As a flower blooms at maturation, so are young boys and girls as they approach the teen age.
At this stage of their life, their physical features become more noticeable and they become more attractive to observers.
Individually they are more aware of this striking change that has occurred in their physical appearance, and within them grows the feeling of likeness and attraction to the opposite sex.
This is just a natural phenomenon that is expected at this stage of life. What however matters for boys and girls at this stage is how to handle this very sensitive stage of life.
This is because teenagers can be most vulnerable to temptations, especially sexual desires.
For instance, a teenage boy and girl would love to start dating each other because of the feelings emanating from within.
And while dating, they now want to try out what adults do.
In the process they begin to explore each other and if care is not taken, one thing leads to another and they start sleeping with each other until the havoc is done.
Inordinate affection further lures some of them into pornography, vulgar music, corrupt associations and discussions and all other ungodly acts.
These are breeding grounds for other illicit acts such as masturbation, sexual orgies, rape, besides teens indulgence in vices such as smoking, consumption of hard drugs and alcoholism.
Unknown to many teenagers, there is more to life than subjecting themselves to these endangering habits because any attempt to navigate wrongly at this point of their life can plunge them into ocean of everlasting regret.
They should not forget that they have a destiny at stake, and the devil’s aim is to destroy destinies which he does by introducing all sort of vices inimical to future prospect of young people.
Basically, the focus of any teenage boy and girl is to discover his/her goal in life, which is a gradual process through the help of God and parents.
Teenagers should cooperate with their parents, especially when they care for them.
Since everything starts from the mind, it is very important for boys and girls to develop mindset by occupying themselves with valuable pursuits needed to excel in life.
These include paying close attention to their academics, developing their natural talents and skills, building their relationship with God and having a disciplined lifestyle.
Engaging their minds and channeling their energies in positive activities will help them to check inordinate affection from growing within them.
When the mind is occupied rightly with the right thoughts, words and actions, it will be difficult for negative things to accommodate it.
Attraction to the opposite sex at this stage should not be for intimacy but rather seen as an avenue to appreciate the unique features in the opposite sex for better understanding in relating with themselves, how they can help each other academically, while boundaries must be set.
This is why a discreet teen will do well to avoid night partying, company of lewd teens, and those given to vices such as smoking and drinking acohol.
But for those who may have been caught in the web, they should seek counseling from well-established entities. Parents also have a critical role to play in this by living right in order to be a good example to their children, also giving their children attention.
One mistake most parents make is the assumption that they very well know their children, simply because they gave birth to them, which in most cases is not true.
In order to avoid these failed assumptions, they should rather create an atmosphere of a free flow two-way communication between them and their children, affording their children room to confide in them.
It must be stressed that moulding the personality of children starts from childhood, with the boy-child or girl-child educated on the ills of vices, especially as they see most of these in society around them.
Parents should also beware of sparing the rod and spoiling the child. Even the Bible states explicitly that a father chastises children whom he loves; so it is best for parents to correct their children in a pleasant way when the need arises.
The best recommended way to handle sexual temptations as a teenager is through the help of God. Jude (a book in the Bible) tells us that God is able to keep us from stumbling and falling into sin.
This means that as teenagers you should be in right standing with God. The question now is: Are you in right standing with GOD? Do you have a relationship with him?
If not, do not hesitate to ask GOD for help and forgiveness, draw nearer unto GOD, pray without ceasing, pray for wisdom and strength to do away with immoral acts.
May God help you not to destroy your bright future with carnal desires and other ruinous vices so that your life might forever glorify the name of the Lord. Shalom.
By Ibitayo Oluwaferanmi
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