An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
by Sarah Parker, MDiv, MA, LMFT
Chances are, you’ve heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Maybe you’ve even said it yourself. I wonder. . . do you know the story behind this famous proverb?
According to Cambridge University, the story is told that during a visit to Boston in 1733, Benjamin Franklin was impressed with the city’s fire prevention methods. He tried to bring some of these practices to the city of Philadelphia, where he lived.
Allegedly, Franklin sent an unsigned letter to his own newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette. Published on February 4, 1735, his letter – “Protection of Towns from Fire” – began with the expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” quoting a proverb dating back to the 1200s in Jurist Henry De Bracton’s work, De Legibus. Then he wrote, detailing ways that the city could take steps to prevent fires before they had to fight them.
Sounds like a precursor to a TED talk, doesn’t it? The message was simple and yet quite profound. . . It is better to stop something from happening than it is to deal with the consequences after it has already happened.
Unfortunately, for too many people, the damage has already been done. According to the Center for Disease Control, it is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. Additionally, in 60% of these cases, the perpetrator of their abuse was someone known to and trusted by the child and their family – someone like a teacher, a coach, a pastor, or a family friend. Child sexual abuse occurs among all groups of society, in rural and metro areas, and regardless of race, education, or socioeconomic status.
We recognize that far too many are paying the costs – physical, emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual, of childhood sexual abuse. For many churches, the damage has been done. . . even one instance of child sexual abuse can cause years of hurt and devastation. There is still much work to be done to heal the trauma and the pain of childhood sexual abuse in the church.
However, we also know that prevention efforts have helped to decrease the rate of childhood sexual abuse in our churches. Increased awareness of behaviors, more specific policies for staff and volunteers, increased communication, and targeted education helps communities advocate for their children.
LeaderWise wants to partner with your churches and judicatory bodies to provide education and support as you develop prevention strategies to protect your children and community. Our first public offering of our Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training is being held on Monday and Tuesday, September 18 and 19 from 2:30 to 5:00 pm Central Time. Click here for more information and to register for this training.
