FIGHT.

(This post was prompted by our sermon this past Sunday morning. Credit to Mark Pettus for the idea.)

My family moved to Alabama when I was 9. In the mid-80’s (sorry to disappoint all who thought I was 25), my dad took a $10,000 pay cut. That’s a lot NOW! That was a WHOLE LOT then. While I never realized that we were struggling to make ends meet or that my family received “commodities” at that time (translation: welfare benefits), I knew we didn’t have a lot of “stuff.” Jelly shoes were popular at the time and I’m thankful, because they were about $1 a pair. 

Also popular at the time were Jelly Bracelets. If you grew up in the 80’s, you KNOW you had those jokers going all the way up your arm. They were multiple colors and then they came out with black. You would trade bracelets with friends and loop them together to make neat designs. Again, this was the perfect time for this trend because they were cheap….and we didn’t have much money. 

Prior to moving to Alabama, I got my ears pierced at a little shop in the North Olmstead (Ohio) mall. I’m sure it was a similar concept to Claire’s today. All I know was…..I felt so grown up and proud when I put my little teardrop earrings in – because they were 14k gold! (Side note – how many of you ever made permanent teeth marks in something because you were trying to see if it was gold? 🤣🙋🏻‍♀️) These were special to me because they were bought in Ohio, transplanted to Alabama, and they were more costly. 

In 1984, we moved into an apartment complex so that we could get enrolled in school quickly. In Ohio, school starts after Labor Day. In Alabama, they barely make it to August before kids are coming back. I was coming in late to an already started school year and into an apartment complex with an already established hierarchy of friendships. It did not take me long to learn who called the shots. She was in my grade, she was smaller (shorter) than me, and she bossed everyone around like she was the apartment complex manager. At 9 years old. 

One day, I mentioned to a “friend” that I was tired of said bully acting like she ran the place and was tired of her telling everyone what to do. This kind “friend”

proceeded to share my feelings with the bully and then it all happened. With about three other girls in the complex with her, she confronted me. I told her the truth – that I was tired of her bossing everyone around. Her first response? Start making fun of my jelly bracelets. It stung. I didn’t have much but was proud of what I had. Then she reached up and slapped the side of my head…..knocking my 14k gold teardrop earring to the ground, hidden in all the leaves. After I dealt with the “my mom is going to kill me” thoughts, the fight began. 

Every kid in that apartment complex was circled around us within a few minutes (and there was only a method of communication at that time called “word of mouth”).  I had longer legs – so I kicked her a lot. She punched me in my left shoulder. A lot. I was crying. She was crying. I bruised her. She bruised me. After it was over….there was no more bullying. We actually became friends who played together. That only happened because SOMEONE had to stand up for what was right. 

What bully is coming after you? What person or mindset or lie is hovering around you, intimidating you to lay down, be weak, “just take it,” or compromise?

Ephesians 6 gives us great wisdom – and it’s not there by accident! Verse 10 implores us to be strong in the Lord. Verse 11 tells us to armor up and STAND against the devil’s schemes. Verse 12 tells us who we ARE NOT fighting against….and that would be people. Verse 13 tells us again to armor up and to STAND and to KEEP STANDING. Verse 14 tells us to STAND FIRM, Truth wrapped around our waist and His Righteousness shielding our heart. Verse 15 tells us to STRAP ON the shoes of the Gospel of peace. Verse 16 tells us to HOLD UP the shield of faith to defend the lies of the enemy.  Verse 17 tells us to PROTECT our minds with salvation and SWING the sword of the Spirit! Verse 18 wraps it up and challenges us to PRAY ON ALL OCCASIONS.

The bully is not after your jelly bracelets. 

He’s not after your gold teardrop earrings.

He is after your eternal security and your earthly purpose that are directly tied to your relationship with God. (All of the other things fall into that statement). 

When everyone is circled up for the fight, what are you going to do?

STAND.

KEEP STANDING. 

STAND FIRM.

STRAP ON.

HOLD UP.

PROTECT. 

SWING.

PRAY ON ALL OCCASIONS. 

Fists up! It’s time to fight! 👊🏼