Genesis
– In the Beginning
Chapter 4 Cain and Abel –
Sibling Rivalry * Murder * Anger * Bullying
By Carri Pratt
“While they were in the field,
Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Genesis 4:8
Mothers all across our country
are faced with the dilemma of sibling rivalry, jealousy and bullying abuse. With
violence on the rise in movies, television and video games, there is an increase
in anger and a decrease in patience being modeled for our youth.
The
Bible tells us being angry with your sister or brother is the equivalent of
murder. Jesus shocked his listeners when
He told them “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
Matthew 5:22
In this passage of Genesis, God is showing us what can happen when
human emotions are not dealt with properly. As a mother I would like to know,
where was Eve long before it ever got to this point? What could she have done
to prevent it on both sides, as the mother of the bully and also as the mother of the one being
bullied? What am I doing to prevent such a tragedy in my own home?
Bullying
is also a huge problem in America. Many of the children in the United States live
in constant fear of being bullied (in their own home and at school). “160,000
kids will stay home today because they are afraid of being bullied.” Jim
Dubreul, 20/20 News. (Dubreul’s
video, “School Bullying” click here)
Mothers
may expect bullying at home, however, CBS News reports that bullying in the
home is a similar problem. They report this might be from a blended family
situations or from siblings simply acting out. “Experts told CBS 2 that parents
shouldn’t brush off bullying between siblings, and cautioned that it could be a
cry for help from the bully.” “Testa said that the first step in stopping
bullying at home is for parents to acknowledge that it is wrong. What may
appear to be a sibling rivalry could be taking a significant toll on a child’s
well-being.” (CBS News report click here)
As
Christian women, we can intervene by talking to our child(ren) about being kind
to their siblings as well as to other children at school. We can find an opportunity
to discover what our children are experiencing in the home, when our backs are
turned, as well as at school and church. Do they feel threatened in any way?
Most importantly, as parents we should model good behavior for them. A child's number one way of learning is from watching what mom and dad do.
“Finally, all of
you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8
Excellent
Resources for parents and educators at
11
Facts about Bullying
Online
Bullying – Yale teams up with Facebook
School
Bullying Video
Bullying between Siblings - CBS News
Bullying
Resources
No comments:
Post a Comment