Mum, Dad, Sorry I am Late

 

I was thinking this morning..... A little girl grew up sleeping between her mum and dad right from birth because she was an only child. When she was 5 years old, her parents tried weaning her from that habit by tucking her in bed in her room at bed time. She will however get up at midnight, tiptoe into her parents room and slide in-between them. To her, 12 midnight was an appointment not to be missed.

Every night, her parents looked to the day she will grow up, be an adult and sleep in her room, but their little girl enjoyed the warmth between her parents. She does this religiously every day, week, month and year until her 10th birthday. It was 12 midnight on her 10th birthday and dad and mum was expecting their beloved daughter to slide into their bed but she didn't. They waited for another 30mins and didn't hear the creaking sound of the door announcing the arrival of their midnight visitor. At this point, they heaved a sigh of relief and concluded that their daughter has finally grown up. As they gradually drifted into dreamland at about 1am, the door opened, the girl snuck in-between them, looked at both parents and said 'Mummy, Daddy, sorry I am late.'

I remembered this story as Nigeria celebrated her 62nd Independence yesterday. The world, for 62 years expected us to grow up but, like that little girl, we still behave like a child enjoying the warmth of her parents. We squander our God given resources like the prodigal son, go aborrowing and then return to United Nations asking for debt cancellation.  What we are saying to the world at a time they thought we've grown is 'Mummy, Daddy, sorry I am late.'

Just like Nigeria, there are many Nigerians that are adults with the mindset of children. One would've expected that with what we have gone through, the major considerations for selecting the next set of leaders will be issues based. Usai! Many still play money and tribal politics synonymous with looking you in the eye and saying 'bro, sist. Sorry I am late.'

My prayer is that as we celebrate our 62nd Independence anniversary and get into 2023, we will grow up as individuals and a nation. We are not designed to be children forever but to grow and mature into adults. We have acted like children long enough, it's time to grow up (Deut 2:3).

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey