Children are under attack! YOU can protect them!
Recently, a 14-year-old middle school student pulled out a gun and killed his 11-year-old friend over a Vape Pen in St Petersburg, FL. Two lives were lost in a split second. This killing is just the tip of the iceberg. Child and teen firearms morality (gun violence) is now the leading cause of death for youth under age twenty which doesn’t include, drugs, mental health problems and suicide.
On July 13, 2024, in Butler, PA, twenty-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks decided to assassinate former President Trump. Why would a young man make such a deadly decision? Anger? Hate? Attention? Where were his parents when he was growing up?
Many young people don’t understand or have confidence in their inner power. Parents fail children when they don’t help them master their emotions, and immature youth often disguise their true feelings.
We need a national discussion about youth who act and look okay but harbor anger and hate.
Years ago, for the most part, children were polite, respectful, obeyed their parents, sat quietly, listened to their teachers, and understood they would be punished if they demonstrated bad behavior. In many schools, rifles were stacked in the classroom as gun practice was offer to kids after school. Gun violence was never an issue!
What changed?
Today, we hear horror stories about bullies, young and old, abusers, gang members, and killers. They can be triggered to harm innocent people if they feel powerless or life is not worth living. Violent behavior can happen when adults and youth lack any spiritual understanding of themselves.
Children who don’t get emotional support at home may not develop the inner strength to handle anger. Anger can fester into negative energy, ignite a false sense of power, and become destructive to everyone around them.
Young people seldom hear about adults who overcome depression or a crisis and succeed. God desires a healthy balance in our lives, so chaos doesn’t become difficult to handle.
As a crime and violence prevention specialist for 40 years, I saw the cycle of violence growing as spiritually immature adults “raised” a new generation of children.
If democracy and “we the people” are to be “revived, we must transform negativity into positive energy and action. There was an important reason for the motto, “In God We Trust” to be on our money, and posted on government buildings.
Spiritually unaware adults do not realize they are vulnerable and under attack, and their children are at risk. Since we can’t stop today’s violence, parents can pray for guidance, surround children with caring adults, and work with neighbors to create a supportive community. They can read a book on parenting or find a church environment that empowers families.
Years ago, it was common for adults to teach children the Ten Commandments and help them understand God’s power. Children learned how to stay spiritually balanced to protect themselves and knew right from wrong. When young adults don’t know how to handle problems, drugs can become a way to escape, which may lead to addiction and homelessness.
Youth can follow Satanic power, which turns them away from moral values as they become self-destructive and execute a plan to make other people suffer. Every day, we make choices! God-power gives us insights, patience, kindness toward others, and the ability to change, which helps us reach our potential.
Spiritually centered families can discover the inner power to find hope, and self-empowerment. Americans can enjoy safety and freedom again.
It is easy to recognize a genius like Albert Einstein, Leonardo de Vinci, and Shakespeare, but no one talks about the potential genius within every child. The definition of genius is “exception” to intellectual, creative power or other natural ability.” Every child is born with God-given talents. They have an imagination to help them think outside the box, intuition to enlighten them, insights to help them navigate life, instincts to protect them from danger, a sense of humor to help them survive, and a God-given conscience that can keep them safe and healthy.
Finding a healthy balance allows us to excel in life. “Geniuses have not done the primary work of the world. Ordinary people have done it with balance in their lives, who have learned to work extraordinarily.” Gordon Hinckley.
Spiritually centered, balanced people don’t become victims; they know how to empower themselves and help others as they discover a life worth living.
“If you discover balance in yourself, you will contribute immensely to the world.” Deepak Chopra.
It is too late for mass shooters, victims, and the would-be assassin of former President Trump, but it is not too late to reach out and help wake up American families. We will be safer and healthier when families become spiritually self-aware, and we empower children to discover God’s power. Let’s work together for safer families and neighborhoods that can expand love and peace in our communities.
Stephanie L. Mann, Author, Crime and Violence Prevention Consultant
