In the dimly lit halls of the nursing home, two women endured the throes of childbirth at the same time. Their cries echoed through the sterile corridors, but only one baby's cry joined them. One child survived, while the other did not.
In the midst of this joy and sorrow, a devastating mix-up occurred. The staff, overwhelmed and disorganized, failed to determine which mother the surviving child belonged to.
Days turned into a suffocating blur of confusion and despair. Both mothers, their hearts aching with hope and fear, demanded their rightful child.
The nurses, desperate to calm the storm, claimed that each woman's baby had died, hoping to buy time. But the mothers, driven by an indescribable bond, refused to accept this heart-wrenching deception. Their cries pierced the silence, a haunting melody of anguish and defiance.
As the situation spiraled out of control, the hospital management turned to the senior-most doctor, a man renowned for his wisdom and compassion. He looked upon the mothers, their faces etched with grief and desperation, and knew he had to devise a way to reveal the truth.
Gathering the women in his office, the doctor presented them with a shocking proposal:
He would give the surviving child to a third woman. Either mother, or both, could choose to live as unpaid servants in the child's new home. This way, they could be near the child, but only one would endure this trial out of true love.
The first woman, her voice trembling with emotion, stepped forward.
"I cannot bear the humiliation of living as a servant," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I will visit when I can, but I cannot live a life of servitude."
The second woman, her heart laid bare, spoke with unwavering resolve.
"I would endure any humiliation, any hardship, to be near my child," she declared, her voice steady despite her tears. "I would gladly spend my life in servitude if it means I can hold my baby in my arms."
The doctor, moved by her selflessness and the depth of her love, gently placed the child in her arms.
"You are the true mother," he whispered, recognizing her sacrifice.
Learning: Our love for God should be as profound and selfless as the love the second woman has for her child. No matter the suffering or humiliation we must bear, it will be worth it if it brings us closer to God!
