another lesson on placing Christ in the center

From "Families With Grace in Place," Jeff Van Vonderen, pages 102-103:

Callie came home on the bus one day and said that bunch of kids were making fun of her. She was sad and scared, and wanted to find a different ride to school. In our talk with her, we acknowledged her feelings and supported her in her sadness. We also wanted to find a way to remind her to hang on to Jesus.
"Those kids sure are acting like you're not very special. When they treat you that way how do you feel?" we asked.
This brought tears, and we hugged her to offer comfort.
"So, on this hand, are the kids who say you are little and dumb," I said. "And on this hand, is Jesus. He says you're special, and capable, and if He was picking a team He'd pick you first. So now, you have to decide who you're going to believe."
Callie has had to decide many times whose voice she was going to listen to for her sense of worth. There is no doubt that, sometimes, like you and me, she has chosen to listen to the wrong voice. That is our fight of faith, ongoing--to resist the temptation to find our life in anything and anyone but Christ. But Callie is growing just as we are.
Let's face facts: Even if our children begin their own faith journey and choose to believe they are loved and accepted by God because of Jesus's work on the cross, it does not mean that other kids are going to be transformed into nice people. And it doesn't mean our children won't feel hurt when hurtful things are said or done to them. But we can stop trying to control behaviors and feelings, and focus on value and identity. Our eternal value and identity are settled because of Christ. . . . Let me say it plainly: Our job as Christian parents is simply to draw our children's attention to what is real--what is true--and not to try to control how they feel.