MY BREASTS HAVE SINNED
Danny is cranky this evening.
I don’t blame him. My time was not my own today. I barely made evening service. I am exhausted, but I had made up my mind this morning not to miss communion service. Danny starts to wimper,,,then the real cry that can bring down the walls of China begin.
Step 1…unbutton my shirt
Step 2…pull down my bra
Step 3…thrust my nipples into his mouth
Danny’s cries come to a halt. Sweet relief. Obviously, My boy is hungry. I sigh and turn to listen to the sermon.
Then…
A tap on my shoulder. The usher is looking stern and very upset. Why?
She whispers in my ear.
Ohhhhhhhh. I am embarrassed. Whatttttttttttttttttttttttt???? I reverse my steps. You can guess what she said.
We are no strangers to ‘boobs’. All our Nigerian musical videos have helped us see ‘boobies’ free of charge.
So why do we see it inappropriate for a woman to breastfeed even in church? I think breastfeeding is a God-designed act. It is not only about providing our children what’s best for them. It is also about caring for them in the way God says he cares about his children.
With characteristically refreshing honesty, God describes his care for his people in terms of a nursing mother:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isa. 49:15)
“and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isa. 66:12)
Similarly, in Deuteronomy 32:11-13, and 18, Scripture speaks of God’s wilderness provisions as God “suckling” Israel. I think breastfeeding is a beautiful picture of God’s care: as babies crave not just nutrition but warmth and closeness, so we depend on God not simply for our daily bread alone but for the ongoing comfort and presence of the Holy Spirit.
If God sees no shame in nursing breasts, why should we?
Women should not be ashamed to breastfeed their children.
But in a community where breastfeeding is becoming a modesty issue, mothers need exercise careful discretion when breastfeeding in public places. What is the solution to this dilemma? Here are some ideas: cover yourself and your baby with a light blanket or other such covering and schedule feedings whenever possible. It does happen that even when you cover yourself and your baby with a light blanket some people will still give you THAT LOOK. But for sure you know that you are not explicit. Cool?
Enjoy the weekend.
Posted on February 21, 2014, in Dear Jesus and tagged Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding and the church, God's care. Bookmark the permalink. 29 Comments.
Ezar's Chronicles 
Hahahahhaa I totally enjoyed this one. Refreshing way to start my morning.. nice will let Geenie know* winks..
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Things have changed.During my mother’s time,u hardly see them breastfeed publicly.If Danny must crank in Church,he will b taken 2 a private corner,away frm public glare.Not so today.The younger women dont mind anywhere,covered or uncovered.
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The breasts have not sinned,but i think we shuld be discreet with our private areas-dat is why it is called private.Whether we are nursing or not,it is private!
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I know dat some churches have made the back of d Church available for nursing mothers,2 control cranky babies nd breastfeed.Ushers should do their work,nd nursing mothers should also obey them…..some nursing mothers will want 2 sit in front nd distract d service.
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Breastfeeding is wonderful!The breasts have not sinned,but they can make others sin if not properly covered….a feeding device might end up being a seducing devive.Watch out!
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Being a nursing mother is good……..afterall i was nursed by a mother.But wen a nursing mother does not draw a line b/w nursing nd seduction,then d breasts have sinned.We know what we guys suffer through d MOTHERS dat expose their boobs in d name of breastfeeding.Thats why d ushers frown at them!
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Breastfeeding is divine,but should not b abused.A married woman’s breasts belong 2 her,her husband nd her children.It is a family asset nd not for the public.
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The younger women should learn d act of breastfeeding frm their Christian mothers who are mothers indeed.If they can’t properly breastfeed,then they should bottlefeed..period!
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Breasts are for private use.Keep them so….whether u are breastfeeding or not.
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Guys take note! A lady who exposes her boobs b/4 marriage,will not stop wen married,even as a nursing mother.
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The breasts dat have sinned are d breasts dat refuse 2 breastfeed their babies for cosmetic reasons…..shame,shame!Mothers breatfeed nd breastfeed long!
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I have seen women dat express out breastmilk nd bottle them for an outing.They only breastfeed in their homes,not in public.
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Amaka,u are right.This is common with working mothers,who breastfeed only wen they get back frm work.The Nanny or creche will do d bottlefeeding of d expressed breast milk…Wowwww!
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I have learnt a lot from Ezar’s chronicles even as a moslem….its about issues dat touch d heart.However,i wonder why my wife will express out breastmilk b/c she must go 2 work.Her breasts have been abused…Thats why infants are called sucklings.They suck breasts nd not bottles.Only zoo animals should use bottles.I guess she should stop work until after child-bearing.
