Mothering the man after God’s heart

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Pregnant! No!

I literally saw my world come crumbling down on 4th January 2013 when I carried out a pregnancy test at home. We had just returned from upcountry from the Christmas festivities. This could not be mere travel fatigue. The funny feelings I got when I had conceived the first time were becoming persistent. For weeks I was dreading to carry out the test, consoling myself that this could be a bout of malaria waiting to manifest. This fateful day I gathered the courage, sent hubby to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test kit.

My body literally froze as I watched the second red line appearing on the test kit, confirming my worst fears. I was pregnant. My husband was right there as I did the test. I needed not to break the news to him. We stared at each other like zombies. I do not recall what happened next.

‘How can God do this to me? I thought exclusive breast feeding was a sure way of preventing pregnancy! Did God not care that I had a nine month old baby to take care of? Was God not aware that I had other plans for myself? Did God care that I would be the talk of the town? Were there not women desperately praying for children? Had God mistakenly switched my prayer request? Did God really care???’ I had countless questions.

The baby bump could show by three months. My fears were confirmed. I raised eyebrows wherever I passed. I wished the world would swallow me.

‘How can you become pregnant with a baby who can hardly walk? Not even illiterate women still do that!’ this and many heart rending comments I had to persevere.

I fell into a depression. No one understood my pain. I braved on. Days turned into weeks and weeks to months. The cravings set in. Yes, I craved hot dogs and roasted chicken only from Seeta.

‘Hi, remember to come with the hot dogs and chicken. If you buy from a different place be sure I will tell. Make no mistake. See you’ I would call hubby with these lines every evening.

On this particular evening the response was not what I was going to take.

‘Sweetheart, I only have transport.’ hubby murmured over the phone

‘You only have trans-what? So what do you expect me to do? Didn’t you know I would at least ask you to bring me something. Then walk!’ I meanly responded.

Oh the things we do during pregnancy!

On 14th August 2013, I woke up only to realize that my waters had broken. I was not in pain. Was I in labor? I called the doctor who reassured me that all was well but I needed to visit the nearest health facility for assessment. We went to the health centre and to my surprise the midwife said I was in labor. What a painless labor this was going to be. I was already at 6cm and in absolutely no pain. Was this not the Hebrew labor that I had been believing God for?

About 30 minutes into hospital, I got a very sharp pain. I cried to the midwife who was by my bedside. She was quick to check me, in no time I could read panic on her face.

‘Prepare theater, I have a dying mother.’ she said over the phone.

My husband and I exchanged confused glances, I was the only woman she had just checked. As far as I was feeling, I wasn’t dying. Or is that how people die?

We did not have time to ask many questions. I was whisked to theater. I had a ruptured placenta.

Many hours later I came back to my senses to the good news that I and the baby had made it. The pain from the operation is indescribable. The elation of the bundle of joy I beheld was worth every detail of the pain.

Just the other day during our family alter we had a session for testimonies. My firstborn son who now goes to Kindergarten is always thanking God for his school. Poor David is not yet in school. He was the first to testify that night.

‘Praise the Lord, I thank God because I am not in school. Praise the Lord. That is my testimony’ he said as he smiled sheepishly.

The memory of this testimony brings tears to my eyes. Today you make three years David Ahumuza Tumuramye. You remind me not only to thank God for what I have, but even for that which I don’t have. You truly are a man after God’s heart. Am I not blessed to be your mother? Your life constantly reminds me of God’s comfort when the world seemed to be crumbling on me. I received the news of your presence with fear, with pain yet your arrival came with countless blessings. I could go through every pain again and again just to have you. Through you, God taught me a golden lesson; that there are no accident children.

May you grow into the man God has destined you to be.

Happy birthday David.

Dickson see how time flies. It's three solid years since you went through the hot dogs/chicken torture. I love you.

©Prim K. Tumuramye

14th August 2016

Prim is a Christian, wife, mother and Communications Specialist at Compassion International. She is passionate about reading, writing, youth mentorship and intentional parenting. 

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