Clarissa had never felt as discouraged as she did on that particular Tuesday.
She went out for evangelism, which was supposed to be done in people’s homes. She stepped out with zeal and joy, accompanied by a man named Victor and a lady named Favour.
They prayed for guidance on where to go first in the village’s homes. Then Favour was led to take a specific path and minister to everyone who was present there.
Clarissa was the leader, but someone else gave them the direction, and they followed it without hesitation.
They were greeted warmly by the first family they approached. Clarissa told them about Jesus, and they joyfully accepted the Gospel. She brought them to Christ and prayed for them.
They were supposed to move to another family when Favour began to speak about what was going on in the family and how it should be handled, which was confirmed by the family.
And as she prayed for them, there was a visible manifestation of God’s power – one of them began to speak in tongues, and the other who was sick was instantly healed.
Clarissa became dissatisfied, wondering why she was the leader of the group and nothing was happening through her.
When they arrived at the next family. Clarissa became increasingly withdrawn. Victor had to do the preaching, and it was also a good time.
Clarissa didn’t wait for closing prayers after the ministrations and hurried up to go home, which surprised the other two. As a result, they had to pray on their own and then leave.
Yes, Clarissa did poorly, but before you throw stones at her, examine yourself as well. Let’s take a look at this verse.
Ephesians 4:16 “For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love.”
Clarissa did not comprehend the preceding scripture, but you must comprehend it in order to avoid making the same error.
Clarissa possessed the gift of teaching/preaching; anyone who hears her words will be convicted, whereas Favour possessed the gift of healing/word of knowledge. They are both members of Christ’s body.
These gifts are given to each person based on their ability to contribute to the overall growth of the community.
Nothing says “I should be the head of all manifestations” like “I should be the head of all manifestations.” You will manifest your gift, and the other will manifest his or her gift, and progress will be made.
Anger, jealousy, and envy should not enter our hearts through ungodly thoughts. The body of Christ is analogous to the human body, which cannot function without the other.
Don’t be like Clarissa; instead, recognize your gift, stick to it, and be grateful for it. Be glad when others manifest theirs, and let the kingdom’s work prosper.
At times it looks like God doesn’t answer us and leaves us to our own fate when we need His answer most. I once felt that way as well.
I went for a program in a place far away from home. I was to minister in songs and yes I did minister.
It was awesome. The spirits of many were lifted and the barriers in people’s heart were broken down. Many were totally broken and completely surrendered to God.
It was an evening program and the weather was looking bright and normal.
After the singing and praising, it was time for the word to be preached. There was so much being said to us. God was expressly speaking to us through the Pastor.
Closing prayers were about to be concluded when the weather suddenly changed and it began to rain heavily.
We ignored it thinking that it will soon stop. We finished the prayers and did other needed things but the heavy rain continued.
Those whose houses were close and or umbrellas with them left for home while I and a few persons were stuck.
“Pray and command the rain to stop,” one of them said to me. I just stared at the person and didn’t say anything. I had to pray because I had done something similar before and the night was already catching up with us. I did everything I could think of, but the rain didn’t stop.
At this point, we had to get our things inside a waterproof material and began to journey home under the rain since there was no transport close by.
We all felt bad and bitter. But we learnt later that God used the rain to save many of us who might have been victims from kidnappers that operated that evening.
When we knew about it, we thanked the Lord – fully understanding this scripture;
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
I learnt a vital lesson from this experience; that no matter how inconvenient the circumstances you find yourself in might be, God is using it to work out His will!
You might not see it – and you don’t need to, for we walk by faith and not by sight. Thus, all you have to do is keep believing that everything you’re going through – the heavy downpour, the tempestuous storm, will eventually work out God’s glorious plan in your life!
Though the sun has risen, I find no reason to rise with it. I am in a state where I find no reason to do nothing and all I want to do is nothing.
