By: Melody Merritt
Bullying is intentional meanness. It occurs when someone tries to cause harm or distress to another person as an attempt to show they have more power. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social.
The website states that somewhere between one-fourth to one-third of all U.S. students report being bullied at school with most bullying occurring in middle school. Technology has drastically changed the bullying culture in our world. Cyberbullying – when the harassment is done through texting, email, or social media – can cause the intended target immeasurable damage both mentally and emotionally, especially when it is carried out in the public domain of social media where it has the potential to be witnessed by many.
What does God say about bullying? The Bible tells us “to love our neighbors as ourselves” in Mark 12:31, and in Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them to do to you.” In Zechariah 7:9, God notes that we are to “Judge fairly and show mercy and kindness to one another.” God’s Word clearly shows bullying is wrong.
We are all created in God’s image and worthy of respect. Psalm 139:13-18 reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God’s thoughts toward us are too numerous to count. Do not let bullies determine who you are but rather believe what God says about you.
If you see someone being bullied, or you yourself are being bullied, seek help. Speak up! Be bold! Don’t be afraid to tell someone as “we are called to seek justice and defend the oppressed (Psalm 82:3-4).”
It is NOT tattling to report bullying. Reporting bullying protects you as well as the person being bullied and others. It is the best way to stop the bullying.
As a parent, there are proactive steps you can take when it comes to bullying.
- Be aware of what is going on in your child’s life.
- If you notice changes in your child, ask questions.
- Limit online access.
- Be a good role model.
- Make sure your child understands that telling an adult bullying is happening to them or someone else is NOT being a tattletale.
When we do nothing, we allow bullying to continue and even escalate into more dangerous situations. We all agree bullying is wrong; let’s work together to stop it!
Melody has been on the KGM Team since inception in 2007. She was my assistant for more than five years. (God bless her!) She now serves as our Content Development Director.
Melody is a saint with a servant’s heart who desires to mentor women by encouraging a deeper relationship with God through personal connection. She can uniquely speak into women’s lives who have been betrayed as she has walked a similar road. With God as her constant companion through it all, Melody has never faltered in her faith and longs to instill that same confident faith in the women around her. Learn more about Melody here!
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