The night after Christmas, Brad and I had checked into the
hospital, answering questions from nurses in between contractions that came
faster and faster. I didn’t know yet about the girl—the one who was admitted
that same day. The girl from India who was gang-raped by several men on a bus,
her ordeal becoming international news as protesters spilled into the streets.
Badly injured, she’d come to Singapore to medical treatment,
to the same hospital where I was getting ready to give birth to my third
Singaporean child.
This third child of mine and my second baby boy was born
quickly—though not quickly enough with all that excruciating pain. And I spent the
next couple of days cuddling with my newborn, thanking God for my healthy baby,
enjoying the hospital’s quality medical care. And watching the news of the Indian
girl.
A couple days later, I beamed as I carried my bundle out of
the hospital and into the waiting taxi to take us back to the place we were
staying.
“Ahh, such joy, a bundle of joy,” the driver gushed.
Born in Singapore to Indian parents, he talked almost
nonstop, his chatter turning quickly from the joys of parenthood to the horrors
of real Indian life.
He had opinions, about how women are treated there. How the
woman down the hall had actually been wealthy enough for people to pay
attention, and to have a chance at good treatment. How other poor village girls get raped and murdered all the time,
their bodies throw into the streets as trash. No one caring. Nothing done.
I held tight to my snuggly son as the horrible outside world
pressed into my heart.
The next day, I listened to the news. Of how the girl had died
in her hospital room, even as my son began to live.
And I prayed.
That my son would be part of the solution. That he would care
about more than success and wealth and gain. That he would see the hurt of the women
and children who live down the hall. Or next door. Or on the other side of the
world.
And that someday, he would be part of bringing more life into the world.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful prayer, Rebecca.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and thank you for another post that pulls me out of my every day.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! What a beautiful boy!!! Praise God for your family. Lots of love from the Brendemuhl's in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! So happy he arrived safely!
ReplyDeletexo rachel
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