Step Up

Do you ever wish you could un-see things?

We ventured out to the park today because it was so splendidly nice out.  I think I’ve written about it before but when I hole up in my little house on the prairie, it’s easy to lose perspective on the rest of the world.  I get so used to our daily grind and how we choose to do things…then my naivety kicks in and I start thinking that every family is like our family.  Oh, how I wish that were true.  Not because I think we have it all figured out – by no means is that the case – but I do know that our children are loved and safe and cared for and fed and nourished and disciplined in love; they are not abused or scared or hungry or alone…  It’s not that way for every kid, or even most kids, although it should be.

As a lover of justice (and humanity, for that matter), it’s hard for me to see someone treated poorly, especially a child.  While we were playing, a little girl got in trouble for something by someone who didn’t talk to her not one time until it was time to go and they were displeased with something.  Obviously, I don’t know all of the details, but I know what I saw and what I saw was ugly.  I’m not saying she was physically abused in front me…had that been the case, I would have had no reservations in stepping in and/or calling the police…but she was treated extremely poorly…especially for a child.  She was screamed at and handled roughly and shamed.  It just makes you wonder what she goes through at home if her caretaker was unafraid to put on this show in public.

I know we all have bad days and bad parenting moments when we don’t always act the way the Lord asks of us (me included).  Sadly, I don’t think this was an isolated incident.  I was told by a friend, “She’s the kind of girl that will be really happy to get to go to school all day.”

Oh my soul.  As a deep feeler, these kinds of things pain me; physically hurt me.  My heart feels so shredded and I feel so helpless.

I spent my drive home just pleading to the Lord on behalf of this little girl and for those who care for her.  I was begging Him for justice and safety and love for her – is that too much to ask?!

I’m not naive enough to think that what I saw is the worst any child has ever been treated; I know that’s not the case and the fact that that’s not the case intensifies the pain of the situation.  We need Jesus.  Our world needs Jesus.  Our kids need Jesus.  We all need Jesus.

Stuff like this makes me just want to hole up in our little house, do what we do and stay away from the crazies and the injustices of the world…but I’m certain that doesn’t solve anything.  I don’t know what the point of experiencing that today was but my soul is stirred.  I want to be part of the solution, the revolution, that changes the familial unit for Christ.  A Bible teacher once preached a mantra that said, “What we struggle with and do not sanctify in ourselves will become a monster in our children.”

Struggle with anger and don’t work to change it?  It will be amplified in your children.

Struggle with pride and don’t work to change it?  It will be amplified in your children.

Struggle with self-worth and don’t work to change it?  It will be amplified in your children.

Struggle with __________ and don’t work to change it?  It will become a monster in your children.

As parents, we have got to wake up to the responsibilities bestowed upon us!  Whether our children were “planned” by us or not matters not; they are now in our care and it is our duty and obligation to do right by them.

I’m so tired of seeing people/parents thinking they can birth a child and do nothing to actually raise it/teach it/love it/guide it/esteem it…

I’m so tired of seeing people/parents do “what their parents did” because that’s all they know…  (Look at this generation…that’s not working (for the most part)!

I’m so tired of people/parents thinking that what they do and what they say has no bearing on the kinds of adults their children will be…

I’m so tired of people/parents putting their jobs, addictions, bank accounts, friends, social lives, etc. in front of their job as a spouse and parent…

I’m so tired of satan killing, stealing and destroying people and parents.

My heart is slivered tonight; I wish I could un-see and un-hear the events of the day…but I can’t…

I can, however, propose a call to action.  Step up, parents.  You have an enormous, important, future-changing job on your hands – your children.  They are worth your time and your effort and your sacrifice.  You are raising little adults who will one day be leading their generation.  What you say and do today will effect them forever, believe it or not.  Treat them with respect and dignity and grace and mercy and love – it covers a multitude of sins, you know.  Teach them.  Train them.  Guide them along.  Be slow to anger and abounding in love.  Don’t harm them or shame them or abuse them or neglect them or break their spirits.  Don’t just revert to what you know or experienced when growing up; refer to the Word of God and make that your standard.  Put aside all of the injustices done to you and make life for your kids different.  Link arms with other parents and help each other by vowing to do this life together and do this life well.  We get one shot with these little guys.  I’m not saying that the Lord can’t redeem our shortcomings (goodness knows He does it for me on a daily basis) but we owe it to Him and to them to give them our best; not our leftovers, not our ignorances, not our generational failures…our best.

Pray for children across the city and state and nation and world tonight who aren’t on the receiving end of someone’s best…and especially pray for those getting the worst.

Pray for me…that as much I want to un-see what I saw, that it will continue to spur me to keep seeking the Lord in what He has for me here…because it’s too important to do otherwise.