Christmas 2019 is just around the corner. Already, there are decorations; lights; trees; carols; shopping; presents; family; and somewhere in the midst of all that, the birth of Jesus. Over 2,000 years ago, although the exact year and day are uncertain, this Jesus was born of a virgin in a remote, humble stable in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the prophesied lineage and birthplace for the Messiah whose birth to Mary was signaled by a star in the heavens and incredible news that was proclaimed by the angels to shepherds:
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10 – 12).
Just then, a multitude of the heavenly host joined that first messenger, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:13 -15).
Right now, he wants to make known to you this same good news. “Christ, the Saviour was born!”
Why did Jesus come to earth? This a very crucial question because a wrong understanding of why Jesus came will take us in all sorts of wrong directions. For instance, if we believe Jesus came to teach morals, then we might think his life was about ethics; if he came to fix the environment, then his life might be viewed as being about trees and plants, and greenhouse gases. If he came to model manners and good living, then we might think our Bible is like another one of those magazines that promote good manners.
We all know that was not why Jesus came to earth. The Bible tells us that He came to save his people from their sins (Mathew 1:21), and the wages of those sins – death (Romans 6:23). He came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). This is the reason for the season – to seek and to save the lost”. “The lost”, a term that means the same thing as “sinners”, are called many different things in the Bible.
In Romans 5, they are identified by several different words that all teach the same idea: ““For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us … More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5: 6 -8, 10)
On the cross, Jesus Christ provided the way of escape from death for people like Zacchaeus – a deceptive traitor and evil-doer; Saul – a Christian hater and murderer; John – a seeker of God; and YOU – in whatever category you fit; with whatever sins you have committed (past and present); in whatever shape you’re in; and with whatever baggage you’re carrying.
So, why won’t you ask Him to save you? Perhaps, you think you don’t need saving? Well, the Bible says the opposite – you do, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, you must act now. Right now. For God has appointed a day when His Son will come back to the earth, only, He will not return in the same fashion as His first coming.
This time, He will bring with Him all His glory; all His angels; all His power; in all His splendour and majesty. When He comes this second time, it will not be to call men to believe in Him for salvation. He is doing that work right now! No, when He comes this second time it will be for the purpose of judgment – to give to every man a reward.
Why don’t you turn to Him now? Repent now and be saved.
This month, 18 years on, the world will once again reflect on the September 11, 2001 bombings when Islamic terrorists used aircraft as deadly weapons to bomb the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States of America. Undeniably, evil was on show for all to see but the world rallied behind the US as it mourned the loss of thousands of its citizens.
Ten years later America responded. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda leader and the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 bombings during an early morning raid on May 2, 2011 (approximately mid-afternoon on May 1 in the United States). Though debatable, many felt it was justifiable for the US government to seek vengeance for evil perpetuated against its citizens.
But what about Christians? Do we believe that we have to fight evil on its own playing field? I say ‘no’, although I realize the vigilante spirit is alive and well in the church. As a result of sin, we retaliate against those who mistreat us, at times sanctifying our anger as righteous indignation. We behave as if we are wired to repay others for what they have done to us – to ‘return to sender’ the evil that was done to us.
One of the more radical biblical teachings about this is found in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Do we realize that by ‘doing good’, we are actually defeating evil? Yes. That’s because if we don’t follow Paul’s counsel, evil will spread. “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” When we do ‘good’ in the face of evil, it’s as if we are clearing a path to make redemption a possibility for someone else. Whether the person is changed or not is between them and God.
As Christians, our part is to never stop offering His goodness and kindness to our broken world. When we recognize how much the Devil wants us to play his game, we will also understand how acts of kindness and compassion throw a wrench into his most devious plans.
So how do we begin to overcome evil with good? What are some steps we could take?
First Step
I encourage everyone to think about the relevance of the Biblical teaching in Romans 12:21 in today’s world. Throughout the gospels, we are told that when Jesus saw the suffering of humanity, he was moved with compassion. While I am challenged by this, at times, I recognize that if I want to seek God’s Kingdom, then I must accept the values of His kingdom. One of these values is to overcome evil with good. Evil didn’t overcome Jesus, and if He is with us, we too will be over comers.
Next Steps
- Pray and Study the Bible
Having embraced Paul’s counsel, we need to seek guidance from God. This can be done through prayer, and Bible study. We need to get down on your knees and ask God for strength to follow His example. On the cross, He prayed for his enemies who persecuted him: “Father, for giver them for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Of our own, we can do nothing but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Studying God’s word is also important as it allows us to benefit from the examples of those who went before us. In the book of Esther, for instance, Mordecai’s arch enemy Haman made gallows to hang him on, but through prayer and fasting and Esther’s bravery, Haman’s plan backfired. He died on his own gallows.
