Solomon's Wisdom



When children become a part of a married couple's life, life proceeds to another level.  The responsibility of nurturing young lives is huge and we are accountable to God first (cos He don't play when it comes to His little ones) and also to the society at large (whose Safeguarding and Child Protection laws show that they don't play either).

Domestic abuse is now known to affect children as well as the victimised spouse.  This means that rescuing a parent and his/her children from an abusive spouse/parent is of utmost importance.  The difficulty is that families are often pressured into putting on a good front, especially if they are in leadership positions within the community.  The biblical king Solomon offers us a way to discern whether or not something is awry within a family where you suspect that something isn't quite right.

Very briefly, the story relays two mothers who came to the king for justice.  They both claimed to have given birth to a baby; they both claimed that the other mother lay on their own child during the night, causing their own child to die, and then swapped the dead child for the living one.  King Solomon's edict was to cut the living child in half and the mothers could share half each.  His wisdom was predicated on the knowledge that the true mother wouldn't allow harm to come to the living child and would concede, but that the mother who so carelessly smothered her own child during slumber, would show a similar disregard for the well-being of the living child.  Sure enough, the real mother interceded on behalf of the child, agreeing to let the other mother have the child without the need for further cruelty.  King Solomon had tapped into godly wisdom, which revealed the mother's willingness to sacrifice her own desire to be seen as the child's mother, for the sake of the child's life and well-being.  

This story found in 1 Kings 3, offers some wisdom points that can be used for good parenting, and can also be used as indicators that something is terribly wrong in a family setting.  Here are a few of those points:

1. A good parent is willing to sacrifice sleep for a new-born.  It sounds obvious but if you hear conversations about one parent being sleep deprived after the birth of a new-born, and the other one has all the energy in the world, trust me - something is wrong!

2. Like it or not, children are a reflection of their parents' upbringing.  If you suspect something is wrong because the children appear withdrawn, or you notice something adverse that you can't quite put your finger on, check it out.  Observe closely, visit the home, ask probing questions or offer support.  Loving curiosity could save a life!

3. If/when justice is served, follow the children.  Children usually have a keen sense of moral justice and they normally gravitate to love.  

The saying, 'there's no greater enemy than a house enemy' rings true when it comes to domestic abuse.  Our fight against it should become more strategically intense because we now agree that the world's most vulnerable group - children - are directly and negatively impacted by it.

💜

Dr. Monica is available to meet your learning organisation's training and consultancy needs. Contact her at vineacademy2024@gmail.com.

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