INTENTION MATTERS A LOT

Life challenges with their vicissitudes know not where to draw the line; otherwise, they should not be saddling children with hardships. Child labour short-changes children.  To devise tactical coping strategies to survive varying situations right from infancy, perforce makes adult of children. Psychologically wounded are the many traumatised casualties of forced induction into adulthood via child labour. “Okoro erughị eru wara ọgọdọ, ikuku buru ya, oburu ọgọdọ ya – Should a youth not attain the right age before wearing cloth, the wind will carry away both him and his cloth.” Anyway, “Onweghị ihe anya hụrụ, gbaa ọbara – Nothing, no matter how unsightly, will ever make the eyes to shed blood.” “Mbe sị na nsogbu bụ nke ya, ya mere ya jiri kwọrọ ya n’azụ – The Tortoise said that trouble is his, that is why he carries it on his back.” “Onye ọ biara, obugara onye? – If it is one’s lot, to whom, will the one transfer it?”

Ezinwa had to shoulder her own burden and the responsibility of being her parents’ keeper right from childhood. “Ma ọnwụ egbughị ji ejiri chụ aja, emechaa ọ ga epu ume – If the yam used in sacrifice does not die prematurely, it will eventually germinate.” “Ma ọnwụ egbughị nwa eghu, emechaa æ ga aghæ ikenga eghu –  If a kid goat survives, it will eventually become a full grown goat.” Things will ultimately improve despite teething problems.

Long ago, an honest, polite and kind-hearted girl lived with her sick parents in Eziobodo,

a very remote village where everybody knew everyone else. Because she was their only child and there were no relatives to help these infirm parents of hers, Ezinwa learnt from childhood to work hard and earn a living for the family. She used to fetch water and firewood for people, sweep their compounds and wash their plates when she was small. When she grew up she also worked in people’s farms. In exchange, they gave her foodstuff with which she took care of her parents. Her parents loved and cherished her very much and they blessed her quite often. Their appreciation and continuous blessings encouraged her to work even harder. “Etoo dike na nke omere ya emekwa ọzọ – Praise a do-gooder and she is encouraged to do even more.”

Because she had known sufferings, Ezinwa was very patient, considerate and selfless. One day she went to the stream to fetch water. On the way, she met an old woman...
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