A saddened heart
A 17 year old girl is sleeping with her 25 year old boyfriend and she thinks its "real" love. She is still in high school and has yet to tell her parents that she is now pregnant. This is called an "accidental pregnancy" and is more than common as condoms and protection is ignorantly unused. A attempt at an abortion was the "couples" first response, but after 15 minutes in the hospital waiting room her mind was changed.
The boyfriend is living in a small shelter, with one bedroom, one sitting room. He has a male roommate who he also stayed with. They share a bed, a small wardrobe and a small two seater sofa.
Imagine being the room mate who comes home to always find this young girl in your bed. The sofa became his normal.
The boyfriend now wants to "be a man" and take responsibility and plan to marry this girl. Now his small monthly salary will be directed towards saving for a wedding. A wedding (culturally called an introduction, not including an additional church wedding if the couple so chooses) which will be expected to be big, expensive and over the top with hundreds of friends and family both from the village and the city.
The roommate is now being asked to leave, and find a new room to rent. It was an awkward environment for him to be in anyways so he agrees. He will spent the next few months selling clothes at the local market to try to save the three months up front rent a new landlord will require.
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On so many levels this saddens my heart.
Who is sharing with this young girl that she is loved, by a God who knows her, created her and lavishes His REAL love on her? (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4).
Who is sharing with this young man that he deserves to be with someone he truly loves and he can use self control to be patient.
Who is educating the youth on healthy boundaries in relationships and the path to slowly progressing to a physical intimate level? Who is teaching safe sex and protection?
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What is now my response? How do we portray that we are:
-called to set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. (Tim 4:12)
-a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9)
-the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
-given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
-saved and set apart according to God’s doing. (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5)
