This post speaks to the child many people used to be, and to every child silently carrying battles today.
To the child who gets bullied in school, I hope that one day, before you grow into an adult, you will find the courage to stand up to your bullies and discover that they have no superpowers.
To the child who stammers, who has lost self-esteem and prefers to stay quiet even when you know what to say because you fear being laughed at; I hope you never carry it as a cross that has been assigned to you. I hope you discover that you can overcome stammering, speak confidently in public, and become someone who speaks with grace and eloquence.
To the child who believes they are dull because they never had excellent grades, I hope you discover soon enough that you are not a dullard at all. You simply need to find that one thing you are gifted at and nurture it.
To the child who feels angry when taken to church or forced to attend church programs, I hope you will one day realize that it will become one of the greatest gifts your parents could ever give you. And I hope you grow to discover who God truly is beyond religion.
To the child who is carefree, full of joy, kind-hearted, and endlessly curious; who laughs loudly, dreams freely, loves deeply, smiles at strangers, forgives easily, and finds beauty in the little things. I pray that you will never lose your wonder. May life never harden your heart, dim your light, or take away the softness that makes you beautiful.
Finally, to the children who have been taken captive, we have lost count of their numbers. Children whose only “crime” was being born in this country. Children who are innocent, joyful, and full of hope for the future, suddenly finding themselves in captivity, exposed too early to a life of fear, suffering, and cruelty.
I hope we do not become so used to these stories that we simply scroll past them every day. I hope we are not only reposting flyers and moving on while forgetting the part we are meant to play. Yes, some of us may not be able to take drastic action, but can we do something as simple and sincere as praying for these little ones?
Even as we celebrate Children’s Day, remember to pray for the children around you; and also for the children far away in the bushes, facing the cruelty of this world. Please, do not forget them..
What is one message you would love every child to hear growing up? Share it in the comment section.
_ Ireoluwa Ogeleye