Abby came home from school with a beautifully colored picture of a ladybug in her school folder. On it were these words: "If you can't do anything about it, give it to the Worry Bug." I asked Abby about it. She explained, "If there's something I'm worried about during the day ('like you dying while I'm at school,' was her example) I can just give it to the worry bug so I don't have to worry about it." Hmm, I see. The worry bug's going to take care of things. (I almost laughed out loud at how goofy this sounded.)
After listening, I asked if she could think of an even better plan for where to put her worries. "Give them to God," she answered. Yes, honey, and do you know why we do that? Because HE'S REAL! And He alone can give us peace from worry. Not a bug, not a golden calf, etc.
I understand the heart of what the school's trying to do here, and I don't at all want to open the door for slams on the public schools--truth be told we think Abby's school is generally pretty fantastic--but I must say I found it very sad that because God is left out of the picture, our children are given nothing secure to rest in and cling to--except a fictitious bug!
If nothing else, it was a good discussion opportunity for Abby and me. And if it comes up again in school, Abby's got a plan to share the fact that she'd prefer to give her worries to Jesus over a bug, thank you.
"Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7
8 comments:
It's a jungle out there. That jungle is full of "worry bugs."
Nice job Mrs. P.
Yeah Abby.
It sounds like you and Abby had a great conversation. A bug can't help of course. People squash bugs. Jesus is the only One who can take care of those worries.
That bugs me.
I love it how our Christian children can make a change in the lives of the children in public schools, if none of us go- who will share the story of Jesus?
Our children have had many opportunities to witness, Glad to see Abby has one too!
Shine that light, Abby!
In just a few short years, hopefully they'll learn in biology class that insects of the order Coleoptera, as prolific and well-adapted as they are on the earth, don't have a developed frontal lobe, cerebellum, or basal ganglia, and are therefore neurologically incapable of worrying on our behalf.
I think it's good to teach children not to worry, and in a public school I guess the bug is about as good as they can do. (We wouldn't want teachers in the public school telling kids to cast their cares upon Jesus.) I think the teaching that they don't have to worry and can put the worry off of themselves can be a good one, and can be an open door to spiritual realities (as you took the opportunity to pursue with Abs). Our society is full of mental illness, depression, and worry; kudos to the school for trying to stave off these destructive things at an early age.
Swirlingeddy, thanks for your input. (And bug education as well!) Yes, it is good that the schools are trying to address these issues the best that they are able. I do think, though, that only being offered a bug or some other object to put those worries off on only illustrates to me how silly it is to look anywhere else for help but Jesus. (Take God out of the picture and look what we are left with.)
Hmm...and I think I WOULD want the schools telling my kids to give their cares to Jesus, or at least openly recognizing that many of the children attending are church-goers and would readily understand the concept of going to God with their worries instead of something else. It could at least be acknowledged as a valid option. To me, the worry bug felt like it was in competition or 'instead of' what we are trying to teach Abby at home. Just sort of thinking "out loud" here. :)
I love this story! Thanks for sharing it.
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