Oops, They've Done It Again
by Denise Morris on 12/20/2007 at 10:23 AM
Lynne Spears (mother of Britney and Jamie Lynn) is writing a book about parenting. Apparently this book has been put on hold ... indefinitely. The publisher declined to comment about why, but I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that Britney Spears is constantly in the news for her antics, and now 16-year-old Jamie Lynn has announced that she's pregnant by her boyfriend.
Maybe it's a good idea to wait on the book.
Although it doesn't directly affect me, the situation with the Spears family is disheartening. I don't know why these kids turned out the way they did, but there's certainly room to speculate. Both Britney and Jamie Lynn were entered into show business at a young age. Not all childhood stars drive on the freeway with their children in their laps or get pregnant at age 16, of course. But everything I hear about Britney lately seems to indicate that she has serious problems, and now her sister seems to be following along.
This is not to say that those raised under the best conditions always make wise choices either. It looks as though the shooter who killed people at YWAM and New Life Church was raised in a Christian home. I know rebellious people who grew up knowing what the Bible taught and how to live lives that were glorifying to God.
There doesn't seem to be any foolproof way to raise kids. Although I am nowhere near being a parent yet, hearing stories like the Spears' just makes me realize that once I have children, I need to be in prayer for them every single day.
All of us make our own decisions. Britney has chosen to become a partier. Jamie Lynn chose to have sex. Matthew Murray chose to take the lives of innocent victims.
I can only hope that my life will be a model of mainly right choices to my children, and that they will choose to follow in those footsteps.
Right now, I must try my hardest every single day to model what it means to love Him and love others -- and continue that into parenthood. I think I'll try that and maybe skip Lynne Spears' parenting book.
1. Chrystal said the following at 10:40 AM on Dec 20:
Of course this article makes me want to know all the gritty details of the two women it discusses, but when I pull myself up out of the gossip mire, this thought hits me: why not pray for them? Pray for their salvation, healing, and that a 360 degree miracle will happen in their lives? Why not pray for their entire family-- babies born and unborn, included? What a responsible, beautiful, LOVING action that anyone can do for a hurting family (and for America and Canada!). Jesus is big enough to handle us all!
2. Tami said the following at 10:44 AM on Dec 20:
Not to bag too hard on the Christian publishing industry... but I hope this is a tip for them that they should be a tad more discerning about who they sign as authors.
If the only reason they signed Lynne Spears to write a parenting book is to earn money off of Britney's name (and controversy), that's pretty sorrowful.
It also (sadly) says a lot about their perception of Christians' taste in books.
3. Ted Slater said the following at 10:55 AM on Dec 20:
To keep the ensuing conversation from getting too off-base, please take a minute to read the following article before commenting: This Article is Not About Paris Hilton."
4. Carrie (the original) said the following at 11:11 AM on Dec 20:
I tend not to advertise my blog too much, but go ahead click on my name today. I didn't say anything too profound, but gave my two cents nonetheless.
5. Denise Morris said the following at 11:13 AM on Dec 20:
Chrystal,
Excellent comment. Usually when I see sad stories like this (I remember hearing of Anna Nicole's death) I just feel sorry for them and lift them up in prayer.
I was actually thinking about this last night. My friends and I were driving down the freeway discussing this issue and I just realized that Britney Spears can't drive down the freeway with her friends without a million people chasing her and trying to get her picture. It must just get overwhelming, and if you don't know the right way to cope it must be so difficult.
Anyway, I agree that we must lift this family up!
6. Louise said the following at 11:22 AM on Dec 20:
Here's a 2005 article that might be of some interest to those on this blog:
http://hugoschwyzer.net/2005/04/15/britney-and-bethany/
7. Pastor said the following at 11:25 AM on Dec 20:
As one who pastors a church near where the Spears girls were raised I have heard a few comments from those who know the family. I do not know the family, however.
I understand that the father and mother of the girls are divorced. We know that often has a great effect on how children turn out. I also understand that the mother pushed the girls into show biz. It seems that was her dream for her kids. Well, now they're there; but at what cost?
Yes, please pray for them, and pray for a grandfather who is reputed to be a faithful Christian and must grieve deeply over this.
May we all remember how we need to be faithful in all things both to, and before, our children and our LORD.
The Pastor
8. Sylvia said the following at 1:05 PM on Dec 20:
I apologize in advance if I am wrong, or if I am thinking about another event, but, wasn't Britney driving on a long private driveway with her child on her lap, as opposed to the freeway? If this is the case, it would be, while far from ideal, something a lot of good parents would have to admit to having done at some point.