The memories of pain flood my heart as I sit on my bed, my head bowed and my knees crooked. I hear the voices again – the voices of pain, more powerful than barricades and as sharp as swords. They pierce open wounds, causing more pain to ooze out.
“You can’t be here with us. You’re a heinous abomination!” Fr. Chika’s voice is the one that sticks out the most in my mind. Maybe it’s because he was the one I trusted the most.
He said he had my back, so I leaned on him, not realizing he was about to stab me in the back.
I went to him to confess my transgressions. ‘Promise me you won’t tell anyone,’ I said. He smiled reassuringly, his face as white as the robes he was wearing. ‘Of course, Mike,’ he said. ‘You can trust me,’ he said, and I decided to do so.
Moments of silence passed, and I heaved a heavy sigh, saying to him, ‘I think I’m gay.’ Again, silence reigned supreme. As my gaze wandered around his office, I felt his gaze on me. I started to feel cold – I’m not sure if it was from his air conditioning or the realization that my darkest secret had been revealed.
Finally, he sighed and asked, ‘What did you just say?’
‘I think I’m gay,’ I told him.
‘Why?’
‘I’m not sure…’ I’m finding myself attracted to boys.’ My heart was pounding in my chest as I blurted out. He stopped questioning me, patted me on the back, and prayed for me. At least temporarily, I felt relieved.
The temporary relief from his prayer wore off quickly, and I was back to fighting the raging torrents of my emotions.
I had to fight the rising of my middle man when I saw attractive men.
I had to fight the erotic images that ran through my head whenever I was alone with a guy.
I had to fight the urge to seek pleasure on the internet late at night.
I had to fight the urge to keep my hands away from my middle man and remain pure.
Some times, I won these battles, and sometimes, I lost and found myself overwhelmed with guilt and condemnation.
Days passed by and soon, it was Sunday. I dressed casually and reluctantly went to Church. Father Chika was preaching when I arrived. As I sat, it seemed as if he took notice of me and began to speak on homosexuality. “Homosexuality is a sin that God is strongly against! He condemns it seriously! Avoid all who claim to be gays” he preached aloud.
I wasn’t perturbed by his sermon; I believed God was against homosexuality. But I was perturbed by the fact that His eyes were fixed on me as he preached.
‘A person like Mike should not be here!’ The sound of my name dispelled the cloud of drowsiness and caused my heart to race faster. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on me. Whispers, murmurs, jeers, and scorns pierced my heart from various angles of the church hall.
‘Will you stand up?’ demanded the father. ‘This boy is an abomination in the eyes of God. He admitted to being a homosexual last week,’ the audience exclaimed. I buried my face in my palms to avoid the embarrassment of seeing my parents’ disgusted expression. ‘We excommunicate you from this fellowship as of today, Mike. No gays are welcome in God’s house!’
As I was led out of the church, all I could think about was, “Was it my fault?”As I was ushered out of the church, all I could ask within myself was, ‘Was it my fault?’
Was it my fault that I was drawn to men?
Did I ever fantasize about it?
Did I ever ask God for it?
Was it my fault that I was weak?
Was there anything I’d done to deserve it?
I walked away, my head bowed. I’d been turned down by the person I thought would save me.
I thought the Church was the light, but they have now made my life darker than it has ever been. And I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to get out of this bed and face the same people who rejected me.
Whether it happens or not, I want everyone who hears my story to understand that all I wanted was to be a normal person with a normal life.
There lived a woman with a child, who lived with her since the death of her husband. They lived for so long a time since then In peace.
But there seemed to be a fault on the boy’s side. Anger to be precise.
Whenever he got upset with His mother, he would not talk to her or even eat.
A certain day as usual when he was upset with his mother, he refused to eat anything from her.
The mother laughed within, and unlike other times chose not to beg him to eat.
In the morning the boy ate nothing. In the afternoon he ate nothing. At night he was so hungry and wanted to eat something, that when he thought the mother was asleep, he went to take food from the pot without her knowledge.
