Do It Afraid

By Patty Craig

Hi, my name is Patty Craig, and I got saved at the end of February, 1994.

At that time, I was a single mom with a 12-year-old daughter named Lilly and two sons: David, who was 4 years old and Christopher who was 3 months old.

When David was in 4th grade, the school’s counselor initiated an after-lunch program for his class called Compliment/Complaint Sessions. During the first session at the end of October, one classmate who wore a rosary around his neck complained that David was praying over his lunch. Now, this was David’s prayer at that time: “God is great; God is good; Let us thank Him for our food.” He was not saying it loudly or making anyone else repeat the prayer with him.

At that session, the teacher told David that he could not pray over his lunch out loud; that he could only say a prayer his mind. David came home that afternoon and told me that he could not pray over his lunch anymore because he had been told that he was not permitted.

“Those people are wrong,” I told him. “You most certainly can pray over your lunch. That is your First Amendment right.”

During that time, Pastor Warner had preached a message during which he said, “Do it afraid,” and that phrase stood out to me. (Sorry, Pastor Warner, that’s the only part I remember.😊)

About one month later, just before Thanksgiving Day, David came home and told me that they had another Compliment/Complaint session and that the same boy complained again that David was still praying over his lunch.

“David, you cannot pray out loud at school,” the teacher told him.

“My mom said that I can; that it is my First Amendment right,” he replied.

“No, David, you may not pray out loud at school,” she said.

David came home and told me that the teacher had forbidden him to pray out loud again, and God said to me, “This is where you make your stand. Do it afraid.”

“Okay, God,” I said, “I will obey You and do it afraid.”

Needless to say, I felt very intimidated by the whole idea of confronting the school staff who all had college degrees while I only had a high school diploma. Nevertheless, I went to the school to speak with his teacher.

As I sat down, I noticed that she was wearing a cross necklace. Do you even know what that represents? I thought. But I had to stay focused. I was there for a purpose: to address the issue with David praying for his lunch.

I told her that the First Amendment protected David’s right to pray over his lunch out loud; that he did not need to just say a prayer in his mind.

“You will need to speak with the principal,” she said.

As it turned out, the principal agreed with the teacher that David couldn’t pray out loud at school.

“You are violating my son’s constitutional rights,” I said. “I will be getting a lawyer.”

In late August, Cheryon Unruh had mentioned having some business cards for a lawyer who stood up for students whose rights were being violated due to their Christian beliefs. I called her and she gave me the phone number. Thank you, Cheryon! 😊

The lawyer was based in Florida. I called and explained what was happening with David.

“I will contact the school and then get back to you,” he said.

He wound up having to make four separate phone calls. First he called the principal, who referred him to the superintendent. The superintendent referred him to the Sunnyside School District lawyer.

“I need to look into this,” the District lawyer said. “Call me back.”

When my lawyer contacted him again, the Sunnyside lawyer conceded that David had the right to pray over his meal out loud at school.

“May I speak to David?” the lawyer asked when he called me with the good news. “My wife teaches 4th grade at a Christian school and I am very proud of him for making a stand.”

“Of course,” I said, passing the phone to David.

“David, I want you to know that the First Amendment not only gives you the right to pray over your lunch,” the lawyer said. “You also have the right to hand out flyers inviting others to church events and you also have the right to tell others about Jesus – just as long as you do not force them to take the flyer or to listen to your witness if they do not want to. And be sure to pick up any discarded flyers you may find on the ground.”

I thank God that we won that battle and that David’s faith was strengthened. There would be many other issues at that elementary school that my sons and I had to deal with over the years and, yes: at times these situations did cause me to question myself and the stands we had to make.

But I knew it was the right thing to do to support my children and strengthen their testimonies.

When the boys were in high school, I went to pay the rent one day and found that the bookkeeper in the office at our apartment complex used to work at the elementary school where the boys had attended.

“I want to let you know I really feel bad about the way your boys and others were treated,” she said. “Christian students were often singled out there for bad treatment.”

What a shame that the people who are supposed to protect our children are behind some of these assaults on their faith. God showed me that day that the issues that I faced at that school had made a difference; that the battles that we fought there were validated in that we had at least made an impression on this one lady – and hopefully, on others.

Mom, Dad, you have a place in this battle, too. Most importantly, listen to God and listen to your children. Stand up for them when it is the right thing to do, and teach them to stand up for their faith. By doing so, you are passing on courageous faith.

If you have to make a stand, do it – even if you have to do it afraid.