"When Words Wound, Love Must Speak"

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." – Proverbs 31:8-9

Dear Christ Church Family,

As adults, we often talk about protecting children. We want them to be safe, happy, and free to grow into who God created them to be. And yet, sometimes we forget that children are like sponges—absorbing everything around them, the good, the bad, and the in-between. The problem comes when they repeat negative behavior, often reflecting what they've seen, sometimes even from adults.

This reality hit home for me as my son started a new school year. On only his third day, he faced hateful words from a classmate. Last year, a similar incident had occurred before his birthday, and the teacher addressed it with the boys involved. What struck me this year was hearing the hurt in his teacher's voice as she called to tell me what happened. She immediately expressed disagreement with the boy's sentiment and would convey the same thing to his parents. She was thankful that my son felt safe enough to approach her and had already addressed the student, and would also call his parents. I expressed my gratitude for her care and action.

When I picked him up, I asked how his day went. He first mentioned a minor disagreement with a female classmate. I knew there was more, so I told him, "I know there's more, so I can tell you what I know or you can tell me what you know." Then, "If you're worried I'll get upset, it's not about my feelings—it's about yours. My job is to look after you and your heart." Then he shared what a male classmate had said to him. The boy taunted him about our family. Even after that, he still called him his friend. I reminded him gently that someone who treats him that way is not truly a friend. I also reminded him that cruelty is never an excuse for cruelty in return. We should respond with kindness, even when it hurts—but I acknowledged that sometimes it's really, really hard.

This lesson is reflected in our community today. Many have expressed hate toward a trans teen in Schaumburg/Palatine High School, rallying to block their participation in sports. Others have stood to defend this teen, recognizing that they are, above all, a child—a child of God, someone's child. And it's adults who are expressing the hate.

The reality is that less than 1% of high school athletes are transgender, yet the fear and anger directed at them are wildly outsized.

Proverbs reminds us: speak up, act justly, and defend those who cannot defend themselves.

As a church, may we live this out. Let us model kindness, empathy, and justice, showing that our faith is not only in words, but in how we live.

In faith and action,

Rev. Gilbert