Last night, my neighbor, a registered sex offender, was caught masturbating while peering through my living room window, watching Nicolette. Nicolette was innocently sitting on the sofa, watching cartoons, totally unaware of what was going on outside.
My neighbors let me know what was going on. I didn't even know that he was on the side of my house. 2 of my neighbors were returning home last night and saw him on the side of mine and my neighbor's house. I don't even know how long he's been there. I don't know how long he has been doing this. I don't even want to consider the fact that he may have been watching ALL of us.
I woke Matthew up and told him what was going on. Matthew went outside while I called the police. I am grateful for my neighbors, because usually they scatter when the police come around, but they all gave their version of the story to the officers. I am grateful for Matthew's friend, Jerold, because when my neighbor had gotten dressed to try and leave before the police came, Matthew put his tennis shoes and sweat pants on, called Jerold, and he came right over to help support my husband.
To make a long story short, they had taken him away. I already knew that he was a registered sex offender, because his name and picture is posted on the Family Watchdog Site (which is also listed under My Favorite Links). But I didn't want to treat him like a villain, or cause others to. I'm like this: we all have done things in our pasts that we'd like to forget, and everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves. Up until this point, he never bothered us, so as long as he kept his distance, we left him alone. He does have a sexual problem, though. Sexual addiction is like any other addiction (drugs, alcohol,name your demon here), when, if not treated, can consume you. Women, young and old, would come in and out of his house at all hours. He has two lesbian nieces, who he paid to act as subjects for his voyeurism ( I just found this out today). But anyone who knows a sex addict, especially a pedophile, knows that all of the sex in the world won't satisfy their urges; what they desire are pure, innocent, untouched children. This is where Nicolette, and possibly my other two girls, came in.
But he made his mistake there. He also made his mistake by underestimating me. Many people make the mistake of taking my kindness for weakness. But underneath all of this cordiality is a VERY INFORMED individual. I MUST STAY informed for the sake of my children. And this is a scripture that I follow with a passion:
Matthew 5:43-49 (The Message)
43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
I cannot be everywhere that my children are, but God is. And if we desire to obey Him, regardless of how much it hurts us, He will look out for and care for His children, and all who are under their care. And He'll use ANYONE to do it. I don't make a habit of disrespecting anyone, or treating others with contempt, because I don't know WHO God will use to bless us, or look out for us, or who he'll place in my path for ME to bless. And if I am making a commitment to live right before God, believe me, He'll deal with anyone who persecutes us for no cause.
If any parent is reading this, I urge you to get informed, and STAY informed. Don't stick your head in the sand. For the sake of your children, be in the know. Be wise as a serpent, yet gentle as a dove. Because when it becomes necessary for the serpent in you to strike, you will have plenty of venom (information) with which to defend yourself and your loved ones.
Adrian
3 comments:
Thank goodness nothing further happened, and your children are safe, and yes you are aware of what can drive these people, and also thank God for good neighbours, but as is the same in the UK is where to put these people when they have served their sentence, children are everywhere which just feeds their urges.
Your passage from the Bible speaks volumes.
Take care
Yasmin
xx
Oh my gosh! What a terrible thing, it really does make you afraid. thank goodness for your neighbours. of course you want to give people a chance to redeem themselves and sometimes people are falsely accused but truly, this is every parents worst nightmare. Its good that you're informed.
Oh my gosh!! That's so creepy. Thank heavens your neighbors got involved, so many times it's "Easier" to ignore the problem. ~~Kath~~
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