If you are a moviegoer and if you are not, I highly recommend the movie, “It’s You Again”. I believe everyone can relate to this movie because it deals with all the stuff we deal with in high school, particularly, the bullying and belittlement we receive at some point in those “wonderful?” years. These hurts are very difficult to get over and usually scar us for the rest of our lives.
Bullying, if you watch the news, is a growing problem now more than ever before. Youths are becoming more vocal and vicious in their harassment and I frankly feel compassion for anyone who walks the corridors of any high school in America. It has become such a problem that many teens commit suicide for they feel so completely alone and vulnerable.
All of my daughters went to private Christian schools, however, Abby only went for three years. The other years she was homeschooled. She had a very rough year in the eighth grade and would come home many days sobbing. Her older sister, Kimberly, would listen to her woes and stew. Kimberly has always been a defender of the underling and would go to bat in a minute for one who needed aid. Finally, graduation day came and Kimberly went. She made a bee line to the “sweet little Kathryn” in her fancy white dress and immediately decked her down. But this was not the first time, she had actually met her in the halls one day and told her to “lay off” Abby. Abby always felt good when big sister was around. Even two days ago, Kimberly had an encounter with a “supposedly” great friend who maliciously attacked Abby. Kimberly, the warring angel of Abby, came on the scene to set the record straight.
It always feels good to know there is someone who will stand beside you and stand up for you. It’s comforting to know that there is someone who loves you enough to be willing to take the heat with you. It’s just great not to feel alone.
The Bible says that God is an ever-present help in the time of trouble. He is our defender against every bully and every troublemaker. Think about this in Psalms 94: 20-23 (Message), “Can Troublemaker pretend to be on your side? He gangs up on good people, plotting behind the backs of the innocent. But God became my hideout, God was my high mountain retreat, Then boomeranged their evil back on them: for their evil ways he wiped them out, our God cleaned them out for good.” To paraphrase Psalms 23 in today’s vernacular, “Yes, I may walk through the valley of bullies and troublemakers at work and at school, hearing their jeers and taunts 24/7, but God, you are with me. You are my defense. You will never leave me. All their jabs will go back in their face and they will eat their words. You’ll see to it”. Consider David’s plea for God’s justice against his bully squad: “Stand up, God; pit your holy fury against my furious enemies. Wake up, God. My accusers have packed the courtroom; it’s judgment time. Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel, throw out the false charges against me. I’m ready, confident in your verdict: “Innocent”, Psalms 7:6-8 Message. Thank God, we have a Defender who will stand against our bully-ers and watch our back.
