And odd thankful Thursday

This morning, as I was preparing to post my regular Thursday thankful thoughts, I was distracted by the posts regarding Lydia Schatz.  On my Facebook and through my Google feed, I have been hearing about this case.  Tulipgirl, a longtime blogging friend, has posted about this issue.  Please check her blog out for other related issues.

Basically, the story is about a 7 year old girl who was beaten to death at the hands of her parents.  Her parents are followers of the teachings of Michael and Debi Pearl.  The Pearls advocate severe physical punishment for children as a way to make them perfectly obedient.  They advocate the use of slender plumbing tubing to chastise the child.  If you read some of the details of the story (that is, if you can stand reading about them), you will discover the extremes to which the Pearls recommend using such a device.  The really sickening part of all of this -- aside from the terrible, wrenching situation of a child dying at the hand of the parents -- is the way this depicts Christians and homeschool families.  It is a defamation to the name of Christ to use His name to excuse such treatment of a child.  Lord, have mercy on us.

So, what am I thankful for?  That I am not like those parents?  No, because, frankly, it could very well be me being led astray with such teaching.  There was a day when I was led astray by the teaching of another parenting guru.

I must admit to having a very hard time concentrating on my thankful thoughts after reading about this.  But I will tell you a couple things for which I am thankful:  I am thankful for moms and dads who really are biblically sound in their parenting, who seek the Scriptures for wisdom and instruction so that they can raise their children for the glory of God.  I am thankful that as Christians, we do not have to parent our children in the way that the Schatzes do.  I am thankful for the mercy of God.   I am thankful that I know parents who will refuse to follow the barbaric parenting methods that the Pearls advocate.

And I am thankful that even in the midst of a sad story like this, there are things to be thankful for.