“Just punishment isn’t pleasant but it results in growth of
character." ~ Hebrews 12:11
On her last day of life, Maci
walked through a cauldron of social torment. The pretty, brown-haired, high school junior appeared
normal enough, but inside she quivered from humiliation.
Girls had been giving her looks and guys had congregated
around phones, smirking. Messages were filling
her inbox, each one delivering another gut punch.
She wished the earth would open up and swallow her whole. But there was no rescue from this
embarrassment; it was unforgiving. She cut most classes for the previous three days, hoping to avoid clashes with disapproving girlfriends.
At lunchtime, Maci texted her
mom at work: "Mom, please pick me up." Sandy asked why and whether she could wait until
her business meeting ended. But Maci was
adamant.
When Sandy pulled into the parking lot, Maci hopped in but
remained silent for the short drive home. Sandy was used to her 16-year-old daughter's
moods and didn’t press her.
At home Maci immediately retreated to her bedroom. Twenty minutes or so passed before Sandy
decided to check on her daughter. She
knocked but Maci didn't answer.
Sheila knocked again, harder.
Something about the silence ignited panic inside her. Flinging the door open, she confronted the
sight now permanently etched in her memory. In the cheery-yellow bathroom, her only child hung
from a belt attached to the shower head, mascara streaking her face.
The brown-eyed girl who loved dogs, books and shenanigans had
committed suicide. Weeks earlier she’d
sexted a topless photo of herself to her boyfriend. Last Friday when they broke up, he sent the
photo to everyone else at their school.
Her adoring mother never knew the full extent of her
daughter’s anguish until it was too late.
Research shows that as many as half of all teens engage in
sexting prior to age 18. Sending
sexually explicit content is viewed as a normal way to interact with their
peers. They don’t see anything wrong
with it, especially if they believe “everyone’s doing it.”
TEENS – wake up!
Sending sexually charged pictures and messages can have
serious consequences. Sexting explicit
photos online of any minor is unlawful. Online
messages with sexual content can expose you to pedophiles, kidnappers, and strangers
who can cause you harm. It also puts you
at risk for blackmail and bullying. And
aside for the legal and cyberbullying risks, photos like these never go away
and destroy reputations.
PARENTS – it’s your responsibility! The computer and cell phone your child is
using is yours and you have the right and responsibility to supervise
not only what your child is doing, but with whom. It’s important to follow the threads of your
child’s online activity, so that you keep them engaged in age-appropriate,
healthy activities.
Lord, please guide their footsteps as they walk
on their own. Give them courage as peers
try to lead them down evil paths. And
finally, give me the patience to be a good example when they test every part of
me. Amen
