The door opened ajar, and in came my daughter, sounding vulnerable, seeking protection, complaining of a bad dream. My natural response was to have her join me in bed, until the reality that she is no longer a tot set in. Dark still, I suggested we move to the living room couch, where we could lounge out in more comfort. As we made our way through the darkness, I asked her to quietly share her bad dream with me. It had been a long while since she last had one.
Though I am not a decipherer of dreams, I can sometimes guess certain meanings or figure out what the overall meaning may be. At the very least, it certainly must be therapeutic to discuss the bad and shed some light on it. She proceeded to share vividly, using lots of detail and color, and I discovered she was right to be scared. Her dream took place at school, after a school trip. You know, school, that institution that is supposed to feel safe. With all of the current and not so current events, it does not surprise me. I still dream about school myself, but the worse occurrence is missing a deadline or realizing I had been gone for some time and returning to a quiz (seems laughable even as I type it). That is as bad as my dreams about school get.
As she carried on with the details that seemed like a plot of a thriller, she finally came to the culminating point where she woke up frightened, confused and seeking refuge where she feels comfort and protection: by my side. Since I figured we still could get some sleep until sunrise, I gave my "review" of her dream with a "thumbs down" and proceeded to do what I know to work best: PRAY.
Certainly, our children must be feeling afraid with all the uncertainty in the news. I did mention she is no longer a toddler; otherwise I would not even expose her to the news. However, she is a teenager as of earlier this year, so current events are discussed in the classroom, without the added benefit of assurance that all will turn out right. Even as parents, we cannot give our children that guarantee; after all, we do not even have the answers in times of tragedy, political unrest, natural disasters, etc. But as Christians, we do have to guide them to prayer and to connect with Christ.
"The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life." (Psalm 121, NIV) I told her that the word “peace” will have even more meaning this Christmas, since it is something we collectively need to ask for in prayer. I pray that the Prince of Peace become known to all, that His message of light and love will prevail. That true good will triumph over evil and that humanity will seek to be humane. I pray that the innocent will not continue to pay with their lives; that our leaders will be enlightened and choose their actions wisely; and that those seeking to do harm, will stop in their tracks and discover God in all His glory. Join me in prayer.
Written by Jesabel Cruz
Office Manager and Case Worker, Red Bank Corps
Keeping the date in mind when this will be posted, I cannot help but to think of our children, returning to school today or recently. I can draw upon many comparisons to my school days and the way things are now, and see some similarities, but the stark contrasts are by far the ones that come to mind most.
Sure, we had homework to hand in and tests to study for, and who can forget the pleasant pop quizzes that came along the way. That has not changed. We had the differences of opinion with either: a teacher; or a classmate; or even an upper classman to contend with, all a part of the school day which dealt more with the social aspect rather than curriculum. Generally speaking, that has not changed, save for the online social media aspect, which has been introduced and the fact that most school districts have started thwarting the bullying, which unfortunately often ruled the landscape.
My generation, however, had something priceless: feeling secure while at school. We never had to deal with bomb drills, and hiding under our desks, converting them into impromptu bomb shelters. We did not have to worry about lockdowns and people entering our school building, bringing with them an evil agenda of death and destruction of lives. Still, to this day, and after all the different tragedies that have taken place in our nation's schools, I am in disbelief. When did society take such a wrong turn that our schools became open targets for these horrible actions? I want to point out that we should not feel helpless or hopeless in the face of this adversity.
All of us have or know someone attending school this year. As believers of Christ, we can pray for these children, their teachers and school staff. Assure them that they are in the hands of God, whether or not they approach you with fear or hesitation. The fact of the matter is that our children will be better prepared for school if prayer is a part of their daily routine. It should be an integral part of their day as they strive to build a relationship with Him. Personally, I cannot think of something more comforting than knowing that God is on our side, as Father and Defender. After all, "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 118:6, NIV).
Go the extra mile: Adding a Post-It with a message and prayer goes a long way! This year, let us not limit our children's preparedness to nice new apparel and school supplies; arm them with God's love and care as well.
Written by Jesabel Cruz
Office Manager and Case Worker, Red Bank Corps
