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A Warning to Mothers

2/21/2013

10 Comments

 
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In a generation filled with DVR’s and Netflix I have somehow missed an epidemic that is chasing after the hearts of our children. There is no doubt that our culture is sex crazed.  Anything that is self-gratifying rather than God honoring, our culture wants to teach our children that “it’s ways” aren’t all that bad. They desire to de-sensitize young minds to things that are barbaric and counter biblical. I have known this but there’s one way I hadn’t considered the urgent need to guard my children.

Yesterday afternoon at 4pm I was turning on the news for my grandmother. My children were sitting in the floor playing, and as I was talking to her during the commercials I looked up and noticed a HORRIFYING commercial. I can’t tell you which one it was, or what it was about, I can tell you what I saw in that brief moment but I was too busy trying to find the remote to turn it off.  

The Hardee’s commercial’s pushed the line and now companies like Go Daddy and so many others want to be as seductive as possible to sell their products. I have no idea how a mostly naked woman, taking her bathing suit off, while eating a sandwich and being ogled by a man sell’s a sandwich. But I guess it does or maybe the minds behind these products are so entrapped in pornography themselves that they can’t creatively think any other way. That statement is not meant as a slam it’s just the hard truth of pornography.

I don’t watch much TV and when I do it’s on DVR or Netflix so I have somehow missed how bad these commercials have become DURING DAYTIME HOURS!

Guess who hasn’t though - Our Children.

You know that stations like Nick, the HUB and any Disney channel beyond Disney Jr. accept billions of dollars to advertise to our children. I heard all about it from my children at Christmas. “Mommy I need this …Mommy I want that…”. Creating a seed in the heart of my children that says, I’m not complete or good enough unless I have…you name it. 

We don’t watch those stations at our house. But I worry about when my children are with their Grandparents who are watching the News or anything else on regular television - or even allowing my children to watch the children’s stations I just mentioned, because they think, “it’s just cartoons – how bad can it be”.  When the truth is just because it’s animated does not make it safe.

During the commercials is when I get up to throw laundry in the dryer or take a bathroom break, it’s not the time I consider safeguarding my children from the television. I had never considered the danger of walking out of the room and leaving my child unattended during a completely innocent show – because of the commercials.

What are your thoughts?
Am I the only one who hadn’t seen this til now?
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About Melissa

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Melissa Bradley is married with two small children.  She serves at a church plant in Hendersonville, NC. The passion of her heart is to live every day missionally. You can also find Melissa at Beautiful Mommy Feet, she and her husbands personal ministry page, a women’s ministry page -Radiance and on Facebook.

Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.
10 Comments
Kylee
2/23/2013 07:57:32 am

This is all too true! We've had friends who had to stop watching Wheel of Fortune because of the commercials. I find that even educational websites have ads that are not appropriate. And then, there's all the "great" books we read as kids! Many of them have things in it that young people should not be reading.

When you figure out the solution, please write another post! :)

Reply
Melissa link
2/23/2013 08:44:24 am

Kylee,
Haha, me too. I have no solutions, we're still learning via trial and error.
As for now what we've done is we allow them to watch things on Netflix. We have the safeguards on or they can watch recorded things from Disney Jr. Almost all of the Veggie Tales episodes are on Netflix :)
We've also started grabbing movies like "The Read and Share Bible" DVD's my children are 3 and 6 and they watch that or another DVD like it when we're settling down for bed.
Lifeway and other Christian stores have a ton of books for my children to read. When I was a teenager I wasn't allowed to read anything unless it was age appropriate and Christian based. My parents weren't Extremely strict, I completely understood that when i was a teen. And "Hello" I have yet to find a book series any better than the Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn!!! ;) I can't wait to introduce my daughter to those!!!
These are just some ideas we've had or what I've experienced thus far in this parenting journey. :) But I'd love to brain storm with you via email if you'd like. :)

Reply
J
2/23/2013 11:30:21 am

Yes, I think you are a little late, but I thank God that you have listened to the Holy Spirit showing you the dangers lurking in the airwaves. This is where the devour loves to lurk... and is very good at it.
Yes, the commercials are horrendous, and yes, our children watch very little TV. We MAY rent some from the library, mostly educational, but by and large, we must be VIGILANT.
Also, I would caution you in allowing your children to "Settle" in for bed by watching TV... filling their minds (acces to the HEART) with ANYTHING less than a pure book or the BIble Stories that God so deeply desires to be resting in their little hearts. There are many songs to sing, books to read, etc. Routine for night time here consists of the usual hygiene and books. Even my 6 year old, like Mama, is ver dicerning and can not (and desires not to) watch ANY Disney movies, as the ALL have elements of evil that provide enough graphics that can revisit them during sleep. The devil is very very crafty, and we must be back to basics.
I know, it is HARD in this modern world, but for over a year now I have taken a STAND against the enemy of the air and asked the Lord to show me what is pleasing to Him... and He is faithful. It is harder for us, but in the end, the reward and FRUIT is plentiful. Our children are our HERITAGE. With what do we wish to fill it?
We also can not allow them to stay alone at most relatives due to the TV. And yes, we even have a very popular theme park near us (that due to lower sales) has created a HallowSCREAM month-long event which is very alarming. Even the MUSIC on the tram to get in the park scared my 6 year old. Music, one on of the enemy's greatest tools, is used as well (even in many "christian" songs). BE CAREFUL, BE WATCHFUL.
You hit the nail on the head! Now, drive that nail in the enemy and seek what is "pure and lovely" as the Lord has commanded us. I always ask my daughters, "Is this something pure and lovely... something GOOD for our eyes (or ears)?" By age 5, my six year old was very aware of what what GOOD and NOT GOOD.
Blessings to you and Praise GOd that He has opened your eyes to see the slick ways of the enemy to reach our children. It is easy for him to do it, we must be watchful and do our part.

