Top 5 Ways to Stop School (or any) Drama

*Note from Lori: This post was written last March, but I thought it might be good to post it again. Unfortunately, many people (young people, old people, and in-between) seem to thrive on drama. This post is directed towards the younger population, but it also is for people my age because WE are the PARENTS. We're the ones responsible for the youngsters. We're the ones who are supposed to be teaching them right from wrong. We're the ones who are supposed to be the examples. So, parents....be INVOLVED in your child's life - every aspect of it. They NEED you and they NEED you to be the adult and example in their lives!

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Drama is most likely in every school - with some schools worse than others, with some classes worse than others, and yes, with some students worse than others. With raging hormones, life changes, and peer pressure, (and, okay teens, I'll throw in the overwhelming-at-times-homework for you! :) the drama often escalates to record highs in no time.

So, how is it possible for someone to rid their lives of the drama? Well, here is my top five list to do just that:

1. Don't Gossip
All drama - no matter what and without exception - would be completely done away with if everyone would watch the words they say. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But, we all know that it's not. The tongue is one of the hardest things to control. The Bible says so! In fact, the Bible says we can't control it on our own. That's where God's Spirit comes in. We have to have His help to stop the tongue.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.

James 3:5-8

2. Limit Texting/Facebook/etc.
Now, before you scream out at me, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! I COULD NEVER DO THAT!", please hear me out (and remember, if you scream, I can't hear you, anyway :). I'm not saying to never text...never be on Facebook. If I did, I would be a hypocrite. What I'm saying is this: Make up your mind that you will NEVER, EVER, EVER text or talk about someone else via any form of social media, or phone, or computer. Decide that you will never use those devices to talk about anyone else again.

Think of all of the conversations you've had with others, just today. What were they about? What did you think about? What was in your heart? Now, would you want your parents to read your texts? (some parents do keep tabs in that way and good for them!) Would you want your grandparents to see your chats on Facebook? Well, someone more important than any of those people sees and knows everything you send, take pictures of, look at pictures of....everything you think. That person is God. He knows all and sees all.

Remember the old saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all"? Keep that saying in your mind, along with the scriptures below.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13

3. Pray
Every day, take the time to pray. Actually, many times during the day, take the time to pray. But, at least once a day, pray for those who you don't really like. The Bible tells us to love one another. That means everyone - as hard as that may seem. But, sometimes we don't like other people. Maybe we secretly want them to fail. Maybe we want them to suffer. Well, think about it this way. What if someone wants you to fail? What if someone wants you to suffer? How would that make you feel? I wouldn't like it, would you!? So, make up your mind, first of all, to pray for that one person - or maybe there is a whole group of people - you need to pray for. Pray for them. Pray specifically. It's even okay to pray like this: "God, please help me to like so and so." God will listen! He's ready to listen!

Secondly, pray for yourself. Pray that God will soften your heart, and that He will help you will find something good in that person. Pray that you will be kinder to them or that you will not be mean to them.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:43-44

4. Obey Your Parents
Okay. I know what you're thinking. "How does obeying my parents stop school drama?" I'm so glad you asked! By obeying your parents, you are submitting to them. Submission is yielding your will to the will of someone else. In other words, instead of you getting your way and you getting to do what you want to do, you will be doing exactly what your parents want you to do - without complaining (yep, there's the catch.).

So, how does this obeying help drama? By learning submission to your parents - in the home - you are actually learning an even bigger lesson. You are learning to obey those in authority - such as teachers, principles, other adults, but you are also learning to submit to others your own age...such as classmates and siblings.

Maybe you do obey your parents. Maybe you just need to work on obeying the other adult authorities in your life. Then start there. When an adult - such as a teacher, principal, maybe a guardian - tells you something. Make it a point to be quite. Just listen to them. Don't talk back. Don't argue. Don't complain. That's what's going to (or should) get you in trouble and add to the drama in your life. Learn to zip your lips! :) Trust me. It will make your life a lot less drama-full!

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Colossians 3:20

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 (this is talking about in the home)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.

Hebrews 13:7 (this was written to the early church and speaking of their leaders)

5. Serve Others
Find a way, each and every day, to do something good for someone else. (I don't mean do someone elses homework or let them copy it off of you, okay??!) Do something nice. Be polite. Be friendly. Show each other that you care. If someone drops something - any of them, not just certain ones - help them pick it up.

Offer to help the teacher. Not to become the teacher's pet, but to truly help them. Write a note, email or text (NO, NOT IN SCHOOL! You're not supposed to have your phone in school, remember???? Yeah, I thought so!) telling someone they did a good job. Or even better - TELL them FACE to FACE in PERSON that they did a good job! Bring the school secretary, the principal, the cooks, the cleaning ladies, the teachers a little gift to show that you appreciate them. Not that they need a gift or even want one, but that just to show that you care enough to show them and to tell them.

Jesus was the greatest person and the only perfect person to live on this earth. He was the Son of God. People made fun of him. People spit on him. People beat him. Then people killed him. I'm fairly certain that nothing you will go through in school will compare to that. Yes, something could happen that was bad. Of course, that is possible, but, Jesus humbly obeyed His Father and willingly died on the cross for YOU. But, even with all of that and actually, even in all that - Jesus was being a servant. He was doing for others. Make up your mind to do for others, as well. Every day of our life.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

So, what do you think? Do you think these things would work? What else would you add to the list?

Why not give it a try?