Do you remember something stupid you did during your childhood and how things eventually panned out? Most of us still bear scars from many punitive measures taken by our parents and family members to put us right. However, much more refreshing and impactful are memories of how people, despite our follies, tempered justice with mercy to show us how to behave better in the future.

Most people are familiar with the story of Johnny, a disguised name, who stole a watch from his classmate. The class theft was escalated to the principal who sprang into action without delay. He summoned the class door and all eyes closed as he began to search each pupil’s pocket. As the principal moved close to Johnny’s seat, he became more and more perplexed and jittery with different thoughts flying through his head. The shame and the punishment that await him, as well as the disappointment people who loved him will feel. It was a hell of a time for him! Finally, it was his turn!! As the principal’s hand went into his pocket, he fought hard not to wet himself. To his amazement, the principal took out the watch and continued his search as if nothing happened. At the end of the search, the principal gave the watch back to the owner without saying from whom he discovered it. The shock, memory and lessons from this event stayed with him and impacted his life so much. Later in life, he came across the principal and had to question why the principal didn’t give him away. The man answered, “I had my eyes closed as I searched. So until this moment, I didn’t know from whose pocket I found the watch”. This was a shocking revelation to Johnny.

It is more beneficial to diversify disciplinary approaches to enhance impact. Sometimes, for a truly repented child, the burden of his/her failure, self-disappointment, and the inevitable consequences that follow after such wrong actions are more than enough punishment for such a child. The show of spontaneous forgiveness, understanding, and love can make a big difference as the inevitable consequence of the error takes its toll on the child.

This is the perspective powering Emerald Light Initiative, a Selah Series project. We believe that an error in anyone’s life should not destroy such a life. An episode of unwanted pregnancy should not be enough to tag the destiny of a teenage girl, a failure. This initiative does not validate her mistake but chooses to explore an exceptional perspective that sees great possibilities in the future of both the young mother and her baby. Rather than shaking our heads in disdain, we take her hand to reassure her of the great future ahead. Rather than backbiting and tearing her family down, we support her parents by reaffirming that they haven’t failed. Rather than marrying her off, we encourage her to continue her education. In the end, she will be eternally grateful to God for bringing us her path. It’s a higher perspective, it’s a higher life!

It is a known fact that many adolescent girls have lost their lives in the bid to hide their errors and feign innocence through illegal and sub-standard abortions, to escape our wrath and disappointments. When there is a fire outside, shouldn’t there be a home to run to?

All parents have expectations and timelines for their children’s milestones in their minds. When life realities impact our carefully set timelines and expectations, it generates turmoil and put us in uncomfortable states. These are part of the challenges of parenthood. At these times, we need the wisdom of God to guide us to act right so we don’t worsen the situation through our emotional outbursts. Not all misconducts require punishment, with the right encouragement, tutelage, mentorship, monitoring, and other forms of support, the seeming mess can become a message of hope to the world.

"In his experimental law of impacts, Sir Isaac Newton describes the arc of descent. That once a descending object acquires a certain momentum, it continues on a downward parabolic curve to eventually impact with an immovable object the nadir, the bottom, thereby consummating the arc of descent." The pregnant teens and teen moms are at their nadirs, will we nail them further down or help them up? Decisive.

Selah!

© SELAH SERIES 2022