Rewriting Adik Hua's Life Script...

How do we mend a broken heart, especially when that broken heart belongs to a child?

How do we explain to a child why his parents hurt him, when his presence in this world started from sparks of love between his mother and father, or was there any?

My heart breaks looking at photo of Adik Hau, whose body filled with bruises and scars. He’s only 10 years old yet he has suffered that badly and survived.

I am puzzled when the “State Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Sulaiman said welfare authorities can take the initiative to investigate if the boy was abused by his parents” because he is clearly being abused and I opine that we should investigate who did this to him so that ample punishment should be sentenced to the perpetrator(s) as a strong reminder that no child should be abused (or misused as their punching bags).

"If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves”
~ C.G. Jung

I share with Mak too many times before that many today’s parents are not fit to be guardians to their children. Too many times they are unable to take control of their lives and emotions and they inflict injuries to children – physically, mentally and emotionally – as part of their anger management. It is not acceptable to me when they justified their tantrums that they are after all human beings. But a human being won’t hurt another if he knows what it feels like being hurt.

Such terrifying experience would never befallen upon any child if we, the adults, are attentive enough of what is happening around us – not out of trying to find faults but out of pure concern hearing to a child pleading for mercy, crying in great pain.

But, am I asking too much? Would I violate one’s privacy when I check on what’s going on in their house that woke me up in the middle of the night? Or would I violate a child’s human rights when I dismissed his call for help? And who should I trust more – the parents or the child in question? Personally, I choose to listen to the child because children are born pure.

"What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give” ~ P.D. James

Scientific research shows that children from such harrowing childhood tend to grow up bitter, insecure and depressed unless they are guided to rewrite the life script along the way.

At this point of time, Adik Hau chooses to stay with his uncle, which I think is the best matured decision he has taken. He is safe for now – let’s pray to God.

However, saving him from such violence is only one part of many more steps to his recovery process. He needs our guidance. He needs our support. He needs to feel that he is worthy being born into this world. I sincerely hope we could be there for Adik Hau so that he would grow up like any other normal children and rewrite his life script.

"If we wish to create a lasting peace, we must begin with the children”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

For me, children are angels on earth. They are priceless gifts God has given us and it is only right we treat them right.

I yearn for a day when we see any child as our own. I long for a day when all children would feel safe and loved when they have us adults around and not the other way around. I desire for a day to come when all children in this world have all the rights they entitle to.

Let’s join in hands and prayers for Adik Hau speedy recovery – inside out. May God bless him with all the care and love a child deserve.