bullying

Not too long ago, I heard about some Congresswoman who was drafting legislation concerning bullying. That's awfully noble, but, in my opinion, is a bit like Miss America standing on a platform of world peace: that sounds so nice but really, how do you expect to curb a problem that has been festering since Adam and Eve's children.

Yesterday we prayed at our mom's Friday morning prayer group for a kid who is being bullied on his short walk home from school. Really it was a prayer of thanks to a God who brings solutions because it wasn't a legislator in St. Paul or Washington who stepped up to help. Not even the city police or the principal of one of the schools. It was his four or five classmates who decided to walk with him from school to his destination each day. I don't know how they came up with the idea. He hasn't been a part of their class until this year and he is a rather awkward fifth grade child. But in this small school where Jesus is taught, apparently something they heard sunk in. No legislation was passed. No item appeared for discussion by the adults on the school board. No, a bunch of 11 and 12-year olds put feet to an idea. And apparently, the problem (old classmates responsible for the bullying) has receded.

Oh, how many, many times I talk, talk, talk about the ills of some problem, but take no action. Lesson taken from some elementary kids.

And as for that bullying legislation: real change isn't going to come from legislation, it comes from hearts changed by a Saviour who launched a most remarkable rescue mission to save wretches like us. By becoming less. By stepping down, not up. By loving by example and not just with words.

This is really a heart issue.