Happy New Year and everything that I have missed in between. I know I have been away from my blog for quite some time, but life sometimes takes the best of us.
I have always believed that it's not about how many times you fail but what you do after that really counts.
So here I am, back to share with the world my insights, my struggles, my lessons in life so that you may grow and prosper into something bigger and greater.
I'd like to open 2015 with the topic of bullying. It's something that keeps growing and sometimes we turn our cheek to try to ignore it or pretend that it will just get better on its own. In reality it truly doesn't . We can't let things keep spiraling out of control, this topic is affecting many in our generation.
This morning I watched a movie on Netflix by the title CyberBully and it reminded me of all the hurt I suffered when I was young and was subjected to bullying. For a long time I have been waiting to touch on this subject but now more than ever I think it's permanent and necessary to address.
Although I didn't grow up with constant internet access, bullying still existed in my days.
Jealousy in others created hatred in their hearts.
The attacks stemmed from all sorts of areas, for not being American, for coming from an unheard of country, for being short, for having good grades, for being popular, for being an athlete, a scholar, and for having good looks.
Being pretty was not something I chose but a God sent gift and it took me years to actually appreciate my own external beauty. To me physical beauty has never really mattered. And if you don't believe me I am pretty sure many of my girlfriends will vouch as they critiqued my choice of taste when it came to the opposite sex.
I am a firm believer that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Furthermore, I also think that beauty is skin deep, beauty is love. I think that people are all beautiful in their own uniqueness. Of course some of us were blessed by the Lord above with what I like to call pleasing to one's eyes.
But just listing all the areas I was teased about exhausts me. My step-dad would always advice me to just ignore their comments and to not pay attention to them, but now as an adult I realize that this was the wrong approach. I had a lot of pain because of all the insults I was subjected to. Even now as an adult the story does not cease. I still find myself being undermined and attacked sometimes even by those close to me that are suppose to love me unconditionally.
The movie I watched really touched home because I found myself many times feeling like the main character Taylor, all alone with no one to turn to. There were a few times that I thought I could not go on with my life. People would spread rumors about me and I just couldn't understand how or why they would do such a thing. None the less, I did nothing about it. I just kept it all in, all to myself. I would cry in my room from time to time but thank God that he loved me so and watched over me because without His comfort I don't know what wold have happened.
I am thankful because despite this constant struggle, God has placed individuals in my journey that remind me of my strengths and encourage me. Just remember that the devil is a hungry prowler and he attacks us in our weaknesses.
So for anyone going through this struggle I recommend this. I know those words hurt and people don't seem to realize how much words can hinder another. It's okay to acknowledge the hurt but you must take action. If ever there is something bad that is said of you on the internet, print it out, screenshot it, have some type of proof and record of it. The next best thing you can do is block that sender so you no longer have to subject yourself to their negative comments. Lastly, you must speak up! Tell someone, report it to the Bullies Internet Service Provider but no don't hide behind your fear. Do whatever it takes to stand up for yourself and for others.
I hope that you can take inspiration from this blog and stop this nonsense from hindering your journey in life.
I'd like to close with this biblical verse which speaks about being slow to anger and speak.
James 1:19-27New International Version (NIV)
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment