Merry Christmas.

Hey everyone.

I haven't blogged for ages, sorry!! I have been so busy lately with my essay for university. I don't know why but even though my essays only have to be 3000 words they seem to take me forever. This one needed so much background reading but thankfully it was an interesting subject, so I really enjoyed doing it.

Our essay was all about Children's Rights, how society views children and young people and also how culture affects nursing care given to children and young people. It's amazing to know what rights children actually have, there are so many of them and they are so detailed. It's great knowing though, because it gives you a greater understanding of children and also helps you to see when children and young people are not being treated as they should be.

For the scenario for my essay, which is used as a base for the essay, in order to help us relate theory to practice, I used an African baby who had been circumcised at home by an unregistered doctor. The procedure created complications, such as severe bleeding and obviously questionning about whether this procedure was a breach of child protection or not.

The thing is though, the nurses didn't understand the family and the culture they have...how it was important culturally for their baby boy to have this procedure done and how it was considered fine for this unregistered doctor to perform the procedure. What was needed was the nurses to step into the shoes and therefore culture of the parents, just to give a little perspective in order to have a little understanding, therefore understanding that this procedure was not done to harm the boy but to bring health.

Anyway, now I'm blabbing. I guess some people just aren't aware that everyone lives their life according to their personal, family culture. This culture isn't just to do with what country you come from but what your family imparts into you as you grow and develop. People need to understand and see that everywhere you look there are different cultures and ways of life.

Interesting though...especially as the question that arose was about whether or not this sort of procedure means the childs rights aren't upheld, whether done by registered professionals or not. Should this procedure be deferred until the child is old enough to make the decison himself or should the parents really be able to impart their culture into their child in this way?? How do we allow people to have their rights upheld whilst giving them the guidance and sometimes orders that they need, especially children and young people?! It's a hard topic and I know there aren't any black and white answers...we just have to remember that everyone has the right of freedom to choose their own will and way...hard but true!!

Anyway, that's about it from me, not sure why I shared this all as I'm sure you're not particularly interested in the topic of circumcision :) but I was interested!! Maybe it brings up some other questions though...

How do we bring up our children and young people rightly, giving them the best level of freedom but also discipline they need??

Are there right and wrong ways or is it just trial and error with each individual??

All I know is that we all need freedom and we all need structure and I sure can't wait to put my knowledge into practice when I have my own children :) exciting stuff!! Hard but exciting!!

Much love and Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Fire.

Okay, I have another song for you. I don't care what you think of this song, I absolutely LOVE it!! I don't know why, I just think it's wonderful.

It's this guy singing about this girl that he is into. He talks about the fact that she is not just into any guy, she is waiting for the 'one' and she is not prepared to compromise. I just love this whole scenario, how someone can just want to wait so patiently and strongly for someone they may never have met before...someone who they know they will love immensely even though they are not yet together.

How is it people can wait like that?? How can people be so sure they will meet that someone who will fill them with desire?? I don't know really, I guess this is an act of faith isn't it!? I mean, I waited for my man, maybe not as patiently and strongly as I should have, but I still waited without compromise and I believe that I and also he will be blessed because of that.

'Lots of guys have been up to her but she told them she was waiting,

For the one that God sent to fulfill her kind of craving,

A special kind of loving...

Everytime that I look into your eyes I see fire in there,
And if you look into my eyes you see desire in there...
I can't believe she's still a virgin,

Lots of guys have been up to her but there was no compromising,

She'd been strong,

She'd been keeping herself until the day of her wedding,

Under the right ceiling,

With the right person,
A person deserving of her special kind of loving.'

You might think that these lyrics are really cheesy and not so good to dance to in a club, well, I agree, but don't you think they mean something real?! People now are so driven to fulfill their desire. They just want that satisfaction and will do anything to bring it straight away. People are so into this quick fix way of life, that they aren't actually prepared to wait and fight anymore.

Someone was discussing about whether or not arranged marriages are better, I think this was due to the fact that these sort of marriages tend to last. Do you know why they last though?! Because the people in these marriages are not prepared to let their marriage sink. They are not prepared to bring a sudden quick fix ending to their troubles and challenges. These people are all about marriage and making it last, after all, shouldn't marriage be for an eternity?!

In the Bible, God often refers to us as His Bride. He is the Groom and we, the church, are the Bride. This is representing that we are bound with Him in marriage...we are bound with Him forever...that is what marriage is...marriage is forever.

' "In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'...I will betroth you to me FOREVER; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness..." ' Hosea 2 v 16 - 20

Don't you want to be like the girl in the song?? The one who doesn't compromise?? Don't you want to be the man singing the song?? Waiting for this lady who has saved everything just for him??

Don't just give everything for no-one. Wait and fight for what you truly desire and what you know will bring blessings of love. Love is about fire, about desire and about lasting for an eternity.

'...do not throw your pearls to the pigs...' Matthew 7 v 6

'Praise the Lord...who satisfies your desires with good things...' Psalm 103 v 1 - 5

Take hold of the truth and let it consume you.