Many of us "crunchy" mamas have probably encountered
this article entitled "Growing Up Unvaccinated" recently. In news feeds and on parenting sites, it has caught on like wild fire, traveling at light speed around the Internet reminding me of one of my favorite quotes; a lie can spread half way around the world while the truth is still putting it's shoes on.
So, what I want to do here is deconstruct this propaganda piece but not as others have done. Many have written brilliant blogs and articles about the holes in
this story which are big enough to drive a truck through not to mention the junk science, the fact that it's an
obviously falsified hit piece, and counter points of experiences
growing up vaccinated.
There's also the theory that Parker might work for the CDC and actually be
this woman.
The science on vaccines is there and easy to follow with the links I've provided or through independent research, that's not what I'm here to debate or even comment on. Nope, I here to talk about
how ungodly this piece is.
Most of us are getting so wrapped up in the vaccine debate and wondering if her story is true and if she really works for the CDC that
we are allowing a very ungodly and satanic notion to slip right by us.
The idea that it's entirely OK to publically humiliate and insult your parents online.
For the sake of Amy's mother and father I pray they are so "hippie" that they don't have an Internet connection and they have no idea what their daughter has said about them to millions of people online.
Now, whether or not you agree with Parker's premise or not I think we can all act from one HUGE assumption -
that her parents were doing their best.
Her mother
breastfed her for over a year, putting aside her own needs and desires to do what was best for her child and be on demand for her child's nutrition 24 hours a day. Her parents worked in a
home garden to provide fresh, organic food for their children. Both her parents
cooked literally EVERYTHING from scratch according to Amy - putting them heads and shoulders above average parents, including myself.
Whether or not these are the sacrifices you would personally make for your child I think we can all agree
her parents put in a lot of hard work and obviously
made a lot of sacrifices on her behalf.
Yet, she quite literally opens her hit piece by
calling her parents "nuts".
But she doesn't stop there. She goes on. A few more paragraphs down she
calls her mother a "freak". Once she has laid out her, uh-hem, story, she proceeds to
trash parents who don't vaccinate which means she is
calling down her own dear parents because, obviously, they didn't vaccinate her.
What insults does she throw? She implies that non-vaxers
don't teach their children love or compassion (so that means her, right? I mean she's the child of freaks after all). She calls parents like hers
cruel. She even goes so far as implying that vaccinating parents such as herself do not enjoy watching children suffer which means that parents who don't vaccinate do?
Do these sentiments sound like the thoughtful, kind and, above all, respectful words that a grown child should publically say about their parent? I'm reminded of the old saying;
if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
We didn't all have great parents. Some of us had horrid parents but
the Bible does not say to respect only those parents who deserve our respect (however we deem that to be earned). The Bible calls us quite clearly to respect and honor our parents, PERIOD.
Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “
that it may go well with you and that you may
live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
I think this quote could lead us to a reason, beyond vaccines, that Mrs. Parker may have had so many health issues...
Exodus 20:12 ESV
“Honor your father and your mother,
that your days may be long in the land that the
Lord your God is giving you.
Or was her HPV scare the modern day equivalent of ravens?
The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will
be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.
I guess it's a good thing we no longer play old school...
Exodus 21:17 ESV
“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV
“‘
Honor your father and your mother, as the
Lord your God commanded you, that your
days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the
Lord your God is giving you.
I certainly disagree with things my parents did or said while I was growing up. Some very passionately. Some things cause me great heart ache that I share with close friends but
never would I write such a piece as Amy's and
slam and insult my parents to
millions of people around the world.
My God has commanded me not to, it is a sin and frankly, even if you take God out of the equation, it's a nasty and awful thing to do.
Even when we
have really bad experiences with parents who perhaps were drug addicts or physically abusive we can certainly write pieces online that help others to understand how to prevent or combat abuse or how to help a child whose parents are on drugs
without resorting to name calling and publically shaming our own parents in such an unbiblical way.
But here's the good news! Amy, and indeed all of us,
are redeemed! Our sins, our disrespect, are
all forgiven! We can atone for our wrongs and still stay on the path to our
Father in Heaven through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
God loves Amy, He loves her parents and He loves her children. He loves us all.
