The leader of the gang - The king of the school yard delivered a vicious kick, the heavy boot striking the base of the spine. His victim felt his body jolt, but managed to suppress the cry of pain before it could escape. The situation always escalated if he reacted.
The bell rings - finally, and the shouts fade away.
Waiting a minute - he then opens his eyes (well, one of them anyway) and looks around. He is alone in the schoolyard. Getting to his feet, he knew he would get into trouble for being late again!
Hmmm, quite a thing to happen in a schoolyard, but unfortunately, it happens regularly - maybe not a physical fight as such, but emotional bullying - really, it is aggression.
The bully uses lots of non-physical means to get at their victim. Things such as harassment in torment, name-calling, gossiping to others, and making sure their victim is totally excluded from as many people as possible.
Pretty sad, really!
Totally blessed when we can escape such bullying and exclusion when we go through life.
Bullying can make you feel extremely unhappy and also completely unsafe wherever you are. Bullying can ruin your life if you don't stop it.
We should share our bullied experience with others constantly to prevent bullying from continuing. As adults, we should respond to bullying quickly and consistently, regardless of what sort of bullying is happening.
Talking about bullying can be extremely helpful in lots of situations, like below:-
I am totally gobsmacked when I see parades of men and women in uniform - they astound me as to what they do - there are often marches that include everyone from the Police to the armed forces who are totally committed to their professions.
They look so pristine when in uniform, and they continue in their total commitment to their specific careers. I am completely in awe of so many.
Why am I totally gobsmacked? My friend's grandson, who is just 16 years old, has decided that he really wants to join the police force when he graduates from high school in the next couple of years. I'm so impressed with him. How amazing that he has this dedication so early.
Why does he make this decision? He was bullied so horribly when he started high school - not just verbally and scornfully, BUT physically as well. Hence the story above.
How did he cope with bullying?
He certainly tried his best at school, but it wasn't good enough - the bullying continued.
He finally told his Mum and Dad, who, in turn, instead of just ignoring the situation and telling him to grow up, they went to the school and had it or with not only the principal but also with the year advisor.
This is really important - not only about physical bullying but also emotional bullying - Schools should be fully aware that bullying is consistent, unfortunately, and all schools should be aware of that very thing.
I can't help feeling that we here in Australia are so blessed to have the dedication of so many people. People who are aware of what is going on in schools, workplaces, universities, etc.
Seeing parades of people in uniforms is not only encouraging for the populace, but it is also a sign, obviously, that, looking at the parade as such, there must be many who have had heaps of problems and yet they have overcome many things to arrive at where they are today.
And yet....there are so many who aren't wearing uniforms, nor are they attached to any workforce, who are also totally committed in all sorts of incredible ways that help so many people. Many who have been bullied and set upon so many times and yet have outlived it continue in their lives to live for the present and not yesterday.
In the Bible, there are numerous heroes and heroines - here are just a few to name: Abraham, Moses, and Noah. Esther, Joseph, Deborah, David, Gideon, and Jacob, and so the list goes on.
What had they been through - reading the bible is a real eye-opener - Moses on the run - Joseph bullied and beaten - Jacob scared to come back home after being threatened with death by his brother, and so it goes on.
The biggest hero of the lot, of course, was Jesus - a poor little boy born in a filthy stable years ago - a son of Mary.
Mary, a young virgin found to be pregnant and yet carrying the very son of God. Her husband Joseph was going to cancel the whole wedding thing, but was brave enough to realise just what was happening. Can't possibly imagine what Mary and Joseph must have felt or what they went through, and yet they brought in the Messiah of the world.
You know, regardless of what we have gone through - and I guess we have all got a story to tell - giving our lives over to Christ can have an enormous effect.
The pain caused by bullying can be a silent killer - sometimes, if we have been bullied over the years, our anger can overflow when, in reality, it may be a feeling of rejection!
So what does the Bible say about rejection? In Hebrews 13:5, He says, "I will never leave you or forsake you"- that to me completely blows me away - the fact that God will NEVER leave us, regardless of what has happened in our lives or what continues to happen.
And then in Jeremiah 31:3 God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love," and then again in Matthew 28:20, "Surely I am with you always."
God bless you this week - please seek help if you have a burden. Huge blessings.
No comments:
Post a Comment