An Australian newspaper (The Daily Telegraph) recently reported a very unusual wake up “call” for a mother. Apparently this mom was woken up by the hissing of her cat and discovered that a 6 foot long python was wrapped around her two year old daughter’s arm. The baby was sleeping in the same bed with mom.

Horrified, the young mother tried to grab the snake by the head but in the struggle, the 5-10 year old python managed to bite the child three times on her left hand. The baby was treated at the hospital and released with no permanent injury.

Animal experts said that the snake’s “snuggling” was a natural attempt to find a warm place to rest. Apparently under their bottom jaw there is a row of sensors that enable them to see infrared pictures. In the darkness of the bedroom, that snake was just looking for a warm spot.

Regardless of how “natural” it might seem in the animal kingdom, walking up to see your child surrounded by any kind of snake would terrify all mothers!

I couldn’t help but equate this news story with a real live occurrence at school this week. It seems that our kids found yet another way to explore aspects of social media and it wasn’t in their best interest to do so.

As we alerted moms and dads to this “new” danger, I couldn’t help but have a mental picture of that snake in my mind. There are just so many ways our children can become entangled with garbage through the internet: surfing inappropriate sites, viewing filth, exchanging information on social media platforms, posting revealing pictures, communicating with strangers etc.There are electronic “snakes” everywhere!

As caring Godly adults, it seems like we have two basic choices in this battle for the hearts and minds of our kids. We can box them up in a plastic bubble that does not contain any kind of media (radio, TV, movies, internet) and no devices of any kind (smart phones, computers, tablets, iPad, iPod, iTouch, iAnything) or, we can arm ourselves with the insight needed to enhance our diligent oversight of their electronic world.

Parents, maybe this week is a good time to pause and reflect on your electronic supervision of children in your home. Do you understand what is available to them? Are you on top of the ways and means they exchange information with their friends? Do you regularly review their on line conversations? Do you openly discuss the electronic world with them?

And if you don’t have children in your home, now is a great time to stop and pray for those who do. Partner with some parents in your church, pass along good articles, share information and encourage them to remain diligent. Nobody wants a snake in their bed!

By His Grace and for His Glory,
Sherry L. Worel