Trek Memories, Interrupted

We had a disheartening experience this week that I feel I need to write about.  If you are uncomfortable with this topic, I'm sorry in advance.

The Boy disclosed to Genius Golfer this week that he has a "friend" who happens to be a girl, who sent him a picture of her naked boobs to his phone.  It made him uncomfortable and he wasn't sure what to do.

At least he told GG about it.  And, at least so far as I can comprehend, he didn't request this photo from her.  But still.

I saw a sign recently that said something along the lines of "One of the best things bout being in my 40s is that we did all our stupid stuff before the Internet."  True.  I know that my generation wasn't perfect, by any stretch of the imagination.  But there is much less proof of it now.

These kids today have electronic shadows that will follow them forever.  And when they compound this fact with stupid choice too, it only makes it worse.

I feel bad for my son, who was confused, and probably a little excited--he's a boy, after all--then guilt for feeling that, and now he is ashamed.  And it wasn't his initial action that started it all.  But he is dealing with the fall out. I hope he is learning too.  We have had to talk to him about Child Pornography and having that on his phone makes him culpable too. 

I feel really bad for this girl though.  She got the idea that she will get attention--that she obviously craves--with this kind of behavior. the problem is that this is not the kind of attention she ultimately wants.  I'm sure she is some Dad's "Baby Girl" and some Grandma's "Little Darling" and even someone's "Big Sister", but she has also made her self an object for other people to consume.  And that is sad.

How will she ever feel the real value she hold innately as a daughter of God?  How will she find the self-worth to recognize her own potential?  How will she understand that she is, of herself, worth real love and devotion someday?

I guess a part of me will always be a YW leader.  This girl and her action break my heart.  And at the same time, make me want to call her mom.  It is a hard lesson, but a necessary one--for both the sender and the recipient.