Summer is over for the children in Southern Indiana. School started yesterday, the end of July. Yes, really that early. My oldest grands, twin girls, are already in sixth grade. They have grown into lovely young women. My grandsons are both riding the bus to school. One is in third grade and the other begins Kindergarten. Such big boys they both are. Our Kindergartener is a sweet, cheerful, happy special needs boy named Isaac. His big brother is Isaac’s biggest fan.
As Isaac starts school I can only hope and pray he won’t be teased and bullied. The same with my older grandson, Alex. My prayers are that he isn’t bullied. Isaac might not fully understand why kids bully him, but his big brother will. His heart will be broken that someone is being mean to his little brother. 
Alex has a sensitive spirit and cannot understand why people are want to intentionally hurt. He only wants to protect and love. His heart breaks when he sees someone or some animal hurting. Once when we were talking about bullying he told me “I hate it. It makes no sense at all.” I agree, my sweet grandson. Totally.
No one is exempt from bullying. Kids can be bullied for a variety of things. Home life, grades, illness, having an impediment, a disorder, wearing glasses, or “just because” are some of the reasons given for bullying another. Jealousy and greed are two others. Even adults continue the bullying with politics and religious views. It needs to stop.
Were you ever bullied? Are you now? In school I was. A lot. Elementary through High School. There were three reasons that I was bullied although back then they called it teased. I was overweight, wore glasses, and raised in a single parent home. My Daddy died when I was twelve and I was bullied because I had no father. Kids can be mean, cruel actually. The good news is that I lived through it and I survived. Unfortunately we hear about many kids that don’t want to continue life because of it.
Have you talked to the children in your circle, really talked to them, about how to treat others? There is no shame in being different or weak. Some things in life happen that hurt without having others continue to remind us of them. Enough already! Everyone has problems. In actuality bullies are the ones with bigger issues. They tease, knock down, and mock to make themselves look better. Self esteem is what they lack and confidence, most likely love, too. Isn’t it unfortunate that bullies need to make others feel bad in order to feel good about themselves?
Bullying is a serious thing not only from a physical aspect but mental and emotional, too. Those words and wounds can stick with people for years. I still remember the majority of names I was called and things said to me. Oh, but I can also remember my friends, my true friends, coming to my aid and giving me support.
Join me in praying for the sweet innocents that need sheltering from being bullied. Pray for a shield of protection around them. We also need to pray for the big old bullies, too. They need help. Bullies have gotten way off of track and need help getting back on. Let’s pray for them, too.
School should be filled with learning, fun, giggles, friends, and carefree times. It shouldn’t be a time of dread, gloom, frowns and heartache.
We can lead by example. Let the kids hear positive, nice words from us. They mimic what they see and hear. Teach them to be a friend and helper not a bully. This is a lesson for life.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” Matt. 5:11 ESV
“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Psalm 82:4 ESV
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Prov. 12:18 ESV
None of that garbage was dropped by the class but every bit was collected by them. They were being good stewards of our world that Abba has entrusted to us.
Why would someone carelessly and irresponsibly throw an empty cup, can, or broken chair away on a beautiful creek bank? Why do people drift by, drive past, or walk over trash? We should stop, collect it, and dispose of it properly. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of this, too. While I might wait and throw my garbage in a can, seldom if ever do I take the effort to clean up after someone else. I should.
Those steps were horrendous! It would scare any child away from wanting a stepparent or step sibling. Do you remember how they treated poor Cinderella? They worked her endlessly, gave her no love or affection, and laughed while doing it.
They are the good kind that I love dearly. I have banned the word from my house and vocabulary. My children are my children. Dad is my father. I have more cousins than I can count. When someone asks me how many nieces and nephews I have, it takes me a while to add them all up. Why would I put “step” into a discussion that doesn’t really need it? Family is family. Love is love. Speak it and believe it. Get off those steps.
just as He does the great-grandparent’s one. Abba loves to hear from His children. Don’t you like to talk to your family? I do. When my phones were not working I had one of things I wanted to ask my parents, children, family, or friends. It wasn’t possible to call them and I missed their voices. It made me think how God must miss His children when we don’t pray for a few days. I hate to disappoint Him. Don’t you?
This is my advice for you, too, my friend. Keep dripping, little by little letting Jesus shine through you, until the one you are working on is suddenly washed in the blood. Be a good example. It is easier to argue and fight, but you “catch more fli with honey than vinegar” my sweet Mammaw always said. Work on keeping your circle unbroken as I am working on mine. Contact me if you need help praying or a partner.
The girl is thrilled and makes the necklace immediately. She wore it everywhere, even to bed.
Inside the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls.
He cares about every area of my life because He cares about me.
Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 