This topic goes along with last week’s post about helping children with Frenemies.
Below are six tips for facing bullying.
One more tip I am adding is confrontation. Sometimes confrontation is beneficial for setting healthy boundaries and parents may need to take up the issue with the bully and the bully’s parents. Strength in numbers will be important when confronting a bully so take a witness for moral support and to protect your testimony.
Matthew 18:16 (NIV)
“But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'”
Be aware that the bully may have learned their verbal, emotional and/or physical bullying from their dad or mom. In this case you may not receive any help from the parents.
Even the best of parents can find if difficult, if not impossible, to believe their child is bullying, lying, cheating or (you fill in the _____________.) I have seen friendships ruined because a parent refused to believe their sweet little angel could be guilty of any wrong doing.
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
This includes our children so if a trusted friend or adult comes to you with less than a glowing report on your child, please take time to pray over the issue and consider the possibility that the said child has sinned and needs to make amends with the other person and with God.
For several years I have prayed for God to show me when my children are in trouble or in danger; or to send a trusted adult with information I need for making informed decisions so I can help my children grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). I assure you my children wish I would stop praying this request!
I have seen first hand what can happen to a child whose parents refuse to believe their child is guilty of sin. For years the parents refused to believe it, or they hid it, and now the adult child will spend the rest of their life in prison. I do not wish this worst case scenario on any family. This is part of the reason I pray for God to show me if my children need my help with a sin or safety issue. I don’t want to be a blind or deceitful parent; nor do I want my kids to practice secret sinful acts, thoughts or intentions of the heart.