Unless you are one of those people who home school your children, don't have access to internet or television and refrain from having newspaper in your home, the chances are that your children will have been exposed to stuff that you would rather they weren't.
Living in the UK and as a foster carer I'm aware that in the interests of protecting children and keeping childhood safe, there is much I would like to prevent children from knowing. The fact is though - they do seem to find out. About sexuality issues, about war, about starvation, about ISIS…and the list goes on! Governments are now starting to dictate that children SHOULD know about certain stuff and would argue it's in a child's interests to know, about abuse, about sex in all it's various forms, about getting an abortion, about getting injections, the list goes on. There is a subtle disempowerment of parents that has been taking place beneath our noses.
Sounds worrying eh?
Now for the better news….as we turn to the ancient script - our manual for life as God intended.
Here's a significant bit of history for you -
Thousands of years ago there was a young boy whose parents were followers of God. His name was Daniel. Around the same time there was a prophet, a seer called Jeremiah who warned this people group following after God that things were about to get tough and that they would be taken into captivity. Many didn't believe the prophet and carried on as normal thinking that all was well. Those who did believe were able to prepare their hearts and families for what was about to happen.
I reckon Daniel's family were one such family. They prepared themselves and him for captivity, teaching him to trust in the Lord and not fear.
The reason I 'suppose' this is because I can see no other reason why a young boy of say 14 would be able to withstand being taken into a Godless country and yet still remain in communion and relationship with God. Confidently so, if you read the full story of Daniel's life. It's a remarkable story.
I believe we live in days where there are 'signs of the times' happening all around us. If we are followers of Jesus and God's word then we would do well to take our children on the journey of faith through trials and difficulties - as Daniel's parents did. Rather than hide truth from him, they built up his faith and confidence that God was GOD!
I believe that hiding reality from children is unwise and I'd even go so far as to say - could rob them of the joy of knowing Father God in the midst of pain and suffering, and the adventure of faith through difficulty. I remember hearing the response of a church leader in New Orleans after the floods. When asked what he might have done differently, knowing what he now knew, his answer was - 'I would have prepared the children'.
I also remember speaking with a mother from Yemen around the time when Christian believers were being routed out of the region, women raped and families murdered in front of each other. With tears in her eyes she shared that she had prepared her two young girls by telling them that they may see a lot of blood but that soon they would be with Jesus…….
This is harrowing stuff to write about but with many western Nations now on high alert for terrorist attacks, we would be having our head in the sand to do nothing in preparation for what many believe is inevitable. Britain is considered under severe threat, that means a terrorist attack is highly likely.
My aim of writing is not to be a scaremonger but one who sounds the alarm to prepare ourselves in Christ - full of His love - ready to declare the gospel message that many will want and need to hear in the near future, and our children can be part of that! Just as Daniel was.
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