As he opened the pot, he caught a glance of his mother looking at him. He pretended to be doing something else and left there.
In the morning of the next day, he couldn’t bear it and went to his mother saying, ”I’m hungry. Please forgive me”.
The mother smiled and said to him:
”Son, in life, to resolve conflict in every issue is the best. There’s no profit in anger and you’ll only hurt yourself as you’ve just done. Than become enemies or take drastic actions from anger, chose to resolve. Chose peace”.
The son was grateful for the lesson and never exhibited that act again.
Lesson: Over anger, violence or anything else, chose to love. Chose peace.
Seventeen year old Godwin Wobo, is an Evangelist, Photographer and member of staff at a premium Christian Blog.
Fourteen years ago, Godwin was hit by a vehicle on high speed. He did not survive it. He had died. But what happened. How come He is alive, hale and hearty right now?
Mrs Wobo is a mother, homemaker and entrepreneur. In this interview, she shares with Koinonia Art, a testimony of God’s Deliverance in her life.
(Italics: Questions from the interviewer)
Your son’s testimony of surviving a fatal car accident and infancy is one which is astounding. It is one which the whole world would love to know about. To begin, tell us how old your child was when it happened, as well as the events that led to the accident.
I, my husband and my son, Godwin, had gone for a burial. While returning, along the road, he got hit by a car on very high speed. It was terrible. I saw my son struggling to breathe and on the verge of death. He was just three years old then. Everything pointed to him dying.
What were the doctors’ reports when they examined Godwin at the hospital?
As soon as we got to the hospital, Godwin stopped breathing. His body went pale. He gave up the Ghost. When the doctors saw him, they told me that there was no hope. They said that he was dead already and that they could not help me. But I told them that my son was not dead, and that I had a better doctor named Jesus, as well as His Angel nurses to treat my son.
With your son lying on the bed lifeless, and with the report of the professional doctors that he was dead, how did your son come back to life?
After being told that my child was dead, seeing him lying lifelessly, dead, made me cry. I cried to God to restore the life of my child. As I was crying to God, a woman walked up to me and enquired about the reason for my distress.
I narrated the tragic incident to her. Surprisingly, she said to me, ‘Your child is not dead’. She said it with so much confidence.
She asked the doctor is she could pray for me and my child. Fortunately, the doctor permitted it.
She prayed very fervently,asking God to have mercy my family, and revive my son. She prayed all through the day. At 12 midnight, she was still praying. At 1AM, as she was praying, my son sneezed so loudly. His eyes opened. He was back to life.
I was full of gratitude to the woman for her prayers. But she told me to thank God for the healing. I was full of thanks to God also. I shut my eyes, overwhelmed with tears and gratitude and sang thanks to God. Lo and behold, when I opened my eyes, the woman was gone. She was nowhere to be found.
I thought she had left the room. I decided to search for her. I thought within me that I would not let such a woman leave without getting to know her more.
We searched the whole hospital, there was no trace of the woman. She vanished from the hospital at the blink of an eye.
This is amazing. What advice would you give to mothers around the world, from this great event which transpired in your life.
I will advice every mother to serve God with all their heart. They should be dedicated to Him. Only God can really save the soul of our children.
______________
“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders” Psalm 72:18.
We serve a God who works wonders. The testimony Mrs Wobo shared with us is a valid one. The doctors who were on duty on the day of the incident, can attest to its validity.
When interacting with the child, who is now a grown up, Pastor Nwodo Divine has this to say.
“Just ten minutes interacting with the boy made me know why he was the target of the enemy at childhood. He is full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom and passion for souls. I am fully convinced that Christ was the one who appeared in form of that woman, to intercede on behalf of the family. That is only what can explain a woman disappearing out of a large building unto invisibility, within few seconds”
Fourteen years after the accident, Godwin Wobo is winning souls for the Gospel, and getting those who are spiritually dead, back into life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
There is nothing that God cannot use to save His children. If God could revive the dead Child of Mrs. Wobo, then fear not, He can resurrect whatever dead in your life.
