Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. – Proverbs 4:23

Winter storm warnings create long lines in the grocery store and result in shelves bare of bread and milk.  At least, that is, in the south.  I have to admit I’m one of those who flock to the store when snow is promised.

While standing in line with all the essentials in my cart, on the heels of 6-8″ snow forecast, I noticed the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition on display in the rack next to the register.  My girls, ages 8 and 11 were with me.

“Why don’t you guys go look at the Easter candy display, while I wait?” I asked, eager to divert their attention from the magazine rack. (I’m strict on sweets, but for my girls, I’d pick a double load of sugar over what Sports Illustrated was dishing up that day.)

The Swimsuit edition has approached the pornographic line before, but this year the cover picture really crossed it.  Or, maybe, I’m just more aware and sensitive to what’s out there because my girls are growing up and I’m trying to teach them modesty and purity. What would NOT have been allowed years ago is tolerated in this age, because too few people have taken a stand AGAINST IT!  As a society we’ve become desensitized to nudity, provocative images, violence and a whole lot more.

I know I (we) can’t shelter our kids from the world forever, but to see so much skin displayed in a family type place of business was not acceptable to me.

After feeling unsettled all evening, I called the store manager the next morning.  My girls were already out playing in the snow.  I didn’t expect to get through to him; but, as you will see, the Lord clearly had gone ahead of me.

I explained how I felt about the Swimsuit issue and the concern I had about the message it communicated to my daughters and potentially others.  The manager was AMAZINGLY responsive.  He apologized and said that the magazine was actually not supposed to be on display by the register.  He even went one step further and said he would collect all the ones in the store and RETURN them.   WOW!

Praise the Lord!  This makes me wonder how many other times God’s light could facilitate change if we just STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, instead of accepting  things the world storms us with?

So, please be encouraged.  Take a stand for God.  Don’t tolerate things that insidiously wage war against Him, ESPECIALLY those things which have a negative impact on the hearts and minds of our daughters and sons.  Pray that God will trouble the waters of your soul enough to cause you to take a stand.