Has Your Child Been Abused?

About a week ago, I ran into two foster moms—one black, one white—whose children’s brush with sexual abuse tore their families apart. In one family, the father committed suicide because he didn’t know how to defend himself against the baseless charges of his adopted daughters (who were abused by their family of origin). In the second story, a single mother who had opened her home to eight foster children lost her children when it was revealed that her babysitter had abused two of her foster sons.

These stories made me realize how important this topic is, and how desperately parents need to be educated about the signs and appropriate responses to a child who has been abused in this way.

The U.S. Department of Health estimates that one in four women will experience sexual assault or abuse in her lifetime; one in four teenage girls have contracted a sexually transmitted disease. These grim statistics point to the prevalence of sexual abuse among children. It happens. Even in “good” families ... it may be happening even in your family.

This is a tough subject to write about. It’s even tougher to live through it. But the sad truth is that many, many children have been robbed of their innocence by people who were supposed to be trustworthy caregivers. Family friends. Babysitters. Teachers. Clergy. Even relatives.

When it comes to protecting our children, we are our children’s first and best line of defense. We are also the ones—the only ones—who can demonstrate what true love is, when they have been traumatized by a counterfeit. This kind of love requires extraordinary courage, superhuman compassion, and perfect love. It also requires the kind of strength and wisdom that comes from God alone.

Has your child been abused? If so, he or she needs you. More than ever. I hope the article gives you the keys you need to help.