Single Ladies: Beyonce for 8 year olds

At times like this I want to hit my imaginary "overwhelm" button that I have hidden here on my desk, somewhere under all these papers and books. 

Mothers, Dads, Youth Pastors, Pastors - are you watching this?  I don't even want to post the video because I think the photo is revealing enough and suggestive enough for you to get the full intention of this post.  Our culture is leading our young girls, even as young as pre-school, riding on a "long black train" that leads them to the middle of nowhere. 

When I walk through the aisles of Target and Walmart or see any of the store fronts in malls across America, one thing is clear: designers of children's clothing want to make them look like little adults.  That's fine and dandy if you want to put your little dude in a suit for Easter, or a dress for Mother's Day (I see many cute ones at the children's ministry door at church); but it is not ok if you want to dress your daughter in halter tops and string bikinis and high heels.  Since when did that become norm?

Vicki Courtney, a woman with an extensive ministry to moms and daughters, said this about the above picture (you can read the rest of it here on her blog):