Here in Nigeria, we hear stories that break the heart. We hear stories of women who, after giving birth to a bouncing, healthy baby, go and dump that same baby on a garbage heap.
It bothers me deeply every single time I hear such news. On several occasions I have wished to be the one to find those abandoned babies. Because I will not hesitate one bit to carry them. I will care fo them and love them.
Something happened recently that prompted me to write this.
One of my Christian sisters just put to bed. In line with our culture, she begged me to help her bathe the baby and take care of him in these early days. So every day I must go there to care for the baby.
We call it ( Omugwo).
Each day I visit to bathe this newborn, I see myself developing a bond. A real bond oooo. Whenever the baby himself feels my presence, he turns in my direction. A baby that is not mine, and yet my heart is already attached.
That’s how the question starts ringing in my head. I asked myself, "How do those people who abandon their babies do it?"
If I can feel this much love and responsibility for a child that is not mine, how much more for my own?
One thing is certain, which is, every baby deserves love and warmth, they deserve someone to nurture and care for them, I mean they did not asked to be born.
And I pray that if anyone ever feels they cannot keep their child, they should remember there are people, people like you and I reading this who would carry that baby, or can't you care for a baby as if it's yours? ( I'm just thinking out loud).
But my question still remains, what could possibly make a mother walk away and leave her baby in a place of filth and danger? Is it shame? Poverty? Fear? Whatever reason they have, can it ever be justifiable to throw away a life? I would love to hear your responses to this.
Meanwhile, the baby I’m caring for now is growing stronger, healthier, and bigger every day.
This is @sarahbaby and you are all welcome to my blog.
All pictures are mine.
