Key Verse: Verse 13 – “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
Key Words: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper
There is a segment of our youth today that copes with their feelings by denying reality. They do this in two ways.
First, they attempt to cover it up. Let me explain. Jeff is a ten-year-old who wears leather gloves to school everyday, even on the warmest of days. You never see Jeff without his gloves. He also wears long sleeves. The teacher insists that Jeff remove his gloves, which he does; but the moment he goes to recess or lunch, the gloves are back on. One more point, Jeff is the only black child in the school. Now do you want to guess why he wears gloves and long-sleeve shirts? You guessed it – to cover up that which makes him different. Jeff is denying reality. Many children attempt to cover up their feelings of inadequacies with a coat or a sweater – or yes, even gloves. If I can’t see it, then it doesn’t exist.
The second way young people deny reality is to escape into a dream world. The young person simply pulls down a shade and creates his own world. This child never sees himself as a problem. It is always mom, dad, or the teacher because in their world poor grades, being unpopular and unaccepted by their peers, is not their fault; it is everyone else because in their world “they are right.” In effect, they are denying reality.
So what can be done with the child or youth who deny reality?
- Pray for them fervently.
- Help them through the trying years by pointing out who they are in Christ.
- Have them invest time and energy on others. For example, have them “making things for the elderly.” Most older people have a way of bringing out the best in this type of child.
- But no matter what, love them and let them know you
- love them.
What to do:
✞ Apply the above principles.
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