Ugly Perception

Today I had a 8 year old girl, brought to me with tears in her eyes...

I was told that she was drawing a picture that depicted death, sorrow and pain and she started crying. When her teachers noticed about it, they asked her what was happening, she said that it resembles death and one day her fate would be the same. Her teachers got worried about what she had just said and decided to take her out of class as she was in tears and she was brought to me. I asked her if she wanted to talk to another lady teacher so that she can better explain what is happening as I did not felt equipped to handled the situation but she refused and only wanted to talk to me. So I sat her down at the corner and started listening to what she had to say.

She told me that her aunt and uncle wanted to get a divorce the night before and that was all that filled her mind the whole day. As she was closed to them, she did not wanted them to split and the thought if it was rather devastating to her. She did not want to tell anyone else as she would be afraid that her grandmother would be upset as it would affect the reputation of her family.

I have heard of stories about divorce and how the children are the ones getting hurt the most. It is rather a new experience for me as to find myself listening first hand to the heartbreak of a child due to divorce. On the level and mentality of an adult, divorce may be perceived in a more common manner but as for a child, it could mean the whole world. They are too young to perceive the intricate complexity to marriage and how does God intends it to be, but they do see it as important nonetheless.

I have heard of adults growing up having very skewed understanding about marriage. Due to divorce that happened within their family, they are unable to have a healthy perception of marriage and therefore feared marriage altogether. Some are not as extreme but having to witness a love ran dry in a long marriage where love and intimacy are no longer dwells with the couple despite still being with each other, this also affects the children's mentality about marriage.

God broke my heart today listening to this girl and I could not help but to imagine what her perception of her future in marriage would be like. Children are what people call 'sponges' that takes in every single bit of their environment and what she took in last night was more than she could handle. And even if she would grow up and grow out of that fear and understanding about divorce, she is at an age now that could possibly stunt her perception of this matter for life.

Please remember K in your prayers...