SISTER GIVE ME WHITE SWEET!!!

Wonders will never end with kids of today. Sometimes I find it difficult to really understand where they get some ideas from. The Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Church as we all know is the pivot of our faith. Most times, kids tend to wonder how it tastes. I still remember vividly the excitement when I told my girls that it was time for catechisms so as to enable them receive Holy Communion. 'Yesssssss'!!! My first daughter, Somto shouted 'Mum I want to know how it tastes,' added Jennifer. “It's Ok but before you receive it, you must pass your catechisms examination, if you must go.” “We will pass it mum” they chorused in excitement. And then the journey of faith began.

It's indeed exciting for them because most at times they go straight from school with their uniforms on due to time factor. Children as we all know should be drawn closer to God by us parents. If you start early, you will surely reap the fruit of your labour because that child will never depart from that wonderful and righteous way you took pains to teach them.

Many of us parents most times don't do our work properly where our wards and house helps are; some allow their own children to attend catechism classes but our wards who should also benefit from this, as children of God, are denied the opportunity to do so.
Communion with God should be a free thing. It's a free world you know, every living being should have the opportunity of worshiping God irrespective of our status in life. I overheard a woman saying she can't allow her maid go for catechism classes stressing that it will be hectic for her when the maid leaves home everyday. “So she should wait until she gets married then her husband will do that for her.” After all, she continued, “my maid was not baptized before coming to my house. Her parents should have done that if it was important to them.” Well that is we women for you. All we know is our kids only; aside that, every other person can go to hell! But is it good?

Making sure our kids receive the necessary sacrament as at when due should also be in our agenda. Some parents don't see it as being necessary; all they do is feed, cloth, shelter them and then the spiritual aspect can go to hell!

I was at home one evening relaxing at the sit-out after a hectic day at the office when my girls rushed in from the church. They had gone to their first confession at the church and were happy about it. 'Mum' Jenny called squeezing my hand in excitement. “This was how I did mine.” She knelt down and began, “Father, forgive me for I have sinned. This is my first confession since I was baptized. I told kosi waka; I did not give Buike sweet when he begged me. It wasn't my fault sha; he dragged the sweet with me mum you remember that day now,”...she tried to bring me into her sins, but I quickly withdrew myself because I can't actually remember when that episode happened. 'Is Ok' I told her “but make sure you don't do them again.” While all this was going on, Somto watched and was smiling at Jenny's antics. “Sommy would you want to tell me yours too?” She just smiled and I let her be.
Finally when the D Day came for my girls to receive communion, I don't know the best way to describe the joy they felt. I felt fulfilled seeing that I have started off with their journey of faith. As they dressed in their immaculate white gown, hand gloves and shawl across their shoulder and then veil on their head, they were really ready to receive Christ in the Eucharist.

Since that day, it has being a different story. Each time Kosy is given biscuit, he breaks it into tiny pieces, puts them in a plate, stands before my altar and plays the part of a priest. He tells his siblings “body of Christ” and they say 'Amen.'
But something happened recently at Mass; it was time for communion and I stood up and was approaching the altar when someone held my skirt. I turned around and noticed it was Buike. I quickly dragged him to the front and walked with him to the altar. I tried making him kneel before me while I stayed at his back but I never knew the little guy had another plan. He refused and knelt beside me. The Rev Sister giving the communion approached me and said 'body of Christ' and I replied, “Amen!”

I quickly turned around after receiving communion to take my boy with me. You won't believe what I saw. Haaa! Kids of today eeeh! na wa! I saw Buike holding his hands together with tongue out like one waiting to receive communion but unfortunately the Sister by-passed him for the next person. “Sister give me white sweet!!!!!!,” he shouted but I had to drag him away before we are dragged to Rome to sort out the scandal of a three year-old receiving Holy Communion.

While I was going back to my seat, he continued shouting “give me white sweet! Mum white sweet!!” Check out Buike's agitation as he kicked his legs in the air because I had to lift him up to avoid more drama inside the church. You can't imagine the scenario my son and I created that day. As I sat down to pray, I gave my house help sign to help me take him outside.

Before I finished my prayers he came back into the church and started pinching me. After prayers, I sat down to console him. Trust Buike now; he went to his Daddy who was sitting just before us to tell him that I refused to give him the 'white sweet' Sister gave me. My husband smiled and told him he will tell the Rev. Sister to give him the sweet after Mass and that did the magic. And we continued the Mass in peace.
So dear parents, make it a point of duty to take care of the spiritual aspect of your children's life. Send them to catechism when they are fit for it and make sure you help them go for confessions always so that they will grow up knowing the right thing to do.
At least once in a while I take my kids to confession. If I don't have the time to do that, I make sure I remind them of it and make provisions for that. But unfortunately most parents find it difficult going for confessions themselves; that is why they don't even remember to tell their kids to do same.
Please if you have not being doing that. Join me today in inculcating the Catholic virtues in our kids and you will be glad you did. Keep trying and don't ever relent ok?
Enjoy!

(For Sponsorship and Comments on this Column call or text +2348032217932,
you can also send it to eve4dad96@yahoo.com).