By Trish Gwasarira

In poetry shared at a Johane, the 5th of Africa church service in South Africa, the young lady Trish Gwasarira questions the parents on their abandoned role, which she describes as ill-conceived love while urging them to wake up from their deep sleep.

"Parents, are you teaching your children the ways of the Lord? Are you raising a Godly city, or are you letting society, friends, relatives, and the internet detect to you how to raise your child?

"A child is a gift from God, and it's your responsibility as a parent to raise up their child right. Am I hurting you? But it is the truth.

"Proverbs 22 verse 6 says Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will never depart from it. Develop a relationship with God so that you can influence your children to have one with him, too.

"Let them know that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Teach them to pray and remember there's power in your tongue. 

"My dear parents, it's not just about putting your kids in expensive schools or paying expensive school fees. It's about being there for them. 

"Pay attention to their personal lives. Know every detail about your child's life so that you can steer them to the right path.

"So many disheartening events have taken place to children in certain times, and I ask, where are the mothers? Have the mothers gone to sleep on us? Have the mothers abandoned us to this type of generation?

"My dear mothers, you buy your child a phone with no proper monitoring. Your daughter dresses up indecently, and you think it's fashion. Your daughter posts half-naked pictures on the internet and you think she's cute. Your son hangs out with the wrong friends and you think it's their time. 

"My dear parents, a child with no proper monitoring is a time bomb waiting to happen. My dear parents, a child is a God-given responsibility and it's your duty as a mother to help them fulfil their purpose and maximize their potential. Remember if a family fails, society fails and if society fails, the future is destroyed. 

"Awake from your slumber oh mothers in Zion. Do not let the internet steal your child. Awake from your slumber oh mothers of Zion, do not let society and all its corruption steal your child.

"My dear parents, teach your child how to pray and study the Bible. If you don't know how to pray, how then will your child learn how to pray? If you don't know how to study your Bible, how then will your child learn how to study the Bible?

"My dear parents, lead by example and do not let your child fall. Remember it takes a village to raise a child."