No Fear!

 Psalm 27:1  Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

So the other day I posted on Facebook about the stupid rules for children playing outside on post.  Long story short - the MP's stopped Jadyn in front of our house and said she was not allowed to be outside without an adult.  She was walking to a neighbors house to play with her friend.  Either they were going to play there and Helen's mom would watch them or they were going to come back here and play in our yard.   She walks to school by herself with Jared and friends (apparently this is OK), but she can't walk  a few doors down to play? 

I asked the MP how old kids had to be in order to utilize the neighbor hood parks and play outside without an adult.  He told me ELEVEN :( WHAT!  Why do we have these parks then.  B/c half the 8-10 year olds in our neighborhood play all day outside.  Isn't that what little boys are SUPPOSE to do? 11/12 year olds are middle Schoolers and do not play on the slides, lol.   I get it, Jadyn is only 6 and on post has rules with age limits.  She is never at the park alone anyway.  I am willing to comply and am not contesting the age limit for her. But my 4th grader is surely capable of being in the yard alone if I am in the house!  However the ONLY regulation that I found posted was this:

Child supervision is necessary for the safety, protection, care, and management of children in our community. Child supervision is the responsibility of the parent. Parents must know where their children are and what they are doing at all times. Parents should continually evaluate their child's level of maturity and determine the degree of supervision that best meets the needs of their child. Parents are accountable for their decisions regarding child supervision and any incidents of misconduct by children under their care.

I know some parents may not agree with me on this issue, but Jadyn is VERY independent.  So yes, I feel she is mature enough to walk to the neighbors house alone.  Not on her bike, not around the block, not to the park - the neighbors house. She does not get the same privileges her brothers get; she is younger. 

I got a little bit of heat for my stance on this issue.  I do not judge ANYONE and I don't feel that you guys were judging me either.  I understand that some parents do not let their children stay alone or play outside without an adult.  That is your choice and I honor it.  

My friend Andrea posted a VERY touching story that happened to her.  She was abducted from her own yard as a child.  Andrea THANK YOU so much for sharing your story.  I know it touched several lives, including mine.  You  are such a wonderful friend! Others had some very good points as well.  They were well received, but you are not going to change my mind.  What is good for you is different for me.  I will never undermine your parenting if you send your kids to my house though. KNOW that If I am ever left responsible for your children I will follow ANY rules that you set!  HAHAHA, I will go to the park and watch them play or sit outside in the back yard if you want :)  

See, I KNOW that our world is SCREWED UP!  I KNOW that kids get taken from their own yards.  I have experience in the area of children being molested in their OWN homes! Just today a girl in Florida was SHOT on the School Bus.  Bad stuff can happen ANYWHERE and at ANYTIME!  

See, I also KNOW that I can NOT control any of this stuff! YES, I am very protective of my children.  But not by holding their hands 24/7.  I have very set rules and expectations.  If they don't follow my rules they lose privileges.  If you don't check in or come home when told, you don't get to go out alone.  I taught my children how to cross the road and look for cars starting as soon as they could walk!  Of course I held their hands then, lol.  We talk about manners and bullying and who not to talk to and why.  Stranger Danger! We talk about conflict and I encourage them to solve their own friend problems, and SO much more.  When I feel they are capable of making choices without my direct supervision I give a little and let them try.  

I KNOW that this world is BAD, VERY BAD, and only getting WORSE!  But I CHOOSE to NOT live in Fear!  See I gave my children to the LORD when they were young.  It is in HIM that I trust them to go outside and BE A KID :) I pray EVERYDAY that what I am teaching them will carry and be enough.  I pray that harm will not happen to them for the short amounts of time that they are not in my direct presence.  I pray that THEY will be a LIGHT to their friends and show the Love of Christ in their attitudes with others.

Maybe it is the military Lifestyle.  My kids and I  know that there is always a chance that daddy may not come home.  We learn to Trust in God for Dad's safety in VERY Extreme circumstances.  So for me to Trust God for my children's safety in everyday circumstances is easy.  Just as dad wears safety gear and has safeguards for his missions.  I try my best to teach my children safety skills and prepare them for Life.  

Do I WANT to keep my kids right underneath me FOREVER? ABsolutely!!  DO I feel that is what God has called me to do? Unfortunately, NO.  (Your calling for the moment may be different, and that is Totally OK!  I am just telling you how I feel.  Take it however you want to, meditate on God's word and let HIM direct your paths.)  These are a few of the verses that give me comfort in situations of Fear whether it be for my husband, children, or the future (Especially since the election, lol). 

2 Timothy 1:7   For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Luke 1:50  His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

Psalms 40:3   He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him

Isaiah 41:10  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 John 4:13-21  This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (Perfect Love = Jesus)


Psalm 91 
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”