God bless you!
J
Virginia

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Symanntha link
2/23/2013 12:36:05 pm

Yes, commercials are awful at all hours of the day, except on PBS and Disney Jr. The ones that bother me are the horror movie ones. Have you noticed the ones where the kids have seizures because they are possessed?! Or where they are throwing up blood, or being pulled around in a pool of blood? I always push the 'back' button on our remote that flips the channel quickly to another station. I am far more concerned about my toddler son seeing a hurt child or scary demon than a naked woman, but when he is older the naked women will be a problem too.

Reply
Melissa link
2/24/2013 11:35:27 pm

Oh that's disturbing. No I haven't. It didn't even occur to me until the day that I wrote this post a month ago that it had been, easily years since I had actually sat through a commercial. We don't watch much television and when we do it's from whats recorded on DVR, so we fast forward them or Netflix. :)
Which is what I assume alot of adults do. I had never realized I hadn't been watching them or that commercials had become so bad during daytime hours.
Thanks for responding :)

Reply
Beth Jensen
3/5/2013 01:56:18 am

Hi, Melissa. You're not crazy. But it's time that we start expecting this from the world. As soon as you turn on secular anything, just expect you'll have to be hyper aware. I stopped turning on anything because no matter what station it was I couldn't sit there and filter it for my kids enough... or for myself for that matter. My kids will only watch movies that I've hand picked, watched, and reviewed. :) And I tell them why. It's a teaching moment for them (my kids are 4 and 6). I took my sons to the grocery store this week, and going through the checkout they saw a soft porn magazine right there in their face... Come ON! I can't even go to the grocery store without that nonsense being in my kid's face?! yes.
Steady on, sister. It's full-on battle out there. We can't control the world, but we can control what we bring into our homes.

Reply
Melissa Bradley link
3/9/2013 09:55:14 am

So True Beth. Oh my word it's everywhere. My son LOVES Superheroes right now, but I can't allow him to watch the cartoons because the women - in the cartoons created for 6yr old boys are in skimpy clothes boasting cleavage and major curves. Oh I pray for the Lord to guard the heart of my son as the world chases after it, even at this young age.

Reply
Amy link
3/11/2013 03:39:01 am

Melissa,

I have been singing this same song since my 2 girls were small. They are 13 & 10 now, and the things from the world seem to get more twisted all of the time, it's a constant battle we face.

I am so proud that you, as a mother, take this seriously. We have ONE chance to shape eternal choices in our children, and then they are gone, so it's important to make the most of the time we have with them.

I participated in a women's retreat using the material from Angela Thomas called When Wall Flowers Dance a couple of years ago. In one of her sessions she stressed how important it is to filter what comes into our homes, because our home needs to be a place where the Holy Spirit feels welcomed. If the Spirit is welcome in our home, then our children will know what that kind of atmosphere feels like, and then when they are place in an atmosphere where the Spirit is not welcome, they will feel uncomfortable and know that something is NOT right. They will at least know the difference.

Keep welcoming the Spirit into your home by denying the enemy access to it. God sees the battle you are fighting! I'm in the battle with you!

Reply
Melissa link
3/11/2013 11:14:17 am

Thanks Amy! It's such a challenge to filter - I can't imagine how hard it will be when my children get older, with cell phones, Facebook and Twitter and a whole host of "teen drawing" things I have yet to learn of. I'm not saying at what age we will allow these things or even if we will or how we will - I'm not there yet but that's what I'm learning now there are things I'm sheltered from - that I don't know about or haven't considered that are pursuing the hearts of my children. Being vigilant in the things that have the power to warp the tender heart of my children is my prayer.

I must check out that material btw :)

Reply
Beverly Powell link
3/19/2013 08:06:45 am

Hi Melissa,
Thank you for courageously stepping out to share with all moms-especially Christian moms of young children- on the subtle ways unwanted information can slip into children's minds. The Lord wants our children to be drawn to him at an early age, but guess what? The adversary does too. Your article was so informative! Thank you for encouraging parents on ways to be alert in regards to the inapproriate, outside influence their children might be getting...even through commercials. Peace and Blessings

Reply



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