After moving in December, we are now within the boundaries of a different league. Well, what we quickly discovered is that all little leagues are not the same.
Last week both William and Evan had tryouts, and what they (and we) observed was appalling. Our kids clearly got a heavy dose of "socialized" children. The power of peer pressure and continuous bad influence was as clear as day!
As soon as William was done, he said, "Mom, I am not playing for this league. The kids were swearing. One kid was asking if the kids were gay. They were talking about dating--11 year olds, Mom. A coach was yelling (using a swear word) at his son. I don't want to play with these kids."
I told William that we needed to talk to Daddy about it first, and we should be praying for these kids. And, I also explained that we are called to be the salt and the light--to stand out in a decaying and dark world. So, a few days later, Ed took Evan to his tryouts--listening very closely and keeping an eye on things. He saw and heard the same things that William described. That was it!
That night we sat down as a family and talked about this--what would Jesus do? Would he leave or stay? Well, Jesus was an adult when he preached and reached out to sinners, and our children are not--they are in training. Sending our kids into a detrimental situation, where they would surely be teased for doing the right thing, surrounded by cussing and inappropriate conversations, when they are yet babes would be devastating--both spiritually and for their attitude toward the sport.
We are to, as parents, according to Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Notice how that verse calls us to train our children while they are yet young. Then, when they are old, they will continue on the right path.
It seems that this day in age, we, as Christians, don't hesitate to send our kids into battle in the name of "salt and light." I had to be reminded that our children are still in training and are easily influenced by their daily surroundings. The world is not what it was just 50 years ago, and we, as parents, are the ones who are called to be the salt and light. We will make the proper complaints and withdraw our kids from this battle--all three of the boys would have been sent into enemy territory on those baseball teams. It was not just one kid being stupid; it was the culture of the league where even adults behaved inappropriately. This seems to be a small picture of what is happening on a large scale in our society…sad!
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Psalm 1:1
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