He can resurrect your dead business. He can resurrect your dead organs. He can revive your sight! He can revive your marriage!
Trust in the wondrous working God today.
Just like Mrs Wobo, refuse to accept the reports of negativity. Choose to believe only the report of the Lord.
St. Matthew 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
St. Matthew 13:46: “When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
In the Bible days, Pearls were very precious commodity. They were rare and quite expensive.
The Pearl is remarkably because,
A. It is durable. Other gems may rust away, but the Pearl stays. Other gems may lose their beauty as they get older, but the Pearl never loses any single of its glitters. Hence, in the ancient days, of was passed on from a royal generation to another generation. It never fades, never gets worn out.
B. It is little in size, but great in worth. The Pearl can be the tiniest object on your palm. It can be impercitible. Yet, it is of great worth. It’s worth is not in the size, its worth is in the quality of beauty and virtue it emanates.
C. A Pearl of great size brings wealth to you. A merchant could discover a pearl in his farm, and at the moment of discovery, take it to sell, and becomes a wealthy man over night.
What lessons do we learn from these?
1. Salvation is of a great value. Yes. It is the greatest gift you can ever possess. Your salvation is worth more than the biggest of buildings. Do you know what it cost God? It cost God His own son. The salvation of your soul is worth more than pearls and dollars and pounds and gold. It is worth more than all these things.
And so you must seek for it. Just like the man in the parable sought for it. And even after getting born again, you must keep working out your salvation.
In order to get this perfect salvation which we desire, you must sell all that you have. Not your material possessions. Not your skills and talents. You must give away your sins. Your pride. Your impenitence. Your hate and malice.
You must let them go, if you must procure the great Pearl of salvation.
Salvation is an exchange. It is the letting go of the lower to purchase the higher. It is the letting go of the Earthly, to procure that which is Heavenly. It is letting go of the sensuality and carnality, to procure the treasures of the spirit. It is letting go of the temporal, to procure that which is permanent. It is letting go of your burdens, to carry His yoke which is light and gentle.
There is no salvation without an exchange. You cannot obtain the Great salvation of being united to the Lord in flesh, if you cannot sell off your earthly lusts that stand between you and God.
This Great salvation is costly! You must be ready to let go of your positions and stature in the society to procure it at the last day.
Hebrews 12:1: ‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles’
There must be a throwing off, for there to be an obtaining. Let go of those besetting and entangling sins. Cut them off and sell them at the market of life.
You must sell off, Your sins, Your old worldly friends, Your worldly habits, Your self righteousness.
And choose to hold unto this great Pearl of salvation.
And here’s another thing, once procured, it never fades away.
This great Pearl was present with Stephen when he was being stoned to death. It was present with James when he was beheaded. It was present with Paul from the prison, to trial to judgment.
It never goes old. It stays with you, till you go and meet your Master.
I’ll conclude with this excerpt from a profound teacher of God’s word;
“When the pilgrims were in Vanity Fair, one chanced mockingly to say to them. “What will ye buy? “ But they, looking gravely on him, said, “We buy the truth.” At that there was occasion taken to despite them the more; some mocking, some taunting, and some calling upon others to smite them. Nevertheless, in spite of all the abuse, these good pilgrims would only buy the truth; and when they bought it, not for any price would they sell it again. Usually, in ordinary merchandize, what we buy we are at liberty to sell; but it is not so here, for the command is express, “Buy the truth, and sell it not.” And a most merciful provision it is; for, as one says, “Those who sell the truth sell their own souls with it.”
Her kids used the door on her that very day. She said, “You have to choose: me or your father.” Their answer was not the reality she anticipated. Her two boys, Jason and Lance, turned their backs on her, stepped outside the house, and started for the gate. Their father; her ex husband; was waiting in the car outside. Last week, the final process for the divorce was made and she felt a great victory and also a great loss.
