June 2020 — Healside Podcast

Introduction:

During this covid 19 season the number of rape cases have spiked in several countries. This breaks my heart as a mother for all the girls and boys who have had to go through such horrific experiences. When many of us were taking time to keep safe, taking time to pray each day for safety and protection from this pandemic that has proved fatal to the vulnerable in our society.

The Terrible Stories:

In an article on “The Global Citizen”. 4 Grassroots Activists Share Stories of COVID-19 Heightening Sexual Violence in Kenya and Nigeria ” During lockdown people are crowded together in small homes. She knows of one case where a 17-year-old boy impregnated his two sisters. They were all living together and sleeping in one room.

In the bible:

Genesis 34 brings to life the story of Dinah. She was the daughter of Jacob and Leah. One day when she goes out to see the daughters of the land; she is raped. The young man who rapes her is called Shechem. In fact the bible says , he saw her, he took her, he lay with her and defiled her. The law in the land in Deuteronomy 22 stated if a man raped a lady, he was to pay fifty pieces of silver and take her to wife and never leave her all the days of her life. I will not go into what i think of this law, but it served its purpose at that time. Allow me to give you time to read the story for yourselves in Genesis Chapter 34. In the whole story Dinah never says a word.

My view:

Even when Dinah is silent through out the story we hear her voice. Rape is tragic , it leaves you voiceless as it raptures your soul. Your dignity as a person is violated. The woman is vulnerable. I do not undermine the same happening to men, but allow me to talk about women. Their vunerability could be in Education, Culturally, Socially and even Legally. That said let it not go without me mentioning that even physically, we as women are not as strong as men. We can overcome our vulnerabilities.

God is will bring every rape to book:

The bible says in the book of Habbakuk 2:20 The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him: this is the word I wish to share with all those who continue to defile. For all those who have been raped or sexually assaulted let me share this with you 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. God know everything you have gone through. You can be an overcomer.

Conclusion:

The Lord allowed the story of Dinah and many other similar stories in the bible to awaken us to the fact that he knows each and everything that happens to us, whether good or bad. In the bible he highlights the moral degradation of men and a clear warning to all perpetrators that he will bring you to book – repent and turn away from defiling children of the most High God. Be warned the bible says in Hebrews 10:31 “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.“

Ladies I leave you with Isaiah 61:3 …”to give unto them beauty for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

The Vulnerability of Women – Rape in Canaan

Listen to the Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/814151/episodes/4328771-the-vulnerability-of-a-woman-rape-in-canaan

Strength:

Of late I have been thinking a lot about of who I am as a woman created by God. This is borne from my many interactions with outstanding women. Not for their fame, beauty, education or riches, but for their ability to keep rising up in the face of great misfortune. As women we are balancing so many roles, mother, wife, sister, friend, colleague, mentor, provider, and confidant. Yet despite the heavy responsibilities we manage to keep a level head and more often than not maintain a smile.

The Silent Victor:

A few years ago I wrote the book “The Silent Victor.” In it I poured out the lives of women who had “Special” Children. Their journey bearing and caring for this special an beautiful children led them through lonely and painful paths. One of these ladies was a dear sister “Glorine”, who has since passed away from breast cancer. Interestingly, I never added her story in the book even though she is the one who allowed me to encounter the special women in the book I wrote. Her courage, strength and unwavering faith was so infectious. But again her story is for another day. Back to the woman in each one of us.

Endurance:

The Silent Victor is each woman who keeps getting up each morning even when there is nothing to wake up to . Recognizing women who will never be known or appreciated. My heart goes out of each of you and I just want to tell you that you are special and even though you may not be well-known, your footprints are in the lives of those you take care of everyday and will live on for generations to come. The other day, we read about the woman who was cooking stones for her 8 children to keep the hope of having a meal alive. In reality she didn’t really have anything to feed her children but she still prepared what she could. Many women like her, some who are reading this article, have perhaps gone through more difficult circumstances and come through victors. Women who have gone through these moments with tears and a lot of anxiety but have remained strong.

Your creator:

You could be diagnosed with a terminal illness. Your husband may have walked out on you. You may have just lost your loved one. You many have lost your means of livelihood. Your world may be falling apart around you. You are no alone. Your creator is with you in every circumstance. In His letter to you he says ” 1Now this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flames will not set you ablaze.

Month: June 2020

The Vulnerability of Women – Rape in Canaan