A Yellow Caution Light

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“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NASB). I certainly wish he didn’t prowl around wanting our children, but he does. I wish I didn’t feel a need to write this post, but I do.

Most of the stories I have told you since beginning this blog in late April have been sweet ones. Today I need to share some that are not. Why do I do that? Because I know that 1 Peter 5:8 is true,  because I feel a responsibility as an older woman to share important truths with you younger ones, and because I really do care about each of you and your children. Here goes:

A mother enrolled her two teenage daughters in a creative writing class for homeschoolers. One day the teacher read to them from an obscene story because she believed it to be good literature. The father called the teacher that night, telling her gently but firmly how he felt about her choice. The mother attended the rest of the classes with her daughters and the teacher never read anything questionable again. Though the parents had deep regrets about what their daughters heard, this story had a happy ending. The next two are more troubling.

A young couple felt compassion for two orphan boys in a country far away. They brought these five- and six-year-old boys into their home to adopt them. One of them abused their three year old daughter.

An older couple became quite close to a homeschooling family in their church. A relationship of love and trust developed and the older couple became the only babysitters the parents trusted to keep their children. The older man showed one of the children pornography on the Internet. He went to jail for several years.

When children begin to drive, many parents send them out the door again and again with the plea: “Be careful.” It is easy to worry about physical safety while children are driving. Are those same parents as worried about what their children watch and play? Are they as worried about the influence of their peers? A homeschooling mother told me a few weeks ago that some of the worst things she saw as a teenager were at church youth group events. Is this true of all youth groups? I don’t think so. Do parents need to monitor those activities (and homeschooling ones) with diligence? I do think so.

I remember a time when I was about twelve years old. A classmate invited my friend Janice and me to spend the night with her. My parents would not let me go and Janice’s parents wouldn’t let her go either. I’m thankful for parents who knew enough and loved enough to say, “No.” They were right.

It’s pretty common for homeschooling parents to be labeled overprotective. I’m thankful for the opportunities parents have to protect their children. I believe that protecting is one of a parent’s vital jobs. Should we be fearful? No way. Should we enjoy fellowship with people outside of our families? God says so. Should we be wise as serpents? Absolutely.

We have a perfect example to teach us about protecting. He’s our Father in heaven.

But the Lord is faithful,
and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3, NASB

I believe He wants us to be in the protecting business, too. You know the old adage, “Better safe than sorry.” That one is true.

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