She was wearing her victory colour; white, throughout the entire week as a slur to everyone who knew about Victor and her.
During her university days, Victor was a really great guy. With his slouchy buzz cut, his signature oversized beige jacket, half-dead sandals, and his bright brown eyes. Those eyes were all she could think about back in the day. She would blank out from the Banking and Finance textbook before her and picture his face barely inches away from hers. She would bite her lower lip and imagine Victor’s lips on hers, wondering what it would taste like. She had not kissed before. It wasn’t something she projected as a must-do. But since Victor popped into her life it was all she could think about.
He was a Mechanical Engineering major when they met but he later changed his course due to his low examination scores. Victor wasn’t as smart as he talked and she never cared to realise that at the time. He was her first. She gave him her all without a worry in her heart, and he trained, harnessed, caressed, and nurtured her nakedness in ways she don’t think anybody would understand. Her friends and her parents knew when she started coitus because it showed in her body and in her grades. She worshipped Victor enough to not give a damn about her parent’s warnings when she decided to leave the school hostel and start living with Victor in his off-campus apartment. To her, it was the best adult decision she ever made at that point. To be with the man she cherished to the death of her everyday and have amazing body splooges was nothing more than a fantasy. But here she was, though in a heat with her parents and cut-off from her social circle, with HER man. She wouldn’t leave Victor for the world.
To everyone’s greatest surprise, they lived quite well; She and Victor. The power couple; The talk of the campus; the loquaciously obnoxious phony and the love-struck and clueless geek. They worked the remaining two years out and they graduated. She landed a job immediately after her graduation. It was the jump-start she needed to help her and the man she was still very much in love with and who, she doubted at the time, could do no wrong in her eyes. Victor graduated with a pass. He wasn’t as excited about the real world as she was; it was easy to read from his eyes and body. She knew these things.
Time ran so fast and she didn’t know when she missed her period, lost the baby, grieved, got pregnant again, lost her job, took online classes and got a better job, bought a house, moved in, put to bed, and was celebrating Jason’s fifth birthday in their front yard with all of Victor’s Real Estate colleagues and her social media advertisers. She and Victor decided that Jason’s birthday was the perfect opportunity to reveal the coming of the new baby. The crowd cheered for them. Their parents were happy for them. Victor was doing well for himself in Real Estate. She was living the dream.
After a lot of persuasion from both Victor’s parents and hers, they finally tied the knot. She, as a feminist, never believed in marriage solidifying the love between two people. In her opinion it was a cloaked cage; marriage caged the love. She had always been so afraid of getting married to Victor who very well knew her stand on the topic, and respected her opinion. It was a small celebration, with all the ‘right rites’ performed. She was still scared when she said those two words. But it had to be done for peace to reign. She has never been the type of person to conform no matter how concrete the penalties stand. But for this one time, in her entire life, she wanted to do it for her parents and Victor’s.
At first, nothing changed after they made it official. Lance came around and he was a beautiful child. Not as beautiful as Jason however. She groomed them as time passed and they grew from her adorable little noisemakers to responsible, enlightened, and handsome teens. The opposite occurred in the flame between her and Victor’s love; the communication dwindled. The sex wasn’t as it used to be. Her body was changing. She spoke to him a couple of times about it but he wasn’t responsive. He waved it off.
Then came the text message from an unknown number. ‘Leave my man alone!’ it read. It was starting to feel like a nightmare in the span of seconds. She needn’t logic or rational thought here. Her woman intuitive had done all the research before the text came. The text was merely a confirmation. But as a human being, she called the number and inquired who the person was.
The person behind the text message was Victor’s mistress and gave her name as Jennifer. She searched Jennifer on Facebook and found out that she had two children. Scrolling through Jennifer’s facebook gallery with a heavy and angry heart, she found a picture with the two ‘bundle of joy’ as Jennifer captioned, in it. They resembled Victor.
