Feb
4
2020
On Our Watch
Posted in Repentance 2 Comments
I walked into the children’s department, looking for clothes for my granddaughters.
Every once in a while, it’s fun to buy them something new.
I tend to choose things that I would have put on my own daughters when they were little.
At least in the infant/toddler section, that is still possible.
I walked towards the older clothes and realized that it will be difficult to find things.
It is difficult to find age appropriate clothes in the young girl sizes.
There are some things I would have bought for my daughters; there is a lot that I would not buy.
Reading some of the T-shirts, I wondered who decides to market this to young girls?
There is a blurring of the lines.
Mature styles seem to be creeping to younger and younger girl’s sizes.
A parent has to be very diligent to buy clothes that are appropriate for the ages of their daughter.
Very short shorts and tiny cropped shirts are prominently displayed.
Little girls see that fashion on TV, online, or on social media.
Even the parent who is careful about exposure to these things, cannot control everything.
An old Sunday school song seems appropriate.
The words still ring true.
Be careful little eyes what you see.
In our sexualized culture, little girls are getting mixed messages.
They are being encouraged to dress older than their actual age.
The lyrics to the songs they hear, are being sung but are not yet understood.
After a while, simply singing those lyrics put the words down deep in their heart.
Be careful little ears what you hear.
Sunday night many televisions were tuned to the Super Bowl.
I am not a big football fan.
I only get excited about the game if my hometown team is playing.
However, the winning team was coached by a man who coached my team years ago.
I was reading as my husband was watching the game.
I looked up every now and then to see the score.
I noticed that it was two minutes until the half time show.
I was not particularly interested in that, since I was more interested in my book.
Then the halftime show began.
I recognized the women who were performing but do not have any of their music.
None of the songs I heard in the background were familiar to me.
I happened to look up and could not believe what I was seeing.
The freedom that allows me to dislike what I saw is the same freedom that allows it to happen.
Provocative camera angles, zooming in on lewd dancing, was being sold as entertainment.
Pole dancing was displayed for all to see.
There was nothing wholesome about the Pepsi sponsored halftime show.
Ironically, some commercials during the Super Bowl were about women empowerment.
Yet the halftime show suggested otherwise.
Each of the women chose to entertain in that way.
I just wondered about the little eyes and the little ears.
A friend of mine, who loves the Lord Jesus, has a passion.
She is passionate about ending human trafficking.
My friend lives in Tennessee and is actively involved in the movement to stop this crime.
My friend just published a book called, Paper Dolls: Trust Your Instincts.
It is a fictional account of a very real problem.
It is a problem that no one wants to talk about.
It is a problem that is happening in our own towns and cities.
It is a problem that needs to be brought out of the darkness and into the light.
As I watched the halftime show, I thought of my friend’s book.
Even if the woman makes the choice to perform, women are sexualized for entertainment.
Where is the consideration of the little eyes that are watching ever so closely?
Where is the network or NFL executive who says, Not on my watch?
In her book, my friend talks about the empty eyes of the young girl being exploited.
There are signs, sometimes subtle, but signs nonetheless.
People are afraid to speak up because they fear being wrong.
But what if they’re right?
What if you are the one voice that helps a young girl out of the evil clutches that ensnare her?
What if you are the one voice who speaks up and aids law enforcement?
What if you are the one voice who tells this young girl she is valuable and made in God’s image?
What if you are the one voice who tells her about Jesus?
Some of us may never have to deal with this horrific situation in our lifetime.
Others of us have noticed things that are just not right.
Fear keeps us quiet.
My friend’s book gives you many things to ponder and ways for you to get involved.
My friend loves the Lord Jesus.
I wonder what she thought about the halftime show?
I wonder if any of the things that bothered me, bothered her?
Were there any young women who needed to be rescued in that stadium during the game?
C.S.Lewis, in his book, The Abolition of Man, says something I have not forgotten.
We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. (C.S.Lewis)
We enjoy soft porn as entertainment and wonder why young girls are being exploited?
Are we forgetting the words of Jesus?
If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)
We are to protect the least of these.
We are to protect our children?
How are we doing?
What steps can we take to preserve their innocence?
This is happening on our watch!
Thank you, Regina! I was watching with neighbors and we were mortified. One resounding comment from all of us was, “Imagine if we had our young kids here?!” Why must everything be shareable? Our thoughts, opinions, selfies, bodies, and our minute-by-minute schedules are all broadcast for the world to see. What we should share, what we should witness lies silent. I know I am guilty of that. Thanks for pushing me to be a better witness. XO
Cathy,
You and I, all of us, need to do whatever we can to push back the darkness.
The world needs to see His Light in us.
We must not be afraid to stand up for righteousness.
Regina