Teasing at school

Sometimes other kids really like you and want you to notice them. They want to "connect" with you, and so they tease. Sometimes girls do this to boys, and boys do this to girls.

But sometimes, teasing is mean. It's a putdown. And that can hurt.

So how do you deal with it?

You can know who you are. The Bible says that you're God's son or daughter. And so your identity is really spiritual and perfect. (No matter what it seems like you are.) Because God is your Father-Mother, you are intelligent, good, talented, worthy, and so on. You're all sorts of good things. That's how God made you. Nothing can change that. And, of course, that has to be true about everyone - all the kids you know.

You can also know that God has a purpose and a place for you at your school. You are God's witness, or God's representative at school. God needs you there to express kindness, intelligence, joy, strength - all of those good qualities. That's your work at school. Because you are doing God's work, it can't be blocked or stopped. Of course this is true for all the kids. Each of you has a special way to be like God. Each of you has a special way to be happy, wise, talented, loving, and smart. Each of you is important at your school.

So you might be asking, "What can I do about the teasing?" Thinking about what Jesus did can give you some answers.

Jesus faced tough situations. But he always knew what to do. God always showed him. Sometimes he got away from the trouble, sometimes he spoke tough, and sometimes he quietly healed, or changed, the situation. In a book that's about Jesus, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the author, Mary Baker Eddy, says that Jesus knew that God made us all, and that God was in charge of us all. So he saw this, even in those tough situations. Even when it didn't look like someone was God's son or daughter. And that always took care of things. Jesus was protected, or others were corrected and their behavior was changed (see pgs. 476-477).

You can probably do what Jesus did. You can get clear in your head that all the kids (and you, too) are God's sons or daughters. You can know that God loves all of you, and is always in charge of all of you. Don't be fooled by what your eyes and ears are telling you. Nothing can change what God is doing. So stick to what you know about God. Even if it takes some time.

There is a great message for you in the Bible. It says that God "... will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (Ps. 91:11). God has lots of angels, so even in school those angels are always with you. They will show you that you are always safe, loved, and guided. That you are never in danger, and that you can't be hurt.

God is always with you, and you can ask God to show you how to act in any situation. Then listen, and you will know exactly the right thing to do or say. Then you'll do exactly the right thing when kids tease.

Once, when I was in middle school, a group of us planned and did something really mean to a girl in our class. I don't even remember now what it was. But I do still remember God's correction. God showed me that what we'd done was wrong. I felt so sorry, and I apologized. I never did anything like that again. So I know that God is always showing us what is right, and how to be kind.

You can trust God to take care of you - and all the other kids, too.