Hazards in the name of 'helps' - 1

God help us mothers!  In dare search for daily bread, we sometimes ‘delegate’ some of our primary responsibilities to others.  These could range from shopping to cooking to child care, and who know even husband care.

My husband would rather not have strangers live-in.  He is often worried about spiritual compatibility, dependability, character and possible influence on the children.  If the children must stay at home, rather than go to grandma, then help we must have.  What can we do, but to put all of these in prayers before even searching for the help.  Also when we eventually get one, we do all the due diligence we can possibly do as human beings. Then the next step is to be alert and watchful, whilst continuously committing all to God in prayers..surely He that keepeth Isreal neither slumber nor sleep Psalm 121 v 4

I got this help at a time and thought I could help her by putting her in school, whilst my children are also in school.  She picks up my children after school, just few buildings away from home and fixes them lunch.

That fateful afternoon, for whatever reason I decided to come home from work (now my office had relocated to a much closer location).  It was past the time for my children to arrive home, but they were not in sight.  I therefore had to walk down to pick them up.  I served lunch and waited at home for close to another hour, behold my help had not showed up.  Then I heard footsteps by the window, it was my help coming accompanied by a friend dressed in strange muftis (not school uniforms), face painted and with my shoes on. She was supposed to have picked my children at least 2hours before that time and stay home with them. Of course not dependable and could pose a real threat to the children.  No debate, I sent her packing.

Prayer point: O Lord, help me to choose the right person to support me in the care of my home and children.  Open my eyes to see things that might be going wrong and help me to take that needed decisive action(s) and avoid exposing my home and family to undue risk in Jesus name. Amen.

Grandma to the rescue

 Now, casting my mind back, I cannot quite reconcile some of the risks I took back then.  It is unimaginable to think some of those stuffs actually did happen.  It was ‘reporting time’ at work.  For an Accountant, that really is the peak period where all reports are due within a very tight schedule.  It’s just like a relay, as your submissions will be consolidated globally and timing and quality of your reports are quite critical.  It was just at the peak of all of these my daughter took ill and was admitted in hospital.  What a time!  It was absolutely impossible for me to ask for a time off at this time, there was no relief officer; my boss at the time wasn’t even so approachable particularly at such a critical period.  What could I possibly do?  Of course, it was grandma to the rescue.  Grandma will stay with my daughter in hospital all day and mummy only takes over at night after work to allow grandma go home and rest.  Grandma resumes again the next morning and mummy also will report at work right from hospital – this was the routine for the 5 days my daughter was in hospital.

Back home now with nanny all day long, we had to complete some oral drugs. One of it was to be taken in 3days, 2 tablets a day and the last one tablet on the 3^rd day.  Usually, I will administer the morning drugs and give an instruction on the afternoon portion.  To my surprise, my hyper active nanny had completed the 3days dosage, all in one day!  Two tablets in the afternoon, and the last one in the evening, before I got back from work.  Back I rushed to the hospital with my baby, as soon as I realized.  The doctor was absolutely amazed and I cannot forget his stern question; where were you?

 Prayer point: O Lord, take absolute control of my life, take control of my family;  even when I need to be away reign over my home, reign over my children and family members.  There shall be no evil mishap in Jesus name.  Amen.

The shock of my life

I bless God for the opportunity to share with you on this platform.  I am really excited, looking forward to what God has in store for us and it feels like a new chapter of my life being opened.  To God be the GLORY !

My first daughter was barely 4, with my second about 2 years.  At this time I just couldn’t cope with school runs.  My office was quite a distance, about 2hrs in the traffic every morning before managing to get to work at after 8am totally exhausted.  I was never sure of what time I will get back home; could be as late as 10-11pm, or sometimes even having to stay over the night unexpectedly (though quite occasionally), if certain deadlines were to be met.  My husband was half the time out of town.  Nannies were absolutely un-reliable.  We had to make an arrangement for the children to stay with grandma during the week, whilst we pick them up on Fridays.   Arrangement though workable, was quite frustrating for me.  I was missing out a lot on the children; I was on the verge of quitting right away and forgetting about paid employment, but we thought we should keep the struggle a little longer.  I got to grandma unusually early this blessed Friday excited about spending the weekend with my children, lo and behold, I got the shock of my life!

Time to go home, I said to my girls.  Home?  My first daughter retorted, I don’t like staying in your house.  You are never there.  You don’t do anything for me, you don’t take me to school.  I love staying with grandma, she is always there.    My heart broke in a snap, my tears rolled freely,  I bent by her side beckoning, my voice barely audible – My dear, if I don’t go to work I won’t be able to buy you this your lovely dress – I don’t want any dress she replied stubbornly.  It dawned on me suddenly that she meant real business. To cut the story short, my daughter refused to go home with me for a few more weekends.  She taught me a deep lesson that has remained with me since then.   It was expedient to start making those changes that will bring that mutual fulfilment in family life.

Prayer point: O Lord, help me to reorganise my life.  Help me to make those tough decisions I must make to give me a more meaningful and fulfilling family life in Jesus name.  Amen.