Inoculation Diaries

“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”

Barbara De Angelis

I witnessed an incident at my baby’s last inoculation that really got to me. A woman had just come in with her baby and a 4-year old child. She walked straight to the nurse on duty for administering shots that day and handed a weighing book to her. The assumption immediately was that it was for the younger child. Nope! She had brought the older child(4 years and a number of months) to be given all the shots she had missed. That was so weird. Aside the fact that the child had missed the correct timing for the vaccinations/immunizations to be done, how on earth was she going to take all those shots in one day? Was that even possible?

I sat there confused and dumbfounded until she begun telling her side of the story. Apparently she used to be consistent with the weighing schedule until the nurses begun to complain about her child being severely underweight. They bashed her so much that she stopped showing up altogether. And now she was back, after almost 4 years!!! And even now the child looked quite small for a four year old. (Disclaimer: I’m not sure if this child has any underlying health conditions).

My heart went out for both the child (the medical care she has missed out on based on no fault of hers) and her mother (the shame and ridicule of not being enough for her child). I waited and observed to see the reaction of the nurse. She was livid. She immediately started muttering about how she could not believe how a mother had be so careless and missed out on such important shots. Oh my God!! I was shocked. She went on and on and on. And then I gently told her that sometimes it gets very difficult when we come for these routine checks and they bash us, especially when the child isn’t gaining weight. Sometimes people just needed the support. She wasn’t even having it. I decided to mind my business and said a silent prayer for this mother and child.

As I walked away leaving the premises I couldn’t help but wonder how many times as Christians our sanctimonious demeanor, pious looks, judgmental comments/criticisms and glorified expectations have deterred others from staying in church to serve God and freely fellowship. Many hurtful experiences have caused people to erect high walls to safeguard themselves from attacks by fellow brethren. Our inability to live simple open lives or even be vulnerable to supposedly loving “church family” begs the question if we are even family at all. Rather than support one another we tend to compare and compete, tearing down others in the process.

It is for this very reason that:

•Many are moving to other churches

•Many are moving from the church head branch to smaller branches where they feel more relevant, more loved

•Many are staying home and supposedly sticking to the online fellowship adopted during the pandemic

•Many have evidently given up on fellowship altogether and no longer go to church

Our churches are getting stale, hostile, empty…

The world is losing its love. The love with which it was first created. The love for which Jesus was sent to die to save the world, even after our numerous attempts as humans to destroy it. We may lament about how quickly things are going south lately economically, morally, socially and so on. We may criticize our leaders and public figures for looking on unconcerned or not doing enough. It is evident that saving it by our personal little efforts is nearly impossible but we must not lose hope.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

We can however maintain a positive mindset and through consistent prayer and practicing of godly instructions we may sow seeds of hope, love and kindness to others. Faith must prevail.

Love, Esinam.