Growing Up Fearful

On Sabbath, Hope, Haven and I decided to go for a walk in the late afternoon. We didn't get very far, but that was all right because we stopped to visit at a neighbor's house. There are two small girls who live there. One of them is only a little younger than Hope. Her name is Idea and her younger sister is Image. They are very sweet little girls.

While the mother, Tik, and I talked together, the girls played in the yard. Tik asked if we had gone to the zoo or to the night safari yet. We haven't been to either one yet. Tik was very nice, and invited us to go with them to the zoo or night safari with them sometime. We enjoyed talking with each other. We visited together for almost an hour. Little Idea got bored and went inside to watch TV, and Hope and I said good-bye and thanked them for their hospitality in inviting us in.

After we arrived home, I started to think about the differences between how Thais raise their children and how we are raising Hope and Haven. Here in Thailand, the use of fear in controlling children is very prevalent. Parents sometimes scare their children into obedience by telling them that the police will come and get them if they don't obey. 

Also, with the spirit world so closely tied to the lives of the Thai people, children learn to fear the spirits and work to appease them from an early age. They are trained in believing that if they do the right things, including obeying their parents and honoring their elders, then they will avoid harm and injury. Fear is the basis for most behavior, even if it is concealed by Westernization. 

Please join us in praying for our neighbors and our relationship with them. Also, please pray that the love of Jesus will cast out the fear in the hearts of the Thai people. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.