King Saul also relentlessly pursued David, his successor to kill him, and although David had several opportunities to get rid of Saul, he depended to God to thwart the plans of the soon to be ousted king.
When Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and got him thrown into prison, he didn’t seek revenge. When His brothers’ sold him into Egyptian bondage, he didn’t leave them to starve to death but provided rations throughout the famine that raged the land. In the end he became second in command to Pharaoh and as he said, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20, N.K.J.V).
Now contrast David’s actions against Uriah when he rendered evil for evil. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and getting her pregnant, he tried to get Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba so he could pin the pregnancy on Uriah. When that failed, he had Uriah killed on the front lines. David’s household paid dearly for this treachery. His two oldest sons died violent deaths as a result. One of his grandchildren was raped, and 10 of his concubines were raped in broad daylight in front of the entire nation. His kingdom was taken from him by his own son who later died for his own treachery. In David’s case, his own son Solomon noted that when he repaid evil with evil, evil did not depart from his house (Proverbs 17:13).
- Follow Jesus’ Example
Jesus reminded the Pharisees that Satan cannot drive out Satan (Matthew 12: 25-28). Likewise, evil cannot drive out evil. An evil response only doubles the evil. Best of all, Jesus Christ showed us that it is indeed possible to love our enemies. As his enemies beat him and spat upon him, drove nails into his hands and feet, and tore away his clothes, Jesus prayed that his father would forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. “
In the same manner, he taught that we should: “Love our enemies.” “Do good to them which hate you.” “Bless them which curse you”, and “Pray for those who despitefully use you.” This kind of love may only be attained to by those who have experienced the cleansing power of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. When a person has been cleansed from sin, s/he allows the power of the Holy Spirit of God to control their lives. Then and only then will s/he be able to truly love the bitterest enemy. While, we cannot stop people from doing evil, they cannot force us to participate with them. It takes no power, might, or wisdom to retaliate against evildoers, but returning good for evil is one of the greatest demonstrations of strength.
- Claim God’s Promises
Jesus warned us that He was sending us as sheep among wolves. As such, we should not be surprised if we are treated wrongly or unjustly. Knowing that we are in a fallen world, it would be naïve to expect that we will be treated well. That said, we shouldn’t be discouraged from doing good to others for fear that we might be treated badly in return. We must keep on doing good to others as much as we can.
Jesus also knew we were going to feel overwhelmed by the brokenness around us, which is why He reminded us that He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Every time we confront evil with good, we are portraying a true picture of God’s character to the world. Until He returns, we must represent His kingdom and His ways on earth. Jesus fully understands what we feel, and knows how to comfort and encourage us to go on. Leave it up to God. He will fix it.
Here are a few promises to keep in mind when the going gets rough:
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
- “Vengeance is mine and I will repay it” (Hebrews 10:30).
- “Above all love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
- “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2: 16-18).
- Return Good with Good
When someone does ‘good’ to us and for us, we need to do ‘good’ in return. One of the best ways to be certain to follow this rule is to be very grateful for whatever good comes your way. Thank God for what He has given you and thank others for what they do for you as well. Do all that you can to repay everyone who does ‘good’ to you in kind.
You are walking along the street on a bright, sunny day and it’s following you around, tracking your every step. In the darkness, it says ‘good night’ and disappears. What is it? It’s your shadow!
A shadow is a dark shape that’s made when something blocks light. Wikipedia defines is as “a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object.” Take a look around and you will see any living or non-living opaque object that can block light can cast shadows – park benches and swings, trees, cars, tables, and you.
You must have a source of light in order to have a shadow, and the size of the shadow depends on the angle at which the light is falling on the object. Have you noticed how your shadow keeps changing throughout the day? Sometimes it’s long, usually in the early morning and the late afternoon; sometimes it’s short like around midday; and when the sun is overhead, there is little or none at all. As the position of sun changes throughout the day, the angle at which the sun’s rays fall on the ground also changes causing the length and position of your shadow to change also.
It’s been said that the Egyptians invented the first portable clock, the shadow clock – a complete Sundial, possibly the first of its kind – around 1500 B.C to divide their time more efficiently. Based on the concept that shadow length and position were different at different times of the day, this timepiece divided time in several chunks called the “hours”.[1]
Notice how your shadow seem to always chase after you? As the light source is moving, the direction that the light rays fall on the object also changes. This movement of light from the source makes the shadow move. This got me thinking about God and His unspeakable love for mankind.
