Guarding Childhood

I will never forget the day I went into the party store.
It is not a store that I frequently visit, but I was looking for a particular item.
It was late fall and Halloween decorations were everywhere.
I happened to walk into the store with a mother and her little boy in front of me.

I have often heard it said that people do not look up.
We look around, we look back, but up is not a direction we turn very often.
This little boy looked up.
All he saw was a ghoulish figure hovering above him.

Most adults would walk right past this ominous decoration.
To this child however, the figure in the flowing black robe was in plain view.
The little boy had to look up towards his mother as he walked and held her hand.
In the looking up, he saw something that frightened him terribly.

He drew back.
She walked on.
A tugging of sorts ensued.
He would not enter the store and his mother could not understand why.

His pointing led her to believe he was just being ornery.
Oh come on; we only have few things to get!
There will be no TV for you when we get home!
His cries persisted as she upped the ante with her threats.

She grabbed him in one fell swoop and carried him into the store.
He went into the store kicking and screaming.
They disappeared down one of the many aisles.
The aluminum pans I needed for a chafing dish were right inside the entrance.

I carried my items to the register.
I heard the little boy screaming.
I heard the mother continue to threaten.
I looked around; I looked up and saw many things that would have terrified me as a child.

She never knew.
I don’t think she ever knew.
She was unable to see things from his perspective.
She is not alone.

My husband and I had a date night.
Dinner and a movie.
The movie previews brought the scene of the mother and the little boy to mind.
One of the previews was for a movie about comic superheroes.

Not my favorite genre of movie, but I tried to watch the preview objectively.
I tried to see the preview through the eyes of the many little boys who would ask to see it.
I find it hard to believe that they would not be terribly afraid at some of the scenes.
Somehow the comic book characters are supposed to lessen the intensity.

For me, it did not.

Only once did my parents leave me overnight at my grandmother’s house.
My aunt decided to take me to see a movie.
We went to see Fantasia that had just opened in the theaters.
Music by Leopold Stokowski and of course the Disney name put her mind at ease.

One scene terrified me.
It was the scene with the music from, Night on Bald Mountain.
I still remember the bats, the ominous figure with the glowing eyes.
I still remember being terribly afraid and not being able to sleep that night.

I have made a mental note to re-watch that movie.
The mountain becoming the ghoulish figure, the skeletal specters floating in air.
Those scenes had an intensity that has stayed with me all these years.
I had nothing in my little girl mind to make sense of what I saw.

I had nothing in my little girl mind to buffer the intensity of the scenes.
Bats flying around, even to the rhythm of classical music, were terrifying for me.
We parents may never fully understand what makes our child afraid.
That is why we have to be so diligent to fill their minds carefully.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

We are the watchmen for our children.
Ratings alone will not accurately determine the appropriateness of movies.
Children are young for such a short period of time.
Their little minds need time to be little; that time will never come again.

Cherish their innocence.
Preserve their innocence.
Protect their innocence.
Guard their innocence.

Be a watchman.
A sentinel.
A sentry.
A guard.

Take serious your post to prevent the passage of unauthorized persons.
Keep watch at the borderline of childhood, being careful to block what should not pass.
Be diligent as you stand guard.
Not everything is age-appropriate even if it is culturally accepted.

I remember the little boy as he entered the store.
From his vantage point, the ghoulish figure was ready to attack.
He is not wrong.
There are many things ready to attack our children’s minds and hearts.

Looking up to our Lord Jesus will direct us as we keep watch.
Looking up in prayer will help us to discern what is best to put before our child’s eyes.
Looking up at His face, instead of around at culture, will enable us to see what we’re to do.
We must be the lone watchman, if necessary, to protect our children’s innocence.

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. (Romans 16:19)

We have to help our child be innocent about what is evil.
It is a daunting task but a vital one.
There is such a small window of time to dream and imagine in the safety of childhood.
As parents we need to look up so we can have a better perspective in order to help them.

When we look up, it is easier to say, NO to culture.
When we look up, it is easier to say YES to Him.
Take serious your post.
God gave you the job and He will equip you to do it.

 

2 responses to “Guarding Childhood”

1. A much-needed reminder! I remember the innocence of my childhood (’40’s) and feel the kids of today have too much access to inappropriate media for their ages.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     Simple things really are better.
     Spending time with our children, hearing their precious hearts so that we know their dreams and their fears.
     Protecting the innocence of childhood at all costs should be our primary goal.
     Gina

     Reply