I know this point being valid won't make the Spears' a healthy family, but I hate the way the media plays up smaller incidents and adds them up to try to create a certain image of an individual in the public eye. I want to be extra careful not to play into that.
9. The G said the following at 3:10 PM on Dec 20:
180 degree miracle.
360 degrees is better for baking :)
10. Samuel PG said the following at 3:54 PM on Dec 20:
Chrystal,
I appreciate your comment. Although celebrity gossip is tempting, I believe that we as Christians should resist that temptation and boycott those entities that make their money off of such gossip. Why don't we all choose not to buy those magazines driven primarily by celebrity gossip, refuse to watch TMZ and E!, and refuse to click the links to articles concerning celebrity gossip (the site owners and advertisers are very aware of how much traffic different articles generate). Gossip is a sin no matter who the subject may be.
11. Fred said the following at 4:07 PM on Dec 20:
Chrystal,
A 180 might be better than a 360.
12. Erin said the following at 9:59 PM on Dec 20:
I'm going to ignore all of the celebrity stuff and focus on parenting.
I too am not anywhere near being a parent, but as it's something I'd love to happen at some point it's something I pray about alot. I pray that God will be working in me to mould me into someone who will be a godly mother. I am already praying for the way I will parent. I spend alot of time with mothers at church who I think display biblical motherhood and learn from them.
Rather than judging other parents aound us, I think it's a good idea to atart preparing ourselves for what will be one of the most important things we can do, raising children to glorify God.
13. James said the following at 12:15 AM on Dec 21:
Chrystal,
Right on! Though it should be 180, not 360, still....it was obvious you meant a total turnaround. And I totally agree. Jesus saved the likes of Saul, Zachias, the 1993 WTC bomber, Jeffery Dommer, the lead guitarist for Korn, and myself among many other rotten sinners. It is NOT hard for Him to save the Spears family, and it is SO like Him to do such things.
So, right on! We ought to pray for them instead of wanting to know more sordid details and then decry their behavior. Not that we should endorse their behavior or be totally silent about it, but rather first and foremost go to the Lord with pleas to open their eyes to the Truth so that they may turn to Jesus and repent and be saved.
14. Kim Burkhart said the following at 9:57 AM on Dec 21:
Come on, pro-life friends. Jamie Lynn could have had an abortion and no one would have known. Taking shots at her pregnancy just makes us look bad.
15. charlotte said the following at 10:17 AM on Dec 21:
"...but there's certainly room to speculate"
erm...really?!
Is there really room to speculate when our sources of information are people who are, more often than not, paid to manipulate events in order to attract an audience? And to then summarise that our speculation holds weight, based on the evidence provided by the media?!
16. Hayley said the following at 12:02 PM on Dec 21:
I agree with Kim, she could have had an abortion and hid it. I'm glad she decided to keep her baby.
Also, I'm not sure this situation has anything to do with her being in show business, many sixteen year old girls (not on TV) get pregnant.
17. Hayley said the following at 12:19 PM on Dec 21:
To add to my earlier comment... what concerns me now the most in this situation is that Nickelodeon is considering doing a sex education special! Please, don't! Aren’t the youth of America confused enough!
18. Louise said the following at 9:56 AM on Dec 22:
The title of this blog post is misleading.
"They've done it again"....hardly.
The two children of the elder Ms. Spears were both conceived while she was married.
And yes, everyone, I'm not stupid so I know it's a play on a song title, but it is misleading nonetheless!
19. Justice said the following at 12:20 PM on Dec 23:
Not really sure why this is a surprise, it happens to spoiled brats where I live all the time
20. Jo said the following at 2:34 AM on Dec 24:
Like some of the other commenters I'm uneasy about this post... A lot of 16 year olds have sex. A lot of 16 year olds from good Christian families have sex. (To be fair, in the UK it's legal, but still.) I agree with those that have praised Jamie Lynn for keeping her baby, that's a really positive thing and a really positive message to send as well.
As for Britney, I get quite angry when I think of the magazines, the newspapers, the entertainment shows, who continue to gossip and joke about her as though her behaviour is trivial and entertaining when she clearly has very serious problems. We have a similar situation in the UK with Amy Winehouse. The press mercilessly perpetuates problems like this and and will point the finger at everyone else if the worst eventually happens. And the public of course laps it all up. I think as Christians we shouldn't be speculating, or encouraging such gossip by feeding on it as the world does. We should just be praying.
I can't comment on the girls' mother, a book on parenting seems inappropriate, but my heart goes out to the whole family.
21. Louise said the following at 11:56 AM on Dec 24:
There are some states in the US with a consent age of sixteen.
BTW, nice post, "Justice"...a real expression of Christian kindness!