Where Are the Mothers?

One morning I had a bit of a cold so I stayed and snuggled in bed for a bit longer and notorious reader that I am, I grabbed the nearest magazine off my nightstand and found myself reading through a lengthy article entitled "Too Sexy Too Soon" in Family Circle's December 2008 issue. The article was written by, I'm assuming, a non-Christian mom who's daughter had asked for a bra at the age of seven to be like her lovely friends at school.

She also pointed out how young daughters idolize pop culture as she narrowed in on a few trendy names like Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) , Cheetah Girls, and Bratz dolls and how these impressionable daughters imitate older girls and act more sensual (through dancing) and dress more seductively than their own age. (BTW, if you do a google search on the names above as I did, be prepared to brace yourselves to see who is leading the way for young girls today--girls as young as 5-10 years old are fans to these).

I couldn't have agreed more and then was even more astonished because a few pages later in the same magazine there was the latest advertisement for a Barbie movie, I couldn't believe what she was wearing. I was saddened to see it all go this far...what will it be like for the next generation of girls?

But my greater question that was sadly running through my mind is---where are the mothers? And the fathers? And even more so---the discernment? Do we not know if we put these types of 'teen idols' in front of them that they will mimick them?

Harmless, is the cry of the masses--why, don't you remember being that age? Indeed we do, we remember the heartbreak, the brokenness, the trading of our souls, the stolen innocence....all while we were being raped of our purity---what is there not to remember? That is even more the reason why we need to fiercely protect our children from the massive onslaught of the media and culture that finds pleasure in attacking and violating the helpless naivety of the young.

Now if you are a mother reading here today that has been allowing your daughter to engage in the likes of the people mentioned above, I want to greatly warn you of the dangers of allowing your precious children to 'keep company' with influences that will truly harm your children's lives. This is by no means to sound or be judgmental in anyway but with great love and admonishment that I plead with you to pray over and examine the decisions made over whom will influence your most precious treasure---your children.

Will they be the next generation that is strong and will fight for the Lord or will they be the generation that will succumb to this wasted world and be seduced by the devil and his cleverly wicked antics? Remember, what we put before them today will be a huge determining factor in the future of what they will become tomorrow and whatever a man soweth that is also what he will reap.

Finally, I'd like to add that there is a great need to pray daily for the 'teen idols' that are out there making a lasting impression on our youth today. We need to pray that they will turn from their wrong ways. We need to pray that they will turn to the Lord. We need to pray for a clear understanding of what their example is on others and its lasting repercussions of all parties . We need to pray for their parents that they would protect their children and use wise judgment. And most importantly we also need to pray God's love over them all especially for their salvation.

So parents, before you place anything before your child...

please think twice.