God is the source of light that shines on us impervious, sinful human beings. As His light rays illuminate us, we are overshadowed by His love – a stubborn love that continuously chases us so that we are never alone. The closer we are to Him, the more we experience His love. As we go through life, we experience His love in different ways… just like shadows. We look forward to the time when His Son will be directly overhead, overseeing all the affairs of the universe as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Then His love and our love will fuse into one and there will be no shadow. In the meantime, let’s rejoice that we are living in the shadow of God’s love.
[1] http://kinooze.com/what-is-time/
As promised last month, my November blog provides some biblical assurances God has provided to help us change what we choose to think about and dwell on.
Inner transformation and sanctification can be accomplished in this life only if we are willing to do our part by fully cooperating with the Lord and claiming the incredible supernatural power of His Holy Spirit. I want to share some verses from the Bible with you to show you that God really does want to come after our thought life and to put right and positive-type thinking into our mind.
- God transforms us by renewing our minds
Consider the following texts:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1, 2).
“… that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 22-24).
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
All three of these verses use the words “renewing” and “renewed” in reference to our minds. Here God has given us an incredible, powerful, spiritual secret to sanctification that He wants to complete in each and every one of us. It involves mind renewal through God’s Word and by His Spirit on a daily and progressive basis.
- We are transformed by having the mind of Christ
Paul makes one of the most weighty statements in all of Scripture when he says “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
We have the “mind of Christ.” Think of the implications of this promise. As a result of having direct access to Jesus through the Holy Spirit – we have His mind, or put another way, we have His mind operating within us. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit imparts His thoughts and His ways of thinking directly into our minds. Not only do we have the power of the Holy Spirit within to clean up our thoughts, we also have direct access to His mind so we can truly learn how we should think and act.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul exhorts the Corinthians to “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” We are called to “imitate Christ” – to act the way Jesus acted. If we place these two verses side by side, Jesus is telling all of us loud and clear that He wants all of us to think like He thinks and act like He acts. He wants to become our perfect role model after whom we pattern both our inner life and our outer life.
- God has given us sound minds.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul declares “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. This text emphasizes three distinct words – power, love, and sound mind. God is telling us that not only can we get a sound mind from Him, but we can also get a mind that has a spirit of power and love in it. We just have to learn how to connect to it, believe it, and act on it.
One of the most incredible blessings that God has given us in this world is a good, clear, sound mind. If we are walking with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will move to impart this sound mind to you. If you are into memorizing Bible verses, I highly recommend that you add this one to your list.
If you look around, however, you will notice that many nonbelievers, and former Christians are not operating with very sound minds. All you have to do is spend a few minutes with those who lust after the materials and immoral things of this life and you will be able to quickly tell who is operating with a sound mind and who is not. Their lustful pursuits have caused their thinking to become distorted, warped, debased, and at times, downright unstable.
As a result of this deterioration in their minds, many have lost their marriages, the good relationships they had with their children, and some of their close friends. Some minds have literally deteriorated to the point where the individuals have taken their own lives.
No matter the challenges you may be forced to deal with, remember that we now have the mind of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit operating through us to help keep your thinking “sound” and “powerful.” This kind of mindset from the Lord is already in you.
- Our thoughts will be established by the Lord
Since God is all-knowing (omniscient) and all-powerful (omnipotent), He is the only One who has direct access to our thoughts. Demons and other people cannot read our mind or our thoughts. Praise the Lord! However, because God can read our thoughts – we will not be able to fool God or hide anything from Him. Many people are very good at hiding everything from those close around them, but God is always one step ahead of us.
There are two Bible verses that we should note. The first is Proverbs 15:26: “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasant.” This Bible text is telling us that God can literally read our “thoughts”; what’s in our minds – our unspoken words. Notice also, that the Lord uses a very strong word – “abomination” – to describe the thoughts of people who are considered really wicked and evil.
How many of us remember the BTK serial killer from the state of Kansas. When he was caught, he pleaded guilty to the charges that were brought against him. He also told the court and the rest of the world the horrific details of all of his crimes, all done while he was masquerading as a deacon in a Christian church. His evil and wicked thought life, which eventually led to his horrible crime spree, is a perfect example of what God describes as an abomination in His sight.
The second verse, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3) gives us another special promise. It says that if we are willing to commit our works to the Lord, our “thoughts will be established.”
If we are committing our works to the Lord, we are operating in full surrender with Him; and if we are operating in a full surrender with Him, the Holy Spirit will help us to establish our thoughts.
5. We Must Bring Every Thought into Captivity to the Obedience of Jesus
I want to end this discourse with one last verse from the Bible. It shows us that God wants us to take control of our thoughts i.e., what we choose to think about. The verse is 2 Corinthians 10:3. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ … .”
