This incident occurred when I needed to enroll my second child in a preschool class. I had just returned from maternity leave, which had lasted for nine months, and it was without pay. I was employed by the proprietor of a school who had a unique policy regarding maternity leave.
According to his rule, when a staff member gave birth, they were required to stay at home for nine months without receiving any salary. During this period, their job would be preserved, but their supposed salary would be used to hire a part-time replacement.
More so, it was a way the proprietor uses to discourage new mothers from taking leave of absence for immunizations. This meant that after nine months when an infant would have received multiple immunization doses, the next time the teacher would need to ask for time off to go for immunization would be when the child is around two years old, I hope am right.
So, after enduring nine months without a salary, it was time for me to return to work. However, my baby is not allowed to that secondary school where I worked. As such, I needed to enroll her in a nearby preschool.
I went to the preschool to obtain a form and complete her enrollment, paying the required fees. However, the school also asked me to provide a passport photograph on the day of her enrollment. I do not have extra money to take a passport photograph of hers. So I was requested to bring it along when she is resuming.
On the day just before her resumption, I found myself without the money needed to obtain the passport photo still. I contacted the school to explain my situation, but I was sternly warned never to bring my child without the photograph. According to the management, it was essential for creating a file, issuing an ID card, and ensuring her identify and link to me, especially when I come to pick her up.
I was in a fix as I didn't have the funds for the passport photo which was just N500 and I couldn't bring myself to ask my colleagues at my workplace for help. I am just about to resume, how do I resume and on the first day, I would start begging colleagues I haven't seen in nine months for money! I felt weak and helpless, I was very confused and worried.
Well, in the evening of that same day, I decided to make it to a Christian meeting but I was too embarrassed to ask anyone for the N500 needed for the passport photo. Someone at the service noticed my unhappy state and inquired if everything was okay.
"Sister, you are not looking yourself, is everything alright? he asked.
"I am fine, just the anxiety of resuming tomorrow after nine months of maternity"I replied.
"Oh, you are resuming already? How about your child, are you allowed to bring her to your School"? He added
"Thanks for asking. I have enrolled her in a preschool nearby" I boosted. I never told him that I was actually unhappy because I needed extra N500 for her passport.
After the service, I returned home with my daughters, still unable to muster the courage to ask for assistance from anyone. Instead, I silently implored God to intervene in my situation as we walked back home.
When we arrived home, I placed my younger daughter on the rug and moved to the bedroom to change out of my meeting attire. My intention was for her to play in the living room while her elder sister watches over her.
To my surprise, when I entered the living room, my baby was still on the floor but was now holding a N500 note in her tiny hand, extending it toward me.
Still perplexed, I asked her elder sister where she had found the money. Her response was:
"I don't know, I only saw that her toy rolled under the chair and I saw her stretching her hand to get it"
Apparently, as she reached under the chair to retrieve the toy, she discovered the money. I couldn't contain my joy and immediately began praising and shedding tears of gratitude to God.
Probably the money had dropped from her father or me and hiding under the chair, it might have dropped from visitors too. No one knew money was there, waiting until a Baby would find it and save the day with it. God made it possible.
The next day, I was proud and delighted to take my child to school without needing to beg anyone for any money.
Thanks for reading.
Yours,
