Hurting people hurt people.
If your student has been bullied or hurt by someone, this can be a helpful perspective.
In raising three daughters, I learned quickly that some kids can be so mean. When one of them would come home with tears and a story of something someone said or did to them, I admit that most of the time my mama bear came out to defend my cub. But I learned that while my daughters were home with me, every day I spent with them under my care was training for when they would enter the “real world.” How I reacted and what I taught in these moments was so important, as it would set them up to overcome hurt in the future.
Bullying is never okay. According to the American Medical Association, half of students finishing high school have been bullied at least once physically, verbally, or socially. It’s okay to report these acts and defend our students. It’s okay to help our students set boundaries with people. It’s okay to remind them that bullying is not their fault. But giving them a Biblical viewpoint will help them now and throughout the rest of their lives.
Here are a few things the Bible teaches about enemies:
Pray for them.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Strive for peace.
Romans 12:18-19 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Bless them.
1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing.”
Every person is someone that Jesus died for, and every bully is a person who needs Jesus. Stand with your students and let them know you are there for them, and Jesus is, too.
Arianna Eckart
Director of NTS Camp