Topic: Child’s Training (4)
Dear Reader,
I know that God has opened your eyes to something new concerning your children, He will yet add to you as I round up in this edition on teenagers. Last week we discussed the puberty stage. In this edition, we shall be examining the adolescent stage.
Adolescence is a term used to describe the period of life between childhood and adulthood. It is usually between ages 14 and 19. It is the final stages of childhood before adulthood sets in and is similar to the pupal stage of growth in a butterfly before the cocoon finally breaks forth into a beautiful butterfly. Now we have two main groups in this stage namely:The Early Teens which occurs between the ages of 12 and 15 and The Late Teens which occurs between the ages of 16 and 18.
Early teens (12-15)
As children gradually moves into the teen years, the sexual appetite within them begins to awaken. They prefer to stay more with those of opposite sex, and this culminate into a desire for spending their life time together.
During this period, certain emotional changes take place. They tend to be given to different changes of mood and are withdrawn at time. They long for association with children of their rank.
Late teens (16-18)
Here, there is an increase in their sexual urge. They have a prevailing movement towards having sexual relationships. The emotional changes in their lives become much more pronounced than any other changes that they might be experiencing. They sometimes become emotionally unresponsive and detached, remote and not too friendly.
Parental Responsibility
Now, it is your duty as a parent to help your children understand, that all these feelings and changes in their bodies are normal. Explain to them that this transformation is normal. Help them to be relaxed about it. There is no basis for any negative actions or response. They are not to give in to fear. Get helpful materials to help them understand this stage of their development and establish them with the Word of God that will help them through this stage unscratched.
The adolescent stage is very crucial to teenagers and their parents too. One issue that requires great attention is that of sex. It is important for you to properly educate your children about it. Let them have a mental view of it. Help them to appreciate it from a godly perspective. If you refuse to do this, some other persons, outside, will acquaint them with it and the end result will not be pleasant. The home is the best place for it to be taught. Remember, charity begins at home.
Now, see what lack of proper education on puberty did to someone: “A girl already in secondary school was told by her friends, that, when you sleep with a man, you start bleeding and that is called menstruation. Now, when her menstruation started, she cried for three hours, thinking her mother will kill her for losing her virginity. She kept hiding from her mother each time she menstruates, until four years after. She discovered some books and had an understanding of what had happened to her and so refused to forgive her mother. She uses only one sanitary towel per day, and if not for the grace of God she would have contacted some venereal diseases due to lack of proper hygiene.
Endeavour to explain sex to your children with all simplicity and in all godliness. Don’t modify it, tell the whole truth about it as found in God’s Word. Give them a correct scriptural perspective of sex. Sex is a scriptural injunction, but it must only be in the context of marriage. Sex outside marriage is fornication. Fornication is a sin against your body which is the temple of the Holy Ghost. The Bible says:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1Corinthians 6:18-20).
Also let them know that pre-marital sex is first and foremost a sin against God and the consequences could cause high damages to their physical bodies and their future (Proverbs 6:32-33). It could result in;
- Unwanted pregnancy, which could hinder their progress in life.
- Abortion, which could lead to loss of life or irreparable damages to the reproductive organs.
- Venereal diseases, like AIDS., gonorrhea, etc.
- Guilty conscience and self-condemnation which often hinders one’s freedom in relating with God and other Christians.
I pray that the Lord will grant you help from above to undertake this task in Jesus mighty. In this year of laughter, you shall have every cause to laugh over your children in Jesus mighty name. You shall not fail. It is well with you and your family.
To effectively give godly counsel to your children, you must be born again. You must accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life, for this is where the wisdom for godly counsel is derived. To be born again, you should say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Raising Godly Children, Understanding Motherhood, Building a Successful Family and A Living Witness.
“Please click to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
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