THE BEAUTY IN BULLYING
Brijil Joseph, one of the Marian School Mission team member, explains this strange title.
THE PROBLEM
What a catchy title. So your reaction may be: Is she okay? What is beautiful about bullying? Has she lost it? How can you equate beauty and bullying? So before you throw your magazine at me, hear me out! Bullying in schools is an awkward turtle of a question; it’s the elephant in the room. The weird thing about bullying is that it isn’t determined by how many friends you have. You may have lots of friends but they don’t always stick up for you. What may have started off as a casual joke between a few people can gradually be blown out of all proportion. The joke can spread quickly to include the whole class and before you know it, the joke is so past the line you can’t even see it anymore.
SCARS
Anyone who has ever been bullied is left with scars not just physical but inner wounds. These inner wounds are the type that you can’t see and so an ordinary doctor wouldn’t be able to help you. That is why God is the best doctor – not only does he diagnose but he heals perfectly, so not a single mark is left (#epic). So if you are a victim then you have been wounded, no matter how big or small, deep or superficial, these scars may be. And you want to be healed right? So this is how.
FORGIVENESS
In Matthew 18:22, Peter asks Jesus, “If my brother has wronged me, how many times should I forgive him?” Jesus said that it should not be just seven times, but seventy-seven times. Jesus means that we should keep on forgiving until our forgiveness is complete. The wounds of bullying don’t go very easily but total forgiveness can be phenomenal. It can happen overnight if we have 100% forgiveness and love for a person. That means that you wish the best for that person. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” True forgiveness should result in us praying for the person, asking God to bless them and grant all their desires according to the will of our Heavenly Father.
DON’T LISTEN TO THEM
To anyone who has ever suffered bullying, no matter how long it’s been going on for, no matter what the reason is, I want to say that you are special and an amazing child of God. You are fighting against the evil of this world. So be strong because God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers! (I salute you soldier). Right now you may feel like you need to change because they tell you that you have a different fashion sense or are somehow different from others. But never doubt that you are the pinnacle of God’s creation! You are made in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:27), no matter what your skin tone, size, height or weight. You were made perfect, as the Father is perfect.
SEEKING HELP
Maybe it’s not your appearance but something that is going on at home. Maybe it’s because you said something whether online or in school and your life has been made Hell since. Whatever the reason, the first thing that you should do if you are being bullied is to speak to an adult that you can trust, either a parent, grandparent or a teacher. Also pray because Jesus can do the impossible and He will help you! He can intervene in your situation, no matter how difficult the problem. He promises to provide us with what we need, all we have to do is ask. (Matthew 7:7-8). For those who have slipped up and said something they regret, saying sorry is vital. This is not a sign of weakness but it shows that you are strong and can actually own up to your mistakes. If you’ve already tried that, what else can you do? Pray with love for those who are bullying you. Let prayer come from your heart, asking God to give them the kind of things you pray for yourself and for your friends and family.
BE LIKE JESUS
I remember hearing a testimony of a man whose parents were killed in front of his eyes while he was in secondary school. He decided that when he grew up he would kill the man who murdered them. So as he got older, he was always looking for ways to kill this man. Many years later he attended a retreat, where he had a profound experience of Christ Jesus asking him only one thing, “My son, have you suffered as much as I did?” The young man’s heart melted at this thought and he decided that if Jesus could forgive then so could he.
CONCLUSION
So never forget how much you are worth. You are the apple of His eye. (Psalm 17:8) Your name is inscribed on the palms of His hands. (Isaiah 49:16) The beauty in bullying is you!
