Spoiler Alert 🚨 (I'm sorry)
So yesterday, I stumbled on a movie on YouTube titled “Àríkẹ́.”
It tells the story of a teenage girl, Àríkẹ́, who had recently lost her mum and was navigating life under the watchful eye of her devout Christian father...a church minister. Àríkẹ́ herself was a youth worship leader, but like many teenagers, she was vulnerable to peer pressure.
Her best friend Bamidele convinced her to lie about a sleepover so they could sneak out to a party. That’s where Àríkẹ́ met Edafe, a boy who seemed charming, they started dating, he convinced her to capture a private act between them, and unfortunately, it inadvertently ended up on the Internet. Àríkẹ́ woke up one morning to ger shame trending on the internet.
And just like that, the world turned its back on her.
Friends distanced themselves.
Mothers warned their daughters to avoid her.
She was removed as worship leader.
Her father was stripped of his church responsibilities.
Eventually, they were even asked to stay away from church “to avoid distraction.”
Everyone else suddenly looked like a saint while Àríkẹ́ was branded the devil.
Àríkẹ́ was broken.
Depressed.
Alone.
Crying herself to sleep each night.
But here’s the powerful part: her father’s love.
Though disappointed, he didn’t disown her. Though heartbroken, he held her. He cried with her. He stood by her when the world walked away. He fought for her friendships, protected her healing, and demonstrated something deeper than discipline...he demonstrated the love of God.
It reminded me of the father in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). The son’s shame was public, but the father’s love was louder.
That movie made me pause and reflect.
As parents, especially Christian parents, how would we respond if our child’s failure was public, messy, and shameful?
Would we sacrifice the child to protect the family name?
Or would we love them through the mess, even when everyone is watching?
I’m not saying discipline doesn’t matter...
Scripture is clear that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). But when the deed is done, when the damage is out there, what heals more than anything else is love.
Love doesn’t excuse sin.
Love embraces the sinner and points them back to grace.
Love restores.
Love covers shame (1 Peter 4:8).
Love helps a child rise again.
Àríkẹ́’s story taught me this:
Protecting your family name will not rebuild your child.
But standing in love, God’s kind of love, can turn their brokenness into a testimony.
Parents, never forget: Your child’s state of mind is more important than “saving face.”
👣 Be Better. 💛 Love Better. 🙌🏾 Do Better.
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