Getting ready for battle
School days, school days, dear old golden rule days,
of reading, and writing, and arithmetic,
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate, “I love you, Joe”
When we were a couple of kids.
If only life could be this simple again, but that time is past and the age of electronics is here. In this age our children are exposed to things they should not see, hear, or in any way be party to. It is said by the time a child reaches 10 years old that the parents are no longer a major influence in their lives. Instead of parents, peers at school, social media, and teachers will have more influence on your 10-year-old child then you will. Are you okay with that? Let’s assume you are not okay with that, what is your alternative? How do you protect your child from cyber bullying, trending fashions, and an institution more concerned with political correctness than any kind of moral fortitude? Let’s face it homeschooling is not an option for 90% the parents in America. So what are your options?
How about we begin at home giving our children a solid base of moral beliefs by which to live. Number 1 would be respect: for God, country, authority, and personal beliefs. Number 2 always do your best: with your appearance, your attitude, and your studies. Number 3 genuinely care about everyone: your family, your teachers, and your peers. It may sound a bit simplistic, but when applied to everyday life it can work wonders.
Don’t send your child to school unarmed, or unprepared, or naïve. Without destroying your child’s innocence, you must make them understand that the world can be a cruel place, and they can either be part of the problem or part of the cure. Teach them to stand up for the weaker, picked on students, and against anyone who would be mean, or a bully. Teach your child that they have value, and that is something no one can diminish or take away from them. Stay in touch with your child on a daily basis about what goes on at school, no matter how insignificant it may seem. It is important that you stay intimately ensconced in your child’s daily life, so you know what’s going on and how better to help your child through the maze of today’s school technology and unseen threats.
I would love to say, because we live in a small community, that we have no worry about drugs being introduced to our children at school. We cannot be that naïve, because the Bible says: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8. To expect anything else from Satan would be foolish on all our parts, so we must explain to our children about the drugs that come disguised as candy, and warned them about accepting candy from anyone.
When my children were school-age they were involved in sports and in music at the school. But I think there must be a balance, and if any activity at the school begins to tear down or disrupt the family as a unit, or compromise things that are important like attending church, etc. then you need to rethink and reevaluate that situation. Remember, you are fighting for your child’s psyche, influence, and moral compass of their life. Do not become negligent or complacent with the blessing that God has entrusted into your care.
As parents it is important that we teach our children what the armor of God is. Go through it with them piece by piece, as it appears in the sixth chapter of Ephesians, explaining what each piece’s job is. You can even down load a diagram off the Internet to help with visual understanding. It is your decision whether or not you will be a statistic in your child’s life, or an influence for the rest of their life.
We as writers, can be the trumpet blowers of America in regards to the dangers of the degradation of our moral tradition in the schools of today. Concentrating on what is politically correct, the school often leaves our children in a mindless, moralless, quagmire of what is perceived to be right instead of what is constitutionally right. Let us stay in the forefront of what this country stands for, and was built on, and make sure that is what our children learn, if not at school, then at home.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:11-18