It's A Two Way Street

Ephesians 6:4

4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

 

We know that one of the commandments is to honor thy mother and father so that your days may be long. Most people stop there. But the apostle Paul stated twice with this command that children are not to be provoked to anger lest the become discouraged and that parents are to bring them up in the Lord. It's a two way street. Why is this so important?

As an abused child myself, I can tell you that anger, rage and self-destructive behavior ensued after being mistreated. Children are a gift from God which He entrusts to you and can be taken back at any time. In my new book, "Shh Don't Tell", I talk about how this second command is often broken by parents, caregivers or anyone who children are entrusted to. Children cannot survive on their own so when people who are to teach them and care for them violate them, a disconnect takes place.

As the host of Good Life Radio, Teria Powell, said, "Shh Don't Tell" tells you not just about the stories of Ingrid, Randy and Kendall but also what signs to look for if a child has been abused and what not to do should you find a child in this situation." What I appreciated about my interview last Saturday morning with Teria Powell was that not only does she have a discerning spirit, but she is a foster mother so she sees many of these children after the trust has been broken. And she is tasked with building back the trust. Teria sees the anger, rage and self-destructive behavior that can lead to death after these acts have been committed. The stats on abused children are staggering but still skewed because many acts of abuse go unreported. Children are shamed into keeping quiet not only by those who abuse them but often by other loved ones.

Children start out obeying those who are meant to care for them but when they are harmed, what do you think happens? The apostle Paul knew and that is why he spoke about it. Jesus spoke about children in Matthew 18:3 being received in His name. 

Abuse is not just physical but also verbal and emotional and manipulation is a form of abuse as well. Be a help to our future generations not a hindrance.

Go to www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com to order Shh Don't Tell.