With so many tragic stories involving children who have been bullied, it would be nice to hear about positive outcomes. Because the reality is that many people are able to overcome the challenges they faced as a victim of bullying.
I felt like this past weekend, I got to experience such a thing. It was the graduation of my 18-year-old son from basic training with the Air Force.
What you have to understand is that I witnessed a transformation. Gone was the shy, awkward teenager who always had trouble standing up for himself. Instead, I received my first hug in over eight weeks from a strong, confident young man.
My son became the victim of bullying starting in grade school; when I enrolled him in the 5th grade after homeschooling him until then. It became worse in middle school. And the really sad thing is that it didn’t just occur in school, it happened at church as well.
By the time he was in the 12th grade, most of the bullying had stopped. But what it did to his confidence had already taken root.
I used to worry so much about his future. He didn’t have much self-assurance or confidence. He doubted himself and didn’t think he could succeed at much.
Despite how much I tried to encourage him, the words of his bullies were painful reminders of what others thought. And they took over anything positive I tried to say to him.
Those who didn’t believe in him, who didn’t think he has a backbone, should have seen what I did. I always knew he had an inner strength that others couldn’t see. I was also very aware of the fact that he didn’t even know he had it.
But he found it. He discovered it through basic training.
Now the one who was bullied is ready to stand up for freedom. The one who was victimized is ready to defend his country.
He talks with confidence. He walks with confidence. He IS confident.
The bullies didn’t win. And I’m so glad he didn’t let them.
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