Nip domestic abuse in the bud before it ends in death

EDITOR: Domestic violence is becoming a popular topic of discussion these days. But it is not anything new. Domestic violence has always existed before anyone of us who is alive today was born. However, it is indeed something that should never be entertained and encourage, but be dealt with.

Before domestic violence occurs, it starts with verbal and emotional abuse. Verbal abuse is saying negative, degrading and hurtful words to someone. Emotional abuse is when someone’s feelings are hurt. Oftentimes this abuse is overlooked, so eventually it leads to domestic violence.

Many parents have to take responsibility for domestic violence. For many of them are guilty of verbally abusing their children, by calling them names that are negative and degrading. So, their children grow up with low self-esteem, having a negative view of themselves. This can lead to those persons, on becoming adults, to be abusive.

Oftentimes in a relationship there is both verbal and emotional abuse. However, the victim accepts and fail to deal with it, despite the negative effect it has on him or her. There would come a time when eventually the victim of abuse retaliates. When this occurs, most times it leads to violence.

Sometimes a man thinks that his spouse is his property. The spouse accepts it and as a result she is abused, both verbally and emotionally, which may eventually leads to domestic violence. Sometimes a child witnesses mom and dad fighting when there is conflict. Then that child grows up thinking that this is the way he should show his manhood, by engaging in the same domestic violence.

It is important that women become independent, so that men don’t see them as their properties and abuse them. Also when a lady is not independent, she finds it hard to leave her partner because of financial considerations. I, therefore, encourage our young people to become educated and be ambitious. Seek to advance yourself and remove the dependency on government or a partner for survival.

Many persons blame the church by saying that the church is doing nothing. Let us be mature in our thinking. Far too often, when pastors or church members see someone going down the wrong line and showing signs of delinquency and try to give them guidance, they are ridiculed. Many parents and even adults would say that the pastors have no right to interfere in their business or tell them how to live their lives. Therefore, they are not allowed the opportunity to help, unless requested.

To reduce domestic violence we need to begin in the home. For it is in the home most of the abuses are allowed to develop. Let us become examples to our children and let us give them good godly guidance. However, we must always remember that only Christ can really change the situation that exist and we know that the church has always been and continues to evangelize. Let Christ become the head of our home and lives and then we would see a reduction in domestic violence. Let us love our children and speak positive words into their lives. God bless SVG. Thank you.

Kennard King