My mom used to call it “being the heavy.” That was when she had to be the one to be tough. For most women, I’d venture to guess, it is not the naturally desirable position to find ourselves in when it comes to dealing with people. We learn, though, that sometimes love demands it.
I just came away from having to “be the heavy” in my backyard. In addition to the usual couple of families’ worth of neighbor kids playing in my backyard–who already know the rules (shut the gates, don’t climb on the fences, no sticks, no stones, put your popsicle wrappers in the trash, no fighting)–there were some “new” kids out back, most of them upper elementary boys, by the looks of it. I am in the habit of watching when I see a group of four or five kids enter or go through my backyard. So, I watched as one came from the corner of the yard whose only access is over the fence. I watched as they swarmed the alley where it T’s behind the house; they were throwing what I could only guess were rocks. It all looked a little rough to me, so I decided it was time to go out and get things straight with this new crop of little friends.
Before I had a chance to speak, one of the boys whom I’d not seen before said, “I”m new,” and introduced himself….and, I’m very sorry, New Boy. I will have to have you repeat your name for me the next time you are in my yard. The only new name I can remember from tonight is “J.” who told me it was so because people can’t pronounce his name. So, it was not an impolite or nasty gang on the monkey bars tonight.
I talked to them like I’d talk to my own kids–in fact, I always say, “I don’t let my own kids ______________ in the backyard, and I will not let you either.” That seems to make an impact.
One would like to think that one is not responsible for training other people’s kids. However, if you’re a kid coming into my backyard uninvited, you have bought the right for to tell you what goes and what doesn’t there. I will treat you with respect, Kids, but I won’t let you get away with being disrepectful of property or person. (I do really believe that some of the kids think our backyard is a true park, and therefore, public. When I said something about them being on private property, one of the boys seemed really astonished and said, “They (the other neighbor kids) call this a park.” 
….)
I wonder if God ever sees “being the heavy” as mission?
