By Chukwuma Linus
I was sad, very sad on the last Sunday of 2019 when the parish priest of my home parish, St. Monica Catholic Church Umuezena, Umudim Nnewi, Fr. Jude narrated his encounter with a lady who hails from Amichi, Anambra state.
Mrs. Ella Nikki (not real name) was well-seated on a plastic chair under the cashew tree with her eyes fixed on her iPhone 10 when the priest drove in their compound for a pastoral duty. He visited for anointing of the sick. A sacrament of the Catholic Church administered to Catholic who is deemed in danger of death or old age.
Ella’s mother who is suffering from stroke for years was the reason for the visit. She was a very active member in the church and has held different positions in their parish before she was diagnosed of hemorrhagic stroke. A deadliest type of stroke.
Ella who did not noticed the presence of the priest was very busy viewing pictures on Instagram until the priest approached and told her that he came to see her mother.
Maybe the request was a sort of hassle to her or that she cared less about the woman who wombed her for nine months. Because she showed little or no concern when asked about the sick mother.
Let me use the exact adjective the priest adjudged Ella with. He called her a slay queen. Whatever is the meaning of “slay queen” is left for Ella and her ilk to expand.
It was the sound of whip in the room Ella entered to dress her mother that caught the attention of the priest who was patiently waiting to be ushered in. “Why are you suffering me please better die so that we rest” Ella spoke as she continued to mercilessly whip her mother even after the priest made his way in the room. Her mother was handicapped, she never uttered a word though cried profusely.
What was the offence of her mother?
Because of her condition she could not move any part of her body except when aided. She defecated and urinated on the highback cushion seat she sat on. I guess such act from a stroke patient was an unpardonable offence to Ella who was the last daughter in the family, but was asked by the other members of the family to return to the village from Aba and look after their mother for just a week pending when Obioma, the carer from Enugu who was employed to look after their mother returned from her village. Obioma lost her father and had taken a week off so that she could attend the funeral. Ella’s grouse was that her 69-year-old mother should have told her in order to take her to loo.
Oh! Then what was the priest reaction?
Fr. Jude angrily smacked her face, very hard to say the least. And she was very stupid enough that she could not feel remorse. Not even a bit.
Like Ella like most of us who whip or even wish our parents death because of old age or ill health. The love of parents are immeasurable and I know many who are regretting their deeds when their parents are gone. No matter the situation we must love and care for our parents. Old age is inevitable for mortals, and we must be ready to receive in equal measures from our children the treatments we gave to our parents. Blessed are those who honour their parents for their rewards are long lives, peace, happiness and prosperity.
May the day never come when I would ever wish my parents death.