FAMILY DEVOTIONS: Teasing

This week the Candle name chosen by our children for our Lenten Cross is the candle of TEASING. Last week we talked about the candle of Bullying. Bullying is the use of force, physical, verbal or psychological, to intimidate or threaten others to do your will. Teasing is the use of shame to intimidate others. It may be couched in humor, but in the end it diminishes other people. There has been a lot of conversation in the media lately about the impact that teasing has on children. It is not certain that teasing is the singular cause of eruptions of violence, but it is clear that it can wound in ways that are deep and lasting. Sometimes it comes from peers, sometimes it comes from family. Sometimes it is good natured. Sometimes it is nasty. In light of recent shootings in schools a colleges teasing, like bullying, is back in the news again.

Our Candle provides another opportunity to talk with your kids about teasing. It may be helpful to hear about their experiences of it in school. Ask your children what they think they could do, or others could do, to help people who are being teased. Offer a prayer for those who are hurt by teasing.