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TRUE LIFE STORY.
In 2019, I was in High Court No.4, Nnewi, Anambra State.
The court was sitting.
While I waited for my case to be called up, a young boy of about 22 years was led into the dock by the prison officials.
He was standing trial for defiling an 8 or 9 year old girl.
And he had no counsel (Lawyer).
The Judge threw some questions at him and from the way his face fell and he lowered his head at intervals and his body weight shifted from his right leg to his left leg, and from his left leg to his right leg, I knew he was guilty.
When the Judge asked if any counsel would be willing to represent him, NOBODY (including me) agreed to stand in for him.
I did not only refuse to stand in for him, I was fuming.
When I saw the little girl he “most likely” defiled and her mother, I was enraged.
I decided to step outside so as to feel the breeze on my face and skin, and calm down a bit before my case is called up.
While I stood outside, I discussed with some colleagues and I fumed and cursed.
“How do people do this? Why do people do this? If it were my daughter, I would deal with the boy in my way. Young girls almost never get through this kind of experience. If you know how much these girls suffer as a result of this experience eee, you will support me if I decide to kill this boy”.
The moment I uttered these words, I heard a soft voice behind me.
“Please, no kill am o. Mercy for him. Na my pikin. I no support am at all for what he did. In short, na me carry am go police go report am”.
I turned and I saw a middle aged man. His hair and beards were white.
He looked straight into my eyes.
“Please, I know say my pikin commit but abeg no kill am. As I dey so, shame dey catch me for here. But wetin I go do? Na my pikin. Na me report am but I no fit abandon am like that”.
I was mute.
My rage melted away and compassion took its place.
Yes. His son did something awful.
Yes. This father reported his son.
Yes. He is standing trial and facing the full consequences of his crime.
But this father couldn’t abandon his son.
Why?
The reason is simple: He was his son.
Till date, I remember that man and everything he said, and my heart goes out to him.
He is imperfect yet he knows how to be there for and with his son.
How much more will our Heavenly Father love, save, help, provide and deliver us simply because WE ARE HIS CHILDREN.
The next time you feel dirty and unworthy,
The next time you feel God doesn’t listen to your kind, perhaps because you have made several mistakes and errors or you are still struggling with a certain addiction,
Please, remember that God loves you, the way you are, flaws, mistakes and all, simply because YOU ARE HIS CHILD.
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I’m rooting for you ❤
