A few days ago, Tootle Bug was getting a shower, and Sugar Belle went in the bathroom to brush her teeth. I was in the school room and could hear them chatting away in there. I was caught a little off guard when I heard, “Hey, let’s be naked photographers!” What?!?!
So, I called Shug out of the bathroom and very calmly said, “Umm…what did you say about naked photographers?”
She went on to explain to me that while she was spending the night with my mom last week, they were watching TV. During the course of the show, my mom needed to run to the bathroom, and while she was there, Shug said a commercial came on the TV with this lady who was only wearing a bra and panties. Then she said there was a whole group of ladies sitting around a table in their bras and panties just having a drink and chatting with each other. Shug said she ran to tell mom, but by the time she got back the commercial was obviously over. Somehow she deduced that the commercial was about being a photographer….that’s naked.
WOW!
Now, let me say, I am not telling you this to embarrass Shug, or to bash mom. Mom and I talked about it, and she was mortified. I guess she didn’t get all the details from Sugar Belle that night. I also want to clarify that I am not mad at my mom. I know she is very vigilant about what the kids watch when they are with her, and she always checks with me to make sure what they watch at her home is cool with Mr. OverKill and I.
My point? We have to be so careful what goes into our precious little one’s minds! How long is the average commercial, 30 seconds, a minute tops? Yet, that image stuck in Shug’s mind, and it has rolled around in there long enough that she would suggest to her sister that they should be “naked photographers.” (In all innocence I am sure after our conversation.) But, oh how quickly one exposure to inappropriate images from the media has affected her forever.
Quick question, what was the scariest movie you watched before the age of 10? It flashes right there in your mind doesn’t it? And yet try to remember the topic of last week’s sermon….(cue crickets…)
Our brains are amazing things, that we haven’t even begun to comprehend. But God knows, because he formed us! I think that is why He has instructed us…
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:6-8
Did you catch that? When we ask, the Lord says His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Then, he gives us some directions on what our role is in guarding our minds. Our power to guard our mind, is in the thoughts we think. He tells us not to dwell on negative things, things that tear us down, but on good things, things that build us up.
As we guard our minds by controlling our thoughts, it stand to reason that we also need to be very careful about what we are putting into our minds. Why do I say this? Well, James tells us to lay aside wicked things…
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
And the Psalmist words…
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. Psalm 101:3
Our children do not have the ability to judge for themselves what is appropriate, and what is not. It is our job as parents to protect them from harmful images, and teach them as they grow, what is appropriate.
As adults, we need to measure the things that we put into our minds against the standard of God’s word. It’s easy to rationalize that as adults, we can watch a show that flaunts sin as a desirable thing. After all, we know that we would never do the things that the characters are doing….or would we?
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:14-15
Where do you suppose our desires come from? I think it’s reasonable to say, that the things we desire are things that have been set before us, and told to us that they are desirable. Sin begins in the mind, it starts with thoughts that lead to desires. I heard it said the other day, it is easier to avoid temptation, than to resist it.
We must guard our minds, so that we can guard our children’s minds.