Saturday, October 2 The fruit of the womb is a reward.​—Ps. 127:3.

[Áine]

Saturday, October 2

The fruit of the womb is a reward.—Ps. 127:3.

 

Your children are a sacred trust, “an inheritance from Jehovah.” It is your responsibility to safeguard that trust. What can you do to protect your children from abuse? First, educate yourself about abuse. Learn about the kind of individuals who abuse children and the tactics they use to deceive them. Be alert to potential dangers. (Prov. 22:3; 24:3) Remember that in most cases, the abuser is someone the child already knows and trusts. Second, maintain good communication with your children. (Deut. 6:6, 7; Jas. 1:19) Remember that children are often reluctant to report abuse. They may fear that they will not be believed, or they may have been threatened by the abuser to keep the abuse secret. If you sense that something is wrong, kindly draw them out with questions and then patiently listen to their answers. Third, educate your children. Teach them what to say and do if someone tries to touch them in an inappropriate way. w19.05 13 ¶19-22

[Vinnie]

Parents need to educate themselves first and then also their children. But because we live in a wicked world, guarding against child abuse can be an ever present danger. One key is open communication with a readiness to listen to our children. Even the wild talk of children needs to be heard and not muffled, so when they really want and need to be heard, parents will listen.