The Bible says that we are the ones to bring every thought into “captivity” to the obedience of Jesus. This means we are directly responsible for what we choose to think about and dwell on. We can either choose to think about godly things – or we can choose to think about evil things. The choice is ours.
As such, we should let no one manipulate our minds, including hypnotists who may want to plant his suggestions into our minds. God, the Holy Spirit will help you out if you are willing to allow Him into your heart.
One of my favourite writers, E.G. White,[1] echoes the Biblical counsel we’ve been given. She says “Cut away from yourselves everything that savors of hypnotism, the science by which satanic agencies work.”—Lt 20, 1902. (Selected Messages 2:350.)
Moreover, she writes “… We do not ask you to place yourself under the control of any man’s mind. The mind cure is the most awful science which has ever been (p.717) advocated. Every wicked being can use it in carrying through his own evil designs. We have no business with any such science. We should be afraid of it. Never should the first principles of it be brought into any institution.”—Manuscript 105, 1901. (Medical Ministry, 116). “…Fearful is the power thus given to evil-minded men and women. What opportunities it affords to those who live by taking advantage of others’ weaknesses or follies! How many, through control of minds feeble or diseased, will find a means of gratifying lustful passion or greed of gain!”—The Ministry of Healing, 243 (1905).
Conclusion
The human mind is a battlefield in the area of spiritual warfare. Demons try and move in to tempt us to move into their dark ways of thinking and living – and God moves in also to move us to live according to His ways. The choice will always be ours as to which side of the fence we will choose to live on.
The next time a bad thought flashes across our minds, we decide what to do with it. We can either choose to let that bad thought slide right out of our mind or we can choose to really start thinking about and dwelling on it.
Once we start to really think about and dwell on that bad thought – we start to feed it. If we feed it, it will grow, possibly into mental stronghold or some type of addictive and compulsive behavior.
This is why the wise man Solomon said “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words, we can become what we think about! So, let’s confront our cognitive distortions. Let’s ask God for strength to cultivate right thinking; to show us how to get our minds properly renewed through His Word and by His Spirit… and don’t forget to claim His promises.
[1] https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Mind,_Character_and_Personality/Hypnotism_and_its_Dangers
Valentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14. Many people either love the day or hate it. I actually have a love-hate relationship with the day. I don’t mind the red but I hate the pink and the ubiquitous little sugary-tasting, heart-shaped candy. Many break the bank to buy jewellery and flowers for their loved ones, and there’s a whirlpool of passion, if only for a single day. Everything seems contrived: mass dining, gossiping and giggling, and a whole lot of lovey-dovey fluff. Even couples choosing to ‘break up’ for maximum negative impact.
Over the past few years, I’ve revised my thinking about Valentine’s Day. With so much hatred, sorrow and disappointment and in the world, I’ve chosen to embrace the ‘good’ about it; to show love. I’ve also attributed more meaningful sentiments to the colours symbolizing the day: red for the blood that flowed so freely on Calvary for me, you and the whole world; and white for the purity of character. This year, I’m trying my hand at a bit of poetry. I’ve written an ode to the day of love. Hope it brings meaning to you on that day, and always.
A Valentine’s Day Ode (‘Kinda’)
Love is a divine principle, forever in the heart of a Creator for his creatures
Love is an expression of gratitude – to him, to her, to them
Love is surrender, a breaking heart for a beloved’s misfortune
Love is friendship, beautiful and secure.
What is the path to love?
Second chances; overlooking myriad faults
Winding, meandering through bitterness, tears and sorrow
Slaying your ego, that small, puffed up part of you
Stepping into the fear that wants to freeze your heart and close your mind.
Silencing the inner critic so you can respond to the instinctual voice that’s also speaking to you
Being able to give and receive love.
What is the look of love?
A pair of wide outstretched hands welcoming you into a warm embrace
Longing eyes meeting even if for a brief wink across a crowded room
Gut wrenching laughter; wry smiles; families dining and bonding
Attentive silence when you are pensive, solemn, alone
Romantic celebrations, imprisonment, and even martyrdom
Words of trust, and caring that tell you to be careful
Your beloved at the window waving a sweet goodbye.
A whisper in the still of the night and the awe that befalls a magnificent sight
The cries of rapture from the delivery room amidst the beating of a newborn’s heart
A cross on a hill, a Savior and resurrection day.
What does love feel like?
