I went on my routine walk this morning, breathing in the cold crisp air and watching the clouds glide quietly by.  I saw parents walking their children to the various corners of the cross streets. The parents were making sure that the journey to the corner bus stop was safe for their children.  I think this is what we all do.  We want to protect our children and so we often feel justified in speaking up for them.  We often feel like we must call out what is wrong for the purpose of keeping the future safe for our children.  Well, there is a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this. . .

 

While I was walking, I saw buses picking children up, parents waving good bye, and the beginning of the day starting with separation. This is something that I want to address in this post:  although we as Christians are contributors to Kingdom culture and Kingdom living; although we have insight to see what is right; although we are grown up enough to get on the bus by ourselves; we should not feel like we are ever separated from our father.  He is always with us; and he is there to help us make right decisions.  He was definitely with me in the event that I am going to share with you. Let us remember friends, that while we are in this world we always need to represent the moral teachings of our father.

 

I was watching the kids go to school and as I rounded the corner I saw a black SUV drop a little boy off at a house. I saw an older woman coming out of the door from this quaint tan house, decorated in it’s harvest attire. I thought to myself “oh, the Mom is dropping off the little boy at his grandmother’s house.  The grandmom must take him to school.”  

 

The older  lady continued to walk to her car that was parked in the driveway.  The little boy was young, he was petite like Ralphie’s little brother from the Christmas story.  He wore a blue coat that had a hood, he was dressed appropriately for the weather. He was short and so I guessed he was about 7 or 8 years old.  As I continued to walk towards my street from the opposite side of this event, I heard a very cute high pitched salutation from the little boy, “Bye mommy.”  I thought it was so cute. The black SUV drove off and continue to the end of the development. I continued to walk and at this point I was close enough to hear more conversation.  The Grandmother asked the little boy, “ Do you want your warmer coat?” I was trying to mind my own business, I promise. I did not want to eavesdrop or look over to make it seem like I was the nosy neighbor but what happened next shocked me to the core of my spirit.

 

“Shut Up!!”  The voice was deep and aggressive.

 

I looked over to the other side of the street and saw the old woman standing still.  The small boy slowly walked up the driveway and I told myself that I was mistaken in what I had heard.  But the old lady spoke again “Well, do you?”

 

The little boy with as much anger as his first outburst declared a straightforward and very rude:

 

“I said, shut up.  Shut up!”

 

At this point I saw the black SUV at the end of the street, turning signal on, waiting for the right time to go.  I wanted to flag her down and tell her what her son had just said to his grandmother. It took all that was in me to keep walking.  I kept my head straight ahead. The SUV was gone and the old lady and the little boy got into the car which was parked in the driveway.

 

I wanted to go over there and correct the behavior.  I wanted to shake that little boy and tell him to apologize.  I wanted to tell the old woman that she should not take that type of behavior from a little boy whom she was caring for.  It needed to be addressed. It needed to be handled. I was livid! I was shaking with disgust and kept thinking of the possible outcomes if I were to walk across the street and address the situation.  And although the children who are raised like this, with no correction of their immoral behavior, will be the leaders, workers, thinkers, and main contributors to this country, society tells me that situations like this are none of my business.  So, I kept walking, rounding the final corner back to my house.

 

Friends,  What I know is that I raise my children to respect authority and to respect their elders.  Not everyone is trained in this matter. We should be very concerned with the manner in which our children are raised and trained.  The word says to train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it. This is true on both sides. If you let your children run you now, they are going to run you later.  If you let them act up now, how do you think they are going to act later? Parents, let us understand that we are leaders and influencers for who our children are going to be. Watch over them and care for their spirit.

 

 But something very interesting happened to me the next day

 

There is a way that appears to be right,

but in the end it leads to death. 

Proverbs 14:12

 

I was corrected in my emotional response to the before handle situation.  Sometimes it can seem that we have the right to speak up against immoral behavior, but the Lord spoke to me and said that that little boy was none of my business.  I did not know his situation at home. I was not aware of the relationship that little boy had with his mother, grandmother, or anyone else in his life. I came across another realization in a complete mind switch the next day when I once again saw the black SUV stopped in from of the little tan house.  The Lord immediately directed me to pray for the little boy. I prayed for (who I assumed was) the Grandmother, and asked the Lord to give her wisdom in how to handle his behavior. I prayed for love, joy, discipline, peace, and correction over the household. I prayed for whatever God told me to pray for and asked forgiveness for my judging spirit.  This is the way that we get involved by praying and asking God to help the situation.

 

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Matthew 7:1

 

 

The Lord told me through several examples this week that we have to be mindful of our own shortcomings before we put our big fat opinions onto someone else's shortcomings.  I had to look at my children and the way I raised them to see if I am living up to my responsibilities as a parent. It is no one else’s business to tell me how to raise my children but God’s.  However, God can use anyone to pray for me and my family if that particular person has the insight to notice something that I am doing wrong.  God can use us in many ways, but the thing is to wait for his direction.  It is not always appropriate to speak out against something that we do not have all of the facts on.

 

Only God knows everyone's individual situations. . .

 

I am learning how to address wrong thinking God’s way.  Not by a loud harsh correction, but with a gentle spirit that can help heal through prayer.  I thank God for this platform as well.  I just share the things that I learn along my journey that may help you with yours.  Let us be examples of God's caring, loving, healing, and forgiving spirit.  

 

I say this prayer

 

Lord forgive me for judging others

Lord forgive me for being offended by someone else's journey

Lord help my heart to be gentle, caring, understanding, and loving

My judgement is not necessary at this time for there is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy; but who am I to judge my neighbor?

Give me wisdom to do what is right

Give me strength to hear your voice and follow your direction

Give me sight to do what is right

Help me be a messenger of peace with words that build up and do not destroy

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight

Oh Lord

My strength

And my redeemer