General Rule #763: Do not disturb a teacher on Saturday morning.
And yet, there was a knock on my door (a bold knock at that)
interrupting my Saturday morning prayer time. After summoning the intruder into the room with a warning of, "There
better be blood somewhere", my youngest child entered and blurted out,
"There's something on my bunk bed you need to see!"
Since she was too calm for it to be a bug, I asked her to explain
what it was. She headed out the door saying, "YOU need to see
it".
By this time, my husband had appeared since he thought her death
was imminent. The jury is still out on
whether he was concerned for her safety from me or the mysterious object in her
room.
Anyway, we both scurried behind her to her bunk bed where she slid onto the bottom and showed us a sticker under the top bed. "Look! This says it causes cancer."
My husband did an about face that would make West Point Academy
proud and left me alone staring at an accusing ten year old.
Although this was my kid, I had to use Grandparent Rule #64: You know everything even if you don’t in conjunction with Mommy Rules: #3 Never let them see you sweat and #78 Everything is dangerous for you. (This rule is outdated and a hard one to use in this Information Age.)I developed my poker face and turned into Conspiracy Mother and listed everything I know that can cause cancer or make a person ill. (No comments please. This is how my house operates.)
"Well baby," I said in my sweetest voice, "You know
water bottles?" She nodded. I nodded too and said, "Has cancer
causing agents."
"Margarine?" She nodded.
"It’s a few ingredients
away from being plastic."
I rolled on.
“Cigarettes? …. Cancer.”
"The sweet stuff in
your fruit punch, sucralose? …not good either."
"Sitting outside in the sun for a long time without
sunscreen?”
“Uhuh,” she replied.
“That can cause cancer too." Her eyes widened.
“Some people say that keeping a cell phone close to your skin over
long periods of time can increase your chances of getting cancer too. Have you heard about that.”
I don’t think she was prepared for this tirade.
"Babes, there are a lot of things that have dangerous items
in them or can hurt us. Some we know and some we don't. We need to be
careful, but not afraid. Remember, God hasn't given us a spirit of fear."
So I pointed to her bed and said. "Whatever is in there, you are not
allowed to make my child sick. In the name of Jesus, my child will continue to
be as healthy as an ox." I winked at her and she laughed. "In Jesus'
name, Amen." "Thanks mommy", and off she went to eat her
first breakfast. (My kids are Hobbits)
Well, I said all that to say this. We could ( well, I know I
could) spend all day hashing over the cause of the rise of the number of kids
in special education, or the rise in the number of kids with allergies, illnesses,
ADHD, ADD, ODD, and obesity. We can point our fingers at parents and say
they aren't doing their job raising their kids. Then we could point our
fingers at the media and say they purposely are dumbing down America and
keeping parents so wrapped up in Candy Crush, Facebook, watching reality shows
on television, and the songs on the radio (don't even get me started on the
music) that they have placed the well-being of their children on the back
burner. Oh, and I can't forget to point my finger at the "government",
who is behind the drug problems, racial inequality, lack of jobs and blah, blah
blah...
The fact is this: there is a cause and a true enemy of the state
of this world and his name is satan (no capital letters from me). Yep!
I went there. Just in case you
didn't know, a war is continually being waged over the control of influence in various aspects of today's society: family, government, arts and entertainment, religion, economy, science and technology and education. (Check out the book - Seven Mountain Prophecy)
1 Peter 5:8 says,
"Be alert and vigilant. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour." This is not written for us to be
afraid, but rather to be aware, fortified and personally armored.
So how does knowing this transfer over to you and I as educators?
When we encounter agitating situations and depressing events in
our classrooms and schools, it is for us, the children of God, to not waste our
time harping on the theories of who’s to blame. We cannot waste our time
on worrying and casting a fretful glance at the warnings of impending doom and
danger.
The bible lets us know that our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
In laymen’s terms, it’s satan’s undermining of the family structure that
is the true reason why your student’s parents are they way they are. It’s satan’s influence in our media outlets
that affects what is projected across the airwaves.
Thankfully, Ephesians 6: 13-18 explains this to us and provides the
solution in three parts; be armored in God,
stand with God and pray to
1.Our
armor equips us with salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith, and the Word
of God. 2.Our standing with God is just that...standing. If we stand for God, He will fight on our behalf.
3.Our prayers activate the heavenly influence we have, through
the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, to make changes that reflect the ways of
heaven here on earth.
Yes, my special Saturday morning prayer time
may have been interrupted, but it was renewed with a sense of redirection.
Therefore, I interrupt YOUR prayer life right now for this important message...
Recognize both sources in prayer: exalt, thank and petition God and rebuke the enemy.
Declare that the source behind the discontent and frustration at school be defeated in Jesus' name.
Join forces with another believer. The prayer of agreement is a powerful one.
Never forget. God will never be a defeat foe! You will win!
Have a blessed work week!
The Lord is with you and you are loved,
Toni
Please enjoy this week's song entitled: We Are United
