Mala was busy with her hectic holiday activities. Her fingers constantly typed. “Kya hai?” reply to any question became a standing joke with her. I caught a fleeting moment with her somewhere between her computer and Hindi classes.
“Mala, are you going to the special meeting at Town Hall?” I enquired.
“Nahin. Appa won’t let me go. He thinks it is not safe for me to return alone at night. But I haven’t given up. I’ll try coaxing him again.”
“But he’s right Mala. I never thought of that. It is not safe. Your street is rather deserted at night.”
“But I’m not afraid.”
“I’m sure you’re not. But there is enough reason to be cautious. If you read the newspapers or watch the news, you will know that crime and violence are escalating day by day. When a woman goes about unescorted to lonely places she is inviting trouble. She is exposing herself to all kinds of dangers... murder, rape...I don’t mean to frighten you, Mala. I don’t want to give you the impression that all men are lustful, wicked, violent creatures. But we must be careful, cautious and discrete. Remember the story of Dinah, who lost her virginity by indiscretely going to places which she should have avoided.
“Today, yours is a sheltered life under your parents’ protection. But who knows...if you have to live in a hostel, perhaps? I think it is better that you are aware of these things. Mala, it is true that we should be ‘not of this world’ but we are living in it. Therefore, it is necessary to know what is happening around us. We should not live with our heads in the cloud. Read the newspaper, keep track of events, local and global. We must be practical, pragmatic Christians.”
“My parents worry over everything...”
A look of dismay smeared her face.
“Parents are older and wiser...perhaps, your parents are not in the Lord... but it is mandatory for you to obey them in these matters. They have lived in this world longer than you and you must learn from their valuable experience. The Bible admonishes us to honour and obey our parents. If fact, the only commandment which carries a promise is, “Honour your father and mother — that it may be well with you and you may live long.
“The worldly-wise Solomon said, Listen my son to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you... A wise son heeds his father’s instruction...A fool spurns a parent’s discipline.’ (Prov 1:8,9; 6:22; 13:1; 15:5). It is worth reading the Book of Proverbs often. It is a treasure chest of wisdom. In the New Testament, Paul continues to give the same advice: ‘Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right’ (Eph 6:1). We must obey our parents everyway unless they ask us to go against our conscience to do something sinful. The wisdom of the hoary head is priceless. When we listen to elders, we inherit their wisdom and make it our own.
“If you are in trouble, go to your parents for help. Don’t trust strangers. Don’t give your name, address or whereabouts to an unknown person. Be careful in accepting anything from strangers. Don’t accept lifts just like that. Avoid travelling alone to isolated places in taxis or autorickshaws. It is safer to take a transport bus. Always be discrete. Breathe a prayer if you are confused. Don’t jump to conclusions hastily or take decisions or make promises rashly.”
“God will take care of me aunty,” Mala said stoutly.
“Very true Mala. Yes, under us are God’s arms. But He expects us to make use of His gifts of intelligence and rationality. He warns us to be wise as a snake, which means smartness.”
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Mala was busy with her hectic holiday activities. Her fingers constantly typed. “Kya hai?” reply to any question became a standing joke with her. I caught a fleeting moment with her somewhere between her computer and Hindi classes.
“Mala, are you going to the special meeting at Town Hall?” I enquired.
“Nahin. Appa won’t let me go. He thinks it is not safe for me to return alone at night. But I haven’t given up. I’ll try coaxing him again.”
“But he’s right Mala. I never thought of that. It is not safe. Your street is rather deserted at night.”
“But I’m not afraid.”
“I’m sure you’re not. But there is enough reason to be cautious. If you read the newspapers or watch the news, you will know that crime and violence are escalating day by day. When a woman goes about unescorted to lonely places she is inviting trouble. She is exposing herself to all kinds of dangers... murder, rape...I don’t mean to frighten you, Mala. I don’t want to give you the impression that all men are lustful, wicked, violent creatures. But we must be careful, cautious and discrete. Remember the story of Dinah, who lost her virginity by indiscretely going to places which she should have avoided.
“Today, yours is a sheltered life under your parents’ protection. But who knows...if you have to live in a hostel, perhaps? I think it is better that you are aware of these things. Mala, it is true that we should be ‘not of this world’ but we are living in it. Therefore, it is necessary to know what is happening around us. We should not live with our heads in the cloud. Read the newspaper, keep track of events, local and global. We must be practical, pragmatic Christians.”
“My parents worry over everything...”
A look of dismay smeared her face.
“Parents are older and wiser...perhaps, your parents are not in the Lord... but it is mandatory for you to obey them in these matters. They have lived in this world longer than you and you must learn from their valuable experience. The Bible admonishes us to honour and obey our parents. If fact, the only commandment which carries a promise is, “Honour your father and mother — that it may be well with you and you may live long.
“The worldly-wise Solomon said, Listen my son to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you... A wise son heeds his father’s instruction...A fool spurns a parent’s discipline.’ (Prov 1:8,9; 6:22; 13:1; 15:5). It is worth reading the Book of Proverbs often. It is a treasure chest of wisdom. In the New Testament, Paul continues to give the same advice: ‘Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right’ (Eph 6:1). We must obey our parents everyway unless they ask us to go against our conscience to do something sinful. The wisdom of the hoary head is priceless. When we listen to elders, we inherit their wisdom and make it our own.
“If you are in trouble, go to your parents for help. Don’t trust strangers. Don’t give your name, address or whereabouts to an unknown person. Be careful in accepting anything from strangers. Don’t accept lifts just like that. Avoid travelling alone to isolated places in taxis or autorickshaws. It is safer to take a transport bus. Always be discrete. Breathe a prayer if you are confused. Don’t jump to conclusions hastily or take decisions or make promises rashly.”
“God will take care of me aunty,” Mala said stoutly.
“Very true Mala. Yes, under us are God’s arms. But He expects us to make use of His gifts of intelligence and rationality. He warns us to be wise as a snake, which means smartness.”
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
