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| Pray without Ceasing (I Thess. 5:17) |
By a show of hands...how many of you are tired of hearing about sexual and violent predators in our school systems? Every day when we send our children to school we expose them to the possibility of
physical and sexual attacks. From the time they leave our homes and board the bus until they return to us exhausted from a day of dodging name callers and bullies and sexual perverts throughout their school we ought to be praying!
Worse of all, one of our greatest fears have now manifested! Those who we thought were their Protectors (teachers, principals, coaches, counselors) have now joined these School Room Terrorists! In my local area alone, in less than six months, criminal charges have been brought against a daycare worker who molested a four year old; a female high school counselor for sexual seduction; use of social media by two other school authority figures for
sexting to underage children, and it goes on and on!
Males and females, all races, creeds, and economic backgrounds (Yes, even parents who thought they could avoid such things by enrolling their children in expensive private schools are getting
a wake up call
) Adults with privileged authority positions are getting their sexual freak on at the expense of your children and mine and it has to stop!
Listen, I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know already.
Media as much as a culprit as it can be for fanning the flames of sin, has reported on the issue for years! Parents just don't seem to get it!
Politicians don't get it!
School bureaucrats are too concerned with standardized testing and keeping enrollment up for federal funding, so they don't get it!
But we Christians should...we need to cover our children and their schools daily with prayer!
I'm not just ranting from recent news headlines. I've been saying and doing this for years...every since my own now adult children were young and have now begun to face this as a full-blown crisis with their own children!
Don't be fooled...PRAYER STILL WORKS! IF NOT IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS BROKEN EDUCATION SYSTEM...FOR YOUR CHILDREN PERSONALLY!
Things You Can Do Right Now to Pray out Predators:
Talk to your children. Not just about homework, sports, and school events that affect your personal schedule and money, but about their social interactions.
Ask:
How was your day? Who are your school pals? At lunch do you eat alone or have a favorite group of people you eat with? Is there anyone you try to avoid? Has anyone (teacher or student) said or done anything to you personally that you don't feel comfortable with? Then help them work out a plan to address any issues in the security and privacy of the home.
Get up a few minutes early (better yet, prepare for school the night before like we
Old Schoolers used to do
) so you can have time to
pray with them before they start their day.
It's important for them to know and hear you talk to God; to hear you asking Him to protect them; to watch over them; help them when they need it, or just to have a good and pleasant experience while away.
Be Involved. Don't be a stranger. Some parents only show up at school when there's a parent/teacher conference or some trouble is brewing that threatens their child's suspension or expulsion!
Make unannounced visits to your child's school and classroom. This is your right as a tax payer and parent to know what is going on there. A visibly, involved parent helps to bring accountability to both the school administration
and to your child. It strengthen the relationship between home and school and provides a team that works to help them do their best!
Be an advocate for your child by knowing what's going on and being part of the solution, not the problem, by being involved in programs, policies, and protests if necessary. Be vigilant. Let them know...ONE, TWO, THREE..eyes on me (get their attention) and ONE, TWO, my eyes are on you! (accountability).
Make sure your child knows their student rights and how to contact you if there's a problem. Tell them not to try to confront or solve violations on their own. Respect for authority is crucial, but let's be honest sometimes there is abuse in authority. Make sure your child knows which boundaries should not be crossed and what actions you will support or not. Disrespecting, cussing, physical attacks, inappropriate touching, texts, pictures etc.; anything that puts them in danger should not be tolerated, from either a teacher or student.
Danger can exist before your child arrives at school. Predators and bullies know when your child is going to be alone and vulnerable. The times they arrive at the bus stop. How far they have to walk to their homes.
Account for those times and make sure your child is protected. (some parents wait at the bus stops in their cars or arrange with other parents to attend to this)
If you are an at-home or retired person with children in the neighborhood. Occasionally, look out the window when the bus comes and be ready to alert someone if you see something strange going on.
Adopt-a-School to pray for: I've done this for a number of years. I pray consistently for the schools in my neighborhood. The ones I pass on my routine walks or errands. The ones my grandchildren attend and even the colleges where I have family members employed! (College campus alerts have increased due to mass shootings so they too have become danger zones).
Violent and Sexual Sin is rampant! No you won't be able to protect your child from every horrible circumstance that we hear about! But this I know. We can raise informed and alert children. We can instill in them the love and security of a vigilant parent or grandparent who puts their safety before their own personal schedule and concerns. We can consistently pray!!!!
PRAYER STILL CHANGES
PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS!
(So, Pray without Ceasing, I Thessalonians 5:17)
UNTIL NEXT TIME...
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