Let’s face it life is hard no matter what your age is.  Life presents all kinds of pressures causing others to act in less than acceptable ways.  Recently, I saw a movie documentary following the lives of five students who were bullied on a daily basis and the resulting effects.

I dare say that most of us have been either the tormented or the tormentor at some stage in our life growing up.  We did not use to hear about the damaging ramifications of this kind of behavior but because of the heightened consequences of bullying, it has become more front and center over the past decade.  Modern technology such as the internet and cell phones now make it possible to bully someone without them physically being there.

The U.S. Department of Education’s estimate is that 13 million kids are bullied yearly.  Whether this bullying is physical, verbal or psychological, the results have been tragic in some cases.  Statistics vary as to how many but there have been well-publicized cases of kids committing suicide because of being bullied in some fashion.

Studies show that kids who bully want to “fit in,” want to feel like they are in control and do it because it gives them a feeling of superiority over others.  When a child bullies it can have lasting impacts on everyone involved.  The child that bullies must be suffering inside as much as the one who is bullied.

Whether you understand this or not those who bully are seeking love.  God is a God of love and sometimes I think we forget this one basic trait of our Father can turn the tide in another’s life.  Ask him to shed abroad in your heart a love that truly surpasses even your understanding and ask him to reveal to you how he would have you to handle any given situation.  Bullying is not from heaven no matter who you are.  

Lastly, if you are a parent of a child who is a bully or know of a child who is being bullied then do something about it.  Let us rise up and help those who need us to. 

Katie Altobellis