parents as well. We choose to fight the godly way but with boldness to speak the truth in love. We choose to love on this kid as we would all the other kids who grew up with Josiah over the years:
Bullying is NOT right! It hurts! It destroys! It is NOT acceptable! It is NOT a laughing matter! It is an issue that must be addressed with URGENCY!
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
We already did our part of informing proper authorities on the incident and reaching out to the family involved to help them overcome this issue with the love of Jesus.
As parents, our biggest battles are won through prayers and bended knees to our Lord Jesus Christ making our requests known as only He can change a family and free strongholds by the Blood of Jesus.
Parents, school and church leaders … wake up! The children need us.
Ephesians 6:12
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
We owe it to our children to be equipped on spiritual warfare. How do we protect them If we ourselves are not aware and trained in spiritual warfare?
We realized through this hurtful incident that children, no matter how young, do experience daily spiritual warfare. They have to learn to face these battles too using Jesus’ super abounding grace to sustain them. We have to equip them with verses that speak life not death. Words of love that builds and not tear down.
So from this day onwards, we will declare over our children and everyone we love the promises of God in Psalms 91.
It is my prayer that authorities of the school and church take this incident seriously. We need to open our eyes that salvation and deliverance are needed most especially the children so that they will be protected from the wiles of the enemy.
Let us not underestimate the spiritual warfare we all go through even for our kids.
Thank you to my eldest son Joshua for drawing this photo and the reminder that: “Bullying hurts, Jesus saves!”
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