Article March 23, 1987 Issue

Teaching children true self-protection

Widespread concern over child abuse demands our prayer. But such watchfulness doesn't grow out of fear; it comes through spiritual strength.

Patricia Palmer Morse

I Was substituting for the regular teacher of the youngest class in Sunday School. We had quite a few youngsters that day, including several visitors. I had spent a few moments reminding the children that we learn about God and Christ Jesus in the Bible. Then all of us got out of our chairs and "climbed up the mountain" because that's where Jesus sometimes spoke to his friends and followers. Then we sat on the mountain—which happened to be the floor—and got ready to learn a new parable.

One of the visitors was sitting to my left, and my daughter was practically lying in my lap to my right, cuddling next to Mommy We began talking about God's love for all of us—the universal message of Jesus' ministry. I reached out to hug the visitor to my left. As I touched him, he became visibly alarmed, and I immediately removed my arm. I smiled at him to let him know that he was loved and that he need not be concerned.

I know that many children don't like to be hugged by strangers, and his response was probably prompted by no more than that. But later the incident made me think about my response to the reports of missing, abused, and molested children we hear in the news. The barrage of advertisements, pamphlets, books, and puppet shows intended to teach our children how to protect themselves has aroused a good deal of fear among parents. How do we help children deal with abuse not only from family members or trusted friends but from strangers as well? This question can leave the Christian parent with a deep problem. If we hold back in fear, how can we be Christians and teach our children Christian love—to reach out to the needy and to bring the stranger into the fold?

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