Welcome to my eclectic journey of my life and delights. This year my theme is surrendering my writing pen to the true author, Jesus Christ, while looking forward to the future, reflecting on the past and dancing through my journey.




Thursday, March 20, 2014

I AM Guilty!

The email came through from the school.  I have to admit, I literally sucked in air as I read it.  My knee jerk response was, "Oh give me a break, I don't know how to parent in this society.  Let me just take my boys to the hills."  My tiredness. produced by just trying to pay bills, had led me to be just like the ostrich................put my head in the sand.



I naively wanted to say, "No this will not touch our home. No this has nothing to do with me."  Even though, in the past, I had supported all efforts to shut down this evil, which seemed to be far away from me, I now needed to engage. (my sidebar shows organizations that fight against this)

The email was for all parents of my son's high school.  The seminar would be Human Trafficking 101, presented by, Stop the Buying and Selling of Children, and the dangers to our high school students.

My heart jumped. I was allowing my own new adjustments to justify me putting my head in the sand.  In so doing, I was also putting my two younger children at risk.  I was also not putting up a fight against this injustice to other children.

This was my second wake up call in the last few weeks.  I was at another event while mothers shared what was happening in their schools.  One lady was a counselor and she expressed her concern about the issues before the students she was counseling.

  • pregnancies in the elementary school
  • phone apps that allowed pictures to be sent then they were erased in seconds...girls were sending pictures of their bodies to boys...they didn't know that the pictures were now property of the owners of the apps
  • boys being listed as sex offenders because of pictures they received on their phones...remind you sent to them, not them sending pictures
  • apps that allow activity to seen by the youngest ages
  • the list went on and on and on and on................my heart grew heavier and heavier
Many will assume that home school households are like the ostrich.  That in a home school house you don't deal with the issues other children are exposed to.  May I say, after 25 years of home schooling, SIN was always evident in our household.  It walked straight in the door and violated myself and my children more times then I would like to admit.  Home schooling did allow me to cushion some of the ages that my children first became exposed to certain evils, but it didn't allow me to shelter them from the world.

I now have two in school, and Benjamin is exposed  earlier than my other children.  This is also because of modern technology.  When my older children were home schooled there wasn't Facebook, social media, internet on phones, I-Pads, Apps...so in some ways it was easier to keep them innocent a little longer.  To be honest, technology has brought both good and bad.  As much as I restrict it, it is still here to stay.  

"So, Janette, what are you rattling about?"  "I really can't say, except, the cold water in the face this week means, it is time to stop making excuses.  It is time to get my head out of the sand.  First step..........go to the conference and engage."

Is there something that God has placed on your heart to engage in?  Is He calling you to put down the excuses and engage?  Life moves forward, with bumps and bruises, dreams lost and struggles.  Scripture tells us that, but the best way for the enemy to triumph is when we allow those things to keep us out of the fight.  My children are worth the fight and so are my grandsons.  All those children affected my human trafficking need someone to stand and fight.  I am pulling my head out of the sand.

14 Joining in with more words:

Anonymous said...

Janette, You're terrific. I'd want you on my team every time.
God bless you and use you as you attend the conference. And He will!

Vee said...

Oh when we come up against things this vile, it is always easy to stick our heads in the sand or our fingers in our ears. We can only do what God gives us the nudge and courage to do. Contrary to popular Christian opinion, He does not call us to do it all and He never calls us to do it on our own. Sounds as if you just got the push and the courage to attend that conference and do as He leads. Blessings to you!

Farm Girl said...

Yes, so many things that my grand children have had to deal with has been such a eye opener.
Thank you for sharing.

Debbie said...

I do think it is the technology we have in our worlds today that has soo advanced evil in soo many areas that it is downright scary. But your so right in saying, homeschooling CAN'T shield our kids from these horrors forever. It is part of our culture. Soo home-schooled or not getting involved is the best thing you can do. Who knows, maybe your Christian values and godly influence that you will bring to the table at the conference, is just what it needs to be truly effective and successful. I believe God has brought this all to your attention quite deliberately and will use ALL of this for His glory. I could be wrong of course, but I kind of sense a "quilt" of sorts that these younger two are in the public school system instead of at home with you. And I am telling you (if it IS the case!) that guilt is NOT coming from Him, and "maybe" your involvement in this system is just what it needs, and what He is after. You've raised GOOD kids, and He will use them too as well. Looking forward to hearing how it is going...HUGS, Debbie

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

We were just discussing lst night, the amount of child predators and pedophiles we read about every single day in the papers. Did we miss this growing up?? I do not remember such a time as we are in for satan to be on the prowl for our youth. I am glad you are trying to join in, sometimes it feels like we don't now WHAT to do, so we do nothing. Praying for yo with this Janette... our voices need to be heard.

Pom Pom said...

Yikes. It's heartbreaking and it's happening everywhere.

Elizabeth Dianne said...

A very timely post. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. I will be giving a link to your post to my DIL's!

Petra said...

I'm an ostrich. But my head was dislodged from its comfortable position almost two years ago (has it been that long?) - one of the reasons I've been such a sporadic blogging presence. Great post. We can't ignore the obvious and God will use us, even us ostriches. :-)

Tanna said...

May the sweet and powerful Holy Spirit lend your ear hearing, your heart feeling, and your mind knowing the next step. blessings ~ tanna

Sandy said...

I pray the Lord's guidance as you attend the conference. May your ears be open to hear what He has for you. Your heart is already soft and tender, no need to pray for that. This is a situation I have been praying about for awhile. It's unbelievable what is going on in this world today.

Sue said...

Technology certainly hasn't helped to protect our precious children Janette, I believe that our days are ordained by God and that His timing is perfect, Being where you were was His perfect timing, I pray for you as you become one of the voices for our children.
Love,
Sue

Debbie Petras said...

It is amazing what these kids are being exposed to! You can try to shield them as much as you can but often they learn things and see things from others. There is much good about technology but also some bad. I don't envy you trying to raise a child in these times. But we do serve an amazing God and there is such power in prayer.

Btw, you've been on my mind lately too. I've been praying about things we've written to one another.

Much love,
Debbie

Anonymous said...

Fight the good fight, Janet! Oh, my heart is sick as I read the paper each morning. My husband wants to cancel it. I know, I need to know. Then - I need to BE what God created me to be. A LIGHT.

Yes - We need lights of a better way. A path that ultimately leads to Jesus and His New Life that destroys sin and makes all things new.

So, you hit the nail on the head. This is why I write. This is why I blog. This is why I tell stories of innocence, goodness and beauty. It is the Light of an ancient landmark that I must shine through every facet of my life. It's why I make my "floral frills" and use vintage images and jewelry and textiles in my mixed media work. It's why I pull out my wares in the marketplace on occasion and look strikingly different from the other vendors. And tell THE story through my art.

Wage your words, Janet! Stand.

Standing with you today, taking JOY!
Kathy

PS: Link in with me this month at my new linky open now - just launched - All Things Bright and Beautiful. Just another way to shine and provide a platform to shine brighter when linked with like minds. http://www.thewritersreverie.com/2014/03/all-things-bright-beautiful-link-up-1.html

Anonymous said...

so sad how it's getting harder and harder to keep our young kid free from such stuff..Glad you will be involved - you will shine brightly because of your righteous influence..
Keep Standing strong on the Lord's side..
Hugs

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