A warm touch; a reassuring tap on the shoulder in the morning
Spasms of pain from a broken heart; two hands intertwined,
A hug that makes you want to suspend time except for you two
The joy of cleaning up watery puke because you know that person would do the same for you without question
The warmth of wanting each other when times are good and a craving for each other’s presence when they are really bad
Hope. A nervous heartbeat
A quiet acceptance that they’ll always be there.
What is the taste of love?
The pleasure of soft, wet kisses on the lips; have one, then two, never get enough
The thrill of thick, chocolate covered hazelnuts and strawberries melting on the tip of your tongue
The saltiness of tears streaming down the face which bring out the flavour of you
Spicy, adventurous, and passionate caresses; nervousness that makes your stomach heave in the most pleasant way
Sometimes it’s a little bitterness too – a lesson harshly learned; a stake of betrayal driven through the heart and mind.
Like you.
What’s the smell of love?
The unique smell of a worn shirt – no deodorant, no perfumes, no fragranced detergents
The menthol of pain rubs being massaged into sore, tired limbs after a strenuous workout in the gym
The smell of perfume, a nice fragrance – lavender incense
Sweaty feet; breast or formula milk
Lube. Grease.
What is the goal of love?
To mimic God
To experience him; to know him; to feel him; to talk with him
To believe in Him; to believe His word
To put others first; to care; to share and to give to others
The lame; the poor, the blind, the naked; the undeserving and unlovable
Caring about another person’s “highest good.”
Happiness.
Procreation.
Edification.
Eternal life.
What will you do with love?
Experience it. Know it.
Feel it. Devour it.
Send cards, flowers and valuable gifts.
Let it consume you.
Love – even if it’s only for a brief moment.
Every February 14.
There are several dictionary definitions for the word “reach”. However, these two resonate with me: “to strain after something; or to succeed in achieving something” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reach.
When my daughter was a toddler, my husband and I bought her a container of large-sized blocks. She adored the gift of mostly primary-coloured plastic blocks: red, yellow, blue. There were also a few green ones. Our intentions were to teach her about colours, to count, and especially to allow her to be creative. Sure enough, she did all of the things we anticipated. What we didn’t countenance or make allowance for were some of the things her young developing mind would also inspire her to do with our gift.
You see, in a relatively short space of time, she found a purpose not only for the blocks inside the container but for the container itself. She masterfully converted it from a storage receptacle for the blocks to a “step stool” that allowed her to reach out and grab anything she wanted that was out of her reach – a cup that most times was filled with liquids; a book from its stack; fruits, cookies and other food items; and even soil from my potted indoor plants.
Oftentimes, we wondered how several items that were supposedly out of her reach were on the floor or otherwise out of place. Then one day, we saw her process, first-hand. Wanting to reach up to the kitchen sink faucet, she carefully maneuvered her “step stool” into position. Then she mounted it, carefully balancing herself, as she tiptoed and with determination strained and turned on the faucet. I still remember the intense look on her face as she playfully splashed the water through her fingers, creating a soggy mess on the countertop and kitchen floor. Although, she had reached up and achieved her goal, I rushed to stop her folly before serious property damage could result.
As I reflect on this incident, I think about the many powerful men who have been dethroned due to the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations that were brought against them. In a sense, they had carefully positioned their “step stools” and accomplished their goals only to leave a big, soggy mess behind. My heart also goes out to the children – young boys and girls – in the homes of “the fallen”, or those vacated by them. Who will teach them about appropriate expressions of masculinity, and how to speak up in a timely manner? Who will help them cope at school and college with the negative fallout from the inappropriate behavior of their dads, brothers, and uncles? Who will help them maintain the same sense of value for their dads as they have for their moms? Perhaps, more importantly, who will help them develop respect for self, for others, and for humanity as a whole?
As a society, we must all reach out and take on the challenge of making a difference for the next generation of boys and girls. Action is required from perpetrators – they must recognize that time’s up; and victims alike – it’s time to speak up. Action is also required from the mothers of the children who have been directly affected. Right now, you all are hurting from the betrayal of your own mates. So take a pause to reflect and to acknowledge your own feelings. Then, reach out to your children, both boys and girls.
No doubt, the embarrassing and shameful news has reached the ears of those old enough to receive and process it. They too are hurting. Have candid, age-appropriate talks with them. Remember, teenage boys especially. They are notoriously difficult to reach; at least that is what a bunch of teachers say. Avoid selfish decisions. Take appropriate action not only for the short-term but for the long-term as well. We all need to create a better world for our sons and daughters to grow up in. I encourage you to take your “step stool” and position it. Then reach out to achieve what matters, and enjoy the “splash” you make.
Favourite Quote: ”Can’t never did anything”- My Mom, Evelyn
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