I have different opportunities. So do you. Life presents each of us with miraculous chances we often times gloss over. In fact, sometimes we see these openings as burdens we wish could be taken off our necks. Yes, we do! Yours may be different from mine; probably because of our strengths and weaknesses.

There are issues I am very sensitive about. And one of them is what I am going to share with you today.

Wondering why you’re reading that headline? It’s not a mistake. I think domestic violence is one of the most under reported issues; especially when it comes to children.

You remember I started this conversation with opportunities, right? Yes. I find it hard and heart breaking to see people who are supposed to take care of orphans or children whose families are just too poor to take care of them abuse these vulnerable ones.

People get touched initially for whatever reason to take these children home due to circumstances, but at the end of the day, what do we see? Abuse. Is it not interesting that these same people refuse to treat these ‘disadvantaged’ children the way they treat their own children?

The child becomes the slave as it were in that house. They wake up and are entitled to all the chores in the house. For the purpose of avoiding the usage of he or she in every sentence, I want to use he. But please remember I’m talking about both sexes.

The child wakes up with palpitations of the heart. Why? Because there’s so much to do. He wakes early and is most likely the last to sleep.

If this was the only challenge, he could cope. But he also has to endure verbal assaults. He’s treated as trash and often times told he’s good for nothing, especially when he makes even pardonable mistakes. There seems to be no benefit of the doubt for this poor child. And sadly no way of escape. Because whichever way he turns, there’s trouble. The last thing on his mind is to report. His things will be thrown out!

Then I ask. Have these people who treat these precious vulnerable children forgotten that they just have opportunities to change the lives of souls for the better? Has it escaped them that they’ll give accounts of whichever chances they got and how they used each?

I must confess that it will not be easy to add an extra burden to what you already have in these times. I’ve said what I’m going to say before, and I will repeat it today. I believe parenting your own child or another could be one of the most challenging events in one’s life. But is the best way of relieving your tension through abusing an innocent child? especially when it comes to those who are not your own?

I think like leadership, it’s never by force. If you can’t add that child to your budget just say no. If you choose to, then that child deserves some good treatment too as a human being.

You chose and embraced that chance to make a difference in the life of an abandoned child. Why spoil your records by treating this child in a way if you put yourself in his shoes you would not be happy to be treated.

Let me warn you, that you reap what you sow. If you dash out good will even if the child is recalcitrant, you’ll receive that fruit of good will. No human is that evil to forget the good done him by another human. I believe that even those with sold out conscience still have a little left to appreciate the kindness shown them.

You don’t want that child to grow and only remember the pains he had to endure being with you. At least let him have some more good memories of his stay with you so when he steps out, his conscience will whip him to return your good will in the time you certainly may need it most. There’s more I want to pour from my heart. But I guess this is sufficient. Have a great day

Email me via claireadu@yahoo.com and follow me on my facebook page ‘Beatrice Adu’.