This Should Concern You About Children
Happy new week everyone! How was your weekend? I hope it was fantastic! Once again, I'm here to brighten your Monday and make it more enjoyable (although today’s topic is a heavy one). Anyway, on Saturday evening, I relaxed with a captivating movie on Netflix titled “Gifted Hands,” a biopic that delved into the life of Dr. Ben Carson, a renowned (retired) neurosurgeon in America. The film beautifully portrayed his journey from humble beginnings, growing up with his single mother and brother.
Despite facing challenges and being labeled as “dumb” in school, he defied the odds and ultimately became the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Children's Center, achieving this remarkable feat at the young age of 33. What made his story even more inspirational for me was the profound influence of his unwavering Christian beliefs, while navigating the challenges of the medical industry.
Witnessing how Dr. Ben Carson relied on his faith deeply touched me and served as a powerful reminder that I too can fulfill my purpose and become everything that God created me to be. His journey encouraged me to persevere in honing my skills and talents, using them effectively to bring glory to God.
But Dr. Ben Carson with his exceptional contributions to the medical industry, isn’t the focus of our story today. One afternoon at 3 p.m., I found myself in disbelief while watching a YouTube interview with a young father. He appeared burdened, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, sitting uncomfortably with nervousness evident in his voice. His distress stemmed from the fact that the mother of his three-year-old son had started dressing the boy as a girl.
The sight of his son in a princess dress and makeup on Instagram was unbearable for him. This incident took place in the United States, where an ongoing culture war on gender identity is prevalent. Now, the young father finds himself in a fierce battle to gain full custody of his son, determined to raise him as such.
How did he meet the mother of his child? He met her during a night out, and as they got to know each other, he was captivated by her beauty and other admirable qualities. However, it became apparent that they held certain core beliefs that were in disagreement. Despite this, he believed that their differing belief systems wouldn't pose a significant obstacle to their relationship.
Well, it didn’t, until after they became sexually involved, and she later discovered she was pregnant. The situation took a significant turn when she posted on Instagram expressing her unconditional love for her child, regardless of the gender they chose to identify with. He turned a blind eye to the post. And even if he acted like he’d seen it, it was too late as their son was already brewing in her belly.
This is Why You Should Be Careful Who you Have Sex With
In this world, numerous challenging events unfold, and whenever I come across someone facing difficulties, it leaves me feeling disheartened. While I do empathize greatly with this man and his child, it's essential to acknowledge that he played a role in creating this confusion. Contrary to common perception, relationships should not revolve around fulfilling sexual desires. As discussed in the article "How Sex Impacts Christian Dating," engaging in premarital sex can cloud one's judgment and distract from crucial aspects that require vigilance.
Throughout the dating phase of a relationship, it is essential to invest time in truly understanding and evaluating the person you are with. Take the opportunity to explore their ideologies, beliefs concerning God and the Bible, and the company they keep regularly. This process will significantly contribute to making a well-informed decision about whether or not you want to marry the person.
Often, this decision wouldn’t rest solely on you, as we are mostly carried away in lala land, when we are in love. Thus, it is wise for us to involve trusted people in the process. For Christian women (and men) who believe it is acceptable to date and marry someone outside their Christian beliefs, there is a risk of encountering similar issues as the father in question.
While Nigeria might not be grappling with wokeism or gender ideologies; different struggles can arise, especially when raising children within such a union. God has already listed them for us to see in scriptures like Deuteronomy 7:3-4, 1 Kings 11:2, and Exodus 34:12-16. It is vital to carefully consider these potential challenges before committing to a relationship.
The significance of parenting is evident in the Christian faith, with God expressing a strong desire for righteous offspring in Christian marriages (Malachi chapter two) and emphasizing the responsibility of parents to teach their children about him (Deuteronomy 6: 6-9). Consequently, the decision of whom to marry and have children with carries profound implications, as children are often impacted by the consequences of adults' unwise decisions. Therefore, striving for improvement in these choices becomes crucial.
My heart was deeply saddened by this man's situation, and it continues to ache as I learn about the horrifying stories involving children. In the past, we believed that vulnerable individuals in society were primarily helpless women, lacking the support and protection of husbands, brothers, or fathers. While these women could still fall victim to evil men, it is now evident that children are the most targeted and vulnerable among us.
The pain I feel runs deep, especially when I think about the vulnerability of children who may struggle to communicate their experiences effectively, depending on their age. They lack the comprehension of seeking help from others, making them susceptible to being silenced by fear or the inability to express their distress in words. This reminds me of a heart-wrenching story about the Reimer twin boys who were born in the US during the 1960s. During their circumcision process, one of the babies had his penis burnt off, leading his parents to forgo circumcising the other twin due to the traumatic incident.
The doctors' advice to raise the boy without a penis as a girl had a devastating impact on both boys' lives. The parents followed the recommendation, leading to unstable and challenging experiences for both children. It was only when they reached the age of 15 that the boy raised as a girl rebelled against seeing a therapist and taking more hormones, which pushed his mother to reveal to him the secret that she had held tightly to her chest all those years.
This revelation, however, came too late, as their lives had already been profoundly affected. Tragically, one of them succumbed to a drug overdose, while the other chose to end his life. This heart-wrenching story serves as a poignant reminder of how children often become victims of the poor decisions we, as adults, make.
There are a lot of mentally ill people, or those who are being influenced by the enemy, raising or should I say, abusing children. Some view children as mere accessories or objects to fulfill their depraved desires. In the story I opened with, the young boy has expressed his true gender identity, according to his father. However, the mother refuses to acknowledge it and still treats him as a girl, causing significant confusion in the child's mind. Only God truly knows the extent of the turmoil and bewilderment that engulfs the young boy's thoughts and emotions in such a distressing situation.
I came across another video where a man, who identifies as a woman was attempting to simulate breastfeeding their newborn. Beside them, the child's mother, who identifies as a man, was present with both breasts removed. The little child unaware of the mishap, tried to latch on to the nipple of the father to get food. Only God (again) knows how such children will survive in such homes. An emotional thought then crossed my mind – why can’t God close the wombs of such people?
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Bringing it back home to Nigeria, One day, I found myself stuck in traffic in the Lekki area of Lagos. As I waited in the congestion, numerous children came out in groups, seeking alms from passing cars. This incident occurred on a Friday, right next to a mosque, which explained the high number of people in the area.
Among the children, there was a young boy, approximately seven or eight years old, who approached my car with tears in his eyes, asking for something to eat. However, as another child joined him in pleading for help, the boy's distress quickly turned into anger. He fiercely yelled at the other child to leave my car, so I could respond to him alone. No child should be able to exhibit such rage, at that age. It is obvious that there is something broken within him.
In response to my emotional contemplation, I came to the realization that instead of questioning God's sovereignty and his ability to intervene in a way I think best, Christians have a vital role to play in the world. It is why we are still here.
There is a need now, more than ever for Christians to begin to intercede on the behalf of children. Because what we see (though has been happening for years), isn’t normal. Lamentations 2:19 says, “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.”
While we are often carried away by what is happening in our own lives, the Lord has called us to play a crucial role in the lives of others. And while you are it, remember to pray for the father of the young boy who is currently in the fight of his life.
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