PRECIOUS METAPHORS

In high school, I was one of about 5 girls who braved the sciences in what was a predominantly male terrain. Biology was my favorite subject, but I also developed a love for Physics, Chemistry and Geography because I had really great teachers and a few of them had a favorite spot for me.

However, I also had a love for literature. In my final year, I dropped further (advanced) mathematics and picked up literature to sit for my O-levels (WAEC and NECO). In addition, I joined the literary/reading club at school. A few of my science instructors were not happy about that - they strongly believed I belonged to the science club. I still have memories of being dragged out of the literary club to join science club presentations on some club days.

I was first introduced to the concept of metaphors in my literature classes. In simple terms, a metaphor is a figure of speech in which you describe something using something else which is similar to it. Metaphors are cool literary tools usually used to illustrate a concept.

As I drafted this week's blog post on metaphors, a story came to mind; let me share it with you.

Our daughter was born during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several pandemic restrictions meant that myself and my husband were primarily responsible for caring for our newborn. Pandemic restrictions also meant that children were not allowed in church, much less a newborn baby. The only way we could attend church then was taking turns. Since I was the primary caregiver, I volunteered to stay at home while my husband went to church regularly.

After several weeks, I decided I had had enough and needed a break. I missed church badly, and wanted to be in the company of other believers. So off to church I went and left my husband and daughter to have a much needed bonding time.

I'm hoping you imagine with me how that went. That was the first and longest time I had been away from my newborn in about 2 months. I literally felt like I had left one of my limbs at home. Between texting my husband frequently and wondering if somehow they had managed to survive without any incident 😂, I barely paid any attention at church. I couldn't be much happier then when the service ended and I rushed back home.

This incident brought to mind one of my favorite Bible verses:

"Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! - Isaiah 49:15 (NLT)

This verse is one of my favorite in the Bible; it likens the love of God to that of a mother and her newborn child. Being a parent, I understand this verse now more than I did before. It is very rare, if not impossible for a mother to forget about her newborn child. But God says even if somehow, a mother forgets about her newborn, He will never forget you.

Like the verse above, the Bible is laden with several illustrations, "precious metaphors", to drive home the message of the Gospel. The intent is very clear, God very much wants to reveal His heart to His children. No wonder the entrance of God's word can bring understanding even to the simple (Psalms 119:130)

Anyways back to my story, my daughter is now a toddler and oh my... Anyone up for babysitting? Anyone?