by Staci Fletcher, JH/HS Math and Science Teacher and Core Member
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6: 10 – 13
As a teacher and a parent of two teens at Bios, I have the challenging task of wearing many hats on the campus. Just because I am a teacher on the campus does not exclude me from having challenges as a parent while my children are growing up. With one such challenge this past school year God was able to use it for me to hear some very wise and sound words via another gracious parent on the campus. The parent’s words addressed directly the verses written above. Those words resoundingly brought me back to my purpose for having my children at Bios. Those words have caused me to recognize my pride and what I think I can do for my kids and in turn, given them back to God.
Many would say my teens only attend Bios because I am just protecting them from the “real world.” And with that, I am only delaying the inevitable challenges that my teens will have to face when they do leave the “sheltered” community and I won’t be around to help them through them. Prior to this past year, I too would struggle with such thoughts that danced around in my head and had questions along those same lines I would occasionally ask myself. “Should I be protecting my teens this way? Shouldn’t I have them face all of the challenges and atrocities that 95% of other teens in our world face? Am I “protecting” my teens by keeping them at Bios? How will they ever learn how to face life on their own if I don’t let them face that life while I am here to help?”
Today, due to the wise words brought to me by the gracious parent, during a time of struggle with one of my teens, I can confidently say that Bios is NOT a place of protection for my teens, but more importantly, a place of preparation for my teens; preparation for the atrocities that they will inevitably have to face as young adults and beyond. My teens attend Bios because they are preparing for the unseen war that they will soon have to face on their own. My teens attend Bios because only the full armor of God can prepare them to fight the spiritual warfare which will be in full force once they graduate from high school. My teens attend Bios because they need preparation NOT because they need protection. Just like Moses and his 40 years in the desert, just like Joseph and his many years in Egypt before becoming a great ruler next to Pharaoh, just like Jesus and his 30 years of training prior to his ministry. We all need preparation for our fight “… against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Today, after working through that challenge, I am confident and am sure as a Bios teacher and as a Bios parent, my teens are being prepared for their fight and I am confident that God is behind all of those preparations every day of their lives and He is the one protecting them; not I.
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