Don't be the Bull(y)

In the midst of a tragedy in our region last week (teen from Cooperstown ND killed herself due in part to some bullying by her peers and untreated depression) I felt it appropriate to revisit this idea of bullying and how we treat each other.

Bullying is a serious thing. The likelihood of it happening everyday to you or someone you know is a lot higher than it should be these days. I would hope that if you are one of those people on the receiving end of this you would tell someone.

Tell me. Tell your folks. Tell your teachers. Tell any adult you trust. Tell a friend who you know cares about you enough to do something about it. You always hear stories about people being pushed to the limits with this kind of stuff and there is always so much remorse afterward to the tune of "I wish I could have done something to help."

If you are one of those people having a hard time due to depression, bullying, etc....things can get better. This process of getting better starts with sharing your struggles with someone.

I would also hope that if you are one of those people that are on the giving end of bullying, that you would seriously reconsider the way you treat others. Even if you think of these people as your friends, sometimes we take the most bullying from the people we call friends because we just dismiss it as joking around. But you hear something enough, even if it’s from your so-called friends, and sooner or later you’ll start to believe it. The things we say can have a tremendous effect on others.

Luke 6:31 “Do unto others as you would like them to do to you.”

What simpler (golden) rule is there when it comes to loving your neighbor?

Markonius L. Richards IV~