What God Sees

I'm writing this post with a very heavy heart. It is horrible how so many young people have taken their lives here in the past few weeks. And, let's face it, the reason comes down to they were "different". It doesn't matter how they were different, they just were.
But here is my question: Aren't we all different? The answer is a resounding yes! When I was young, I was teased because I was tall, overweight, and awkward. Gym class was more than my own personal bane-it was torture. The very wierd thing was, I teased other kids. You'd think that wasn't so, but it was.
I see it with my kids too. They have all gone through it. As a leader for several of their groups I've talked to these kids-known bullies and covert ones. They all agree it's wrong. They all agree they don't like it when it happens to them. They all give the right answers. Get out on the playground and it's another story.
Fighting back isn't an option. Then the bully-ee gets in trouble. Really? When we were kids and told the teacher, "So and so hit me," the teacher's response was,"Go hit them back." My sisters who are teachers say they can't tell kids that anymore. The thinking is that type of response breeds violence. I wonder if it doesn't nip bullying in the bud? It did when we were kids.
I've known teachers and principals who turn a blind eye and teachers who would watch their class while on the playground, in music, in art, etc. One such teacher told me she was stunned. And the bullying stopped in her class.
I don't know why teachers aren't more proactive. As a parent, I've said plenty when I see other people's kids misbehave whether I'm in charge of a group or a passerby. I truly feel as a Christian mom God expects it. To ignore it reminds me a little too much of The Good Samitaran parable. Plus, I'm the adult God put in that place at the time. Don't tell me He didn't have a reason.
When I think about God and bullying, I often see him putting his arms around both the victim and the bully. A bully bullies to feel power. They are insecure about something. And the victim is their target. I remember reading in my Bible that God sees man's heart. Man only sees the outside of someone. I wish we would all try a little harder to see people's hearts. Look for what God sees. The vision can be a real eye opener.