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I agree wit you.Work is a distraction 2 mothers who are called 2 raise nations.To’mother well’,they must breastfeed well 4 strong,healthy children.
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Yes,i advocate a minimum of one year breastfeeding for nursing mothers.This is not about ‘Beinjing’/’women lib’…..its about passion!
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In my time of childbearing,we didnt have creche.We were called stay-home mums.Now working mums created creche nd employment opportunities for creche workers.Our children are nations(Gen 25:23),nd nation building is a serious matter.Breastingfeeding is a priority,nd must b done properly 2 establish a strong Mother-child love bonding.
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Hear this,,,,,,,Don’t blame me if my clothes do not cover my boobs-Yvonne Jegede(Vanquard). Therefore,who has sinned in this case? Her clothes i perceiveooooooo.Funny world with ‘laughable’people.I dey laugh.
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From Lily’s comment,i have come 2 d conclusion dat we might have FOUR SINNERS wen it comes 2 d issue of breasts/boobs exposure….(1)The Breastowner (2)The Breasts (3)The Clothes (4)The Eyes dat look at d breasts.Lord,forgive them for they know not what they do!
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Mothers,whether u breastfeed publicly or privately,let ur priority be the MOTHER-CHILD BONDING that counts in child development.
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The clothes dat sinned should include ‘bad’Brassieres….weak and undersized bras dat cannot do their job.Danny wouldnt mind ‘clean’bras for both private nd public breastfeeding.
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Hmmn, when I saw this post title, I said in my mind that Dumebi don come again with one explosive post…he he he.
Upon reading, I was soo touched cos at the time I was seperated from my 7month old because of work… I was already having ‘nursing fever’ cos I hadn’t nursed my baby for 2 days… I was depressed and downcast… The truth is I donnot actually breastfeed in public, church inclusive but I’m all out for breastfeeding… I read some of the comments and yes some say that we women should draw the line between feeding or seducing… So true… It may be difficult for we women to stop work altogether to nurse our children until we are past childbearing.. Truth is for most homes, both incomes of wife and husband are required to avoid ‘money fights’.
Thumbs up Dumebi.
Peace and love of Christ Jesus++
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Homes are uniquely different,nd therefore u can not use one home to judge another.Fortunately/unfortunately(the choice is yours),i married a man who wanted d wife around 2 raise d children 24/7.This i did,though a professional.T passionately sacrificed my profession 2 stay home nd raise our children,with a stipend as a monthly allowance nd which some women will have a money fight b/c it will barely meet their ‘wants’though it will meet their ‘urgent needs’.Now the children are grown,i see d travail of my soul in raising them nd i am satisfied.Mothers(whether stay-home or working),always rem. we are accountable 2 God on how we raise our kids,our degrees or jobs notwithstanding.What will it profit a mother 2 gain the whole world(….fame,money,positions of authority,apparels,jewels…..)nd lose a child.The journey of a thousand miles begins wit d 1st step,BREASTFEEDING.Breastfeed well,privately or publicly,……..but decently!The choice is yours!
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Gbammm!Sweet mother has spoken.Ka Chineke seal ezigbo okwu our momma.Amen.
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For d ‘pure’career woman(no adulteration),no amount of money given her by her husband will make her 2 stay home.,….not even double of her salary.In other words,no child will make her stay home.Mba kwaaaa!
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I am sorry for dat career woman.She wouldn’t have married in d first place.She should have married d career….doesn’t need husband/children.Frankly,she married 2 save face nd fulfil all righteousness in a society where they frown at being single.
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My brothers,these are issues dat must be settled b/4 marriage or it will become a source of irritatn after marriage.And who suffers wen two elephants fight in d home?Our children,of course.I desire strong,healthy nd Christlike children,mentored all-round by both parents.Lord,pls give me d right partner….i dont want big grammer.
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Guys,I must work hard 2 support my wife nd make her stay home 2 raise our children.No money fights with a woman dat is my level….we will live according 2 our means.
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Ha! How did the issue of public breastfeeding or not become a career woman bashing platform? Does it mean that women who have successful careers do not make good mothers? I beg to strongly disagree. I was raised by an amazing “career woman” who went ahead to obtain multiple degrees (even with children already in school) and I can tell you that seeing my mother being such a go-getter and achiever while managing a home in such manner that neither her husband nor children felt neglected inspired me to become the woman I am growing to become.
Now, for the matter at hand, I would ordinarily say, Wetin concern me, Abeg breastfeed your child as you wish, after all, growing up I can remember seeing my grandmother walking around without a blouse and letting her bosom “catch breeze”. However, the world has become a lot more perverted so I will suggest, not even entirely for decency’s sake that you go to a more private place for your nursing especially as it may serve as a distraction (sexual or not).
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