Kids need to be taught what to fear. I saw such pictures also when I was a kid. When I was about 19 I saw another picture actual footage of many brave men getting killed in the line of duty fighting one of the worst shipboard fires in the history of the U.S. Navy. It was required viewing. It was very graphic and uncut. Once you saw it you understood what happened and how to prevent or limit it from happening again. I saw that film a half a dozen times as I was also an onboard fire fighter.
I've read the Bible since my early childhood. Although at times I have strayed from it I still believe in the Gospel and try to live in The Word. OK here's my point. All Christians know and understand Christ was nailed to the cross as most of us have read it many times over. Yet seeing it enacted in a movie like "The Greatest Story Ever Told, Jesus of Nazareth, or even The Gospel Road, reminds me in a way words can't of the reality of His pain and suffering. It's not something I would do every day as the mind can become desensitized to such but once a year is or so is healthy.
Kids at a certain age need to be told and shown the truths of life for their own sake. A kid at age 12 should be shown the abortion pictures. Do so just as a preacher from time to time still needs to preach about hell and eternal damnation although many now days don't. I survived many a sermon on that matter as a child. It gave me something to fear and to think about even now in my 50's.
Great post!
I can find NOTHING to object to in your post, honestly. I can find much in common with your feelings, too. I have decided the same about the necessity of seeing them at some point... Once my four daughters each reached the beginnings of puberty, I covered that all with them, and more as they grew up (We home-school so it’s like my “job” as well as my responsibility as their mother, and at least they don’t have to sit through any boring or embarrassing “health classes”, either! LOL)
In a couple months birthday-wise the count will be 3 teens and 1 pre-teen — pray for my husband and I! LOL (No, seriously... especially my husband. :) )
All of my children are Pro-Life, just like I was/am. For that I am very grateful.