If we were having Check In right now the question this week would have been an easy one. Does a parent back their kid no matter what? That is the incendiary way ask it I realize. The other way to ask the question, the way that was in the news all week, is “Can a 15 to 20 year old really be evil? Or is it just the manifestation of terrible parenting?
You know what I’m talking about. 4 Chicago youths torture a special needs boy. It’s horrible. It is disturbing. But it is normal for Chicago. 12 people get shot every day in Chicago. Since 2001, Chicago has experienced 7,916 murders (as of September 06, 2016). The number of Americans killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was 2,384 and 4,504 respectively since 2001.
Good Lord… Chicago is literally the most dangerous place (for Americans) in the world.
I don’t know the cause of the Chicago problem and I don’t really even want to hear your view of the problem or solution. What I am trying to figure out is … What if that was my kid doing the beating the torturing? Would I be the Columbine shooters parents and go down the … “I had no idea. He is a good boy” path? Would I be blind “No matter what you say my boy didn’t do anything wrong” parent? Or would I be the “Son did you do it? Then you need to go pay for what you have done” parent?
God forbid I ever have to answer for a truly hanus act of any loved one of mine but I wonder since my brain went down this dark path today… what does God, the Bible, or Jesus have to say about terrible situation where you progeny have deeply and irreparably harmed others?
I am guess this answer is going to have a lot of… 70 times 70… remove your own log… narrow is the path… statements in it.
I wish we were meeting in a couple of days to kicks this one around? Until we do… keep asking the big questions and praying for the small answers.
TD
