Your Child Is in Danger! - Be Thorough in Your Training

 

Do not limit such training to a one time talk.  Children need much repetition.  Use your own judgments in determining just how explicit the training should be, but be thorough.

Be sure, for example, to forestall an attempts by an abuser to create a secret from either parent.  Reassure them that it is always proper for them to tell-even if they had promised not to. (Compare Numbers 30:12, 16) Some abusers blackmail the child if they know that the child has disobeyed some family rule:  "I won't tell on  you, if you won't tell on me" is the message. So children should know they will never get in trouble  for telling-even under these circumstances. It is safe to tell.

Your training should also be threat-resistant.  Some abusers have killed small animals in front of a child and threatened to do the same to the child's parents.  Others have warned their victim that they will abuser young siblings. So teach children that they should always tell on an abuser, no matter what scary threats are made.

In this regard the Bible can be a helpful teaching tool. Because it so vividly stresses Jehovah's almighty power, it can take the bite our of abuser's threats. Children need to know that no matter what threats are made, Jehovah is able to help his people.  (Daniel 3:8-30)  Even when bad people hurt those  Jehovah loves, he can always undo the damage afterward and make things better again. ( Job, chapters 1, 2; 42:10-17; Isaiah 65:17)  Assure them that Jehovah sees everything, including the people who do bad things and the good people who do their best to resist them. -Compare HEBREWS 4:13.

Next time: Your Child Is in Danger! - Cautious as Serpents

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