Shhhh…
Do you hear that?
Be really quiet.
Don’t move.
Shhhh…
Can you hear it now?

No, you can’t. Don’t pretend to hear what you can’t understand. You don’t hear her. You don’t hear him. Because now. It’s not your problem. The girl that everyone told to go kill herself, jokingly of course, just attempted to take her life. The guy that everyone told was worthless and would never amount to anything, is standing at the mirror, questioning his own life. Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year. Now, before I lose your attention because you don’t think this is serious. Wait. You thought it was just a joke. She actually thinks she needs to die. And he doesn’t know why he needs to live. And you thought it was funny. You said it jokingly right? But she knows you meant it. He is starting to believe what you say about him is true. But what we don’t know. Is that we can’t hear. You can be as quiet as you want. But you will never hear her cry. And you will never see him break. So what’s it matter? You don’t hear her cry. You don’t feel his pain. You don’t go home and cry. You don’t go home and wish for it all to end. You never care. But, what if? What if one day she doesn’t come to school? What if he never returns? Great right? You don’t like her. You can’t stand him. She’s fat, remember? They should both kill themselves, remember? What now? She did. He did. Did you know that 14% of students consider suicide due to bullying and almost 7% take an attempt? Now that you know that are you really going to make another person feel like that?

We tend to “pick” on people for things they do. The way they dress. And even how they act. The way she wears her hair. The brand of socks he wears. The kind of music she listens to. The friends that he has. Why? Some people are afraid to show people who they really are. And you tear them down. For some people, it takes courage. Some people, never gain that courage due to you. Due to us. Due to the fear of someone making a rude comment on who they really are. Some almost trying to demean who they really are. And no one has the right, the means, the place, or even the authority to demean someone’s feelings of who they are. That’s a right no one should ever take away.

We need to close our hatred and open our hearts and be a friend. How would you feel if you came home from school. Walked down the hall to your bedroom. Closed the door. Walked to your bed. Sat there and cried mutely. No friends. No one to tell. No one person to pick you up from your lowest. How would you feel? And we are all deaf? No, we are quick to judge and never listen. How can we hear what we don’t understand? Rise against bullying and be quiet with a tender heart. Show a person to Jesus and be the friend someone needs. So now. Open your ears, close your hatred, and shhhh…..