How long has this been going on? She confronted him when he came home that evening. He was stiff like a person with stroke. She watched the her loquacious husband’s words fail him. That proved a lot. She felt her entire universe of butterflies and fireflies replaced with wasps and bees. She had no one to talk to. She had no friends. She turned her back on everyone because of Victor. All of him! She hurted for months and months until she decided to get a divorce.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was Jennifer’s baby bump in her recent facebook post. She’s been following the woman for a while and had engaged interaction. She found out that Jennifer and Victor have been seeing each other since the undergraduate days. Jennifer visited Victor whenever she went for lectures. Jennifer told her that there was a time she came back earlier than expected that she had to hide inside the bathroom while Victor cajoled her into going to get Suya while she escaped. Victor still visited her after their wedding and he also told Jennifer to relocate to the state for their meetings to be easier which she did. He even got Jennifer a job as a personal assistant to one of his Real Estate colleagues to erase all trace of suspicion.
It was a well thought-out plan to fuck. And Victor has fucked her up. The family she taught was perfect wasn’t. Victor!
In a matter of time she lost the perfect husband image of him. He meant nothing. The love died. Her children shouldn’t suffer this — she thought. So she filed for a divorce. During the cause of the process Victor bewailed and after a while he showed great acrimony towards her. He poisoned the minds of their children and she did not know.
Earlier that day she sat the boys down and told them everything that has been going on between her and dad. She didn’t know how they were going to process all of the information being thrown at them. She watched Jason’s eyes; no reaction. Lance’s too. When she was done talking she said, “I hope you understand. I’m here for you.” They both stared at the floor. They avoided eye contact. Then Jason spoke, “Dad’s coming to pick us up soon, mom. We can’t deal with all of this…and you. There’s no truth in you. I’m sorry to say.”
She blanked out. It was like the universe wore itself inside out. Her son just spoke to her that way. She didn’t know whether to cry or hit him with the back of her hand. It was disrespectful but it came from somewhere. Jason has never spoke to her in such a manner. Even when he was furious. She loved his self-control.
“What are you talking about, Jace?”
“Dad told us everything,” Lance said with trembling lips, “the real story. The real truth. Mom, we know that you cheated first, before he did.”
She watched her shy second son insult her and she couldn’t slap the black out of him. It was then and there that she understood the possibility of hating the person you once selflessly loved. A familiar honk came from outside. It was Victor’s car. He had moved his things out of the house the moment she filed the divorce. She knew he was staying with Jennifer and their children.
“Is that what he told you?” She asked both of them.
“Yes mom, and we are going to live with him there. We can’t stay with you mom. How could you do this to us and to dad?”
She heard the hurt in Jason’s voice. How in the world was she going to convince someone as uptight and as unflinching as her first son? She knew them to understand that any further explanation that contradicts to the one they conceded would infuriate them.
They had bags packed. “That’s dad calling us. We’re going mom.” They stood up, her two boys, towering over her. Jason’s growing broad chest and Lance’s slender frame. They walked out on her.
The Prison cell was a dark place, full of bugs and beetles and served as a haven for swarms of insects. It sat beneath the Castle, in the most hidden of apartments, all to ensure an escape was impossible.
It was in this cell that Polycarp and his family were held imprisoned. Polycarp’s hands and legs were chained, with cuffs draped with thorns. They caused his hands and legs to bleed, adding to the pains he had been in for days due to severe lashing from the soldiers.
His family, both blood and spiritual, sat down, in agony and pain as well, their lips silent, but their spirits, groaning and releasing cries to the Heavens. They were equally chained in like manner as Polycarp.
Their heads hung low, bowed in despair. They knew their fate; soon, they would have to chose between living for the world and dying for Christ; between rejecting Christ and defending His Gospel; they would have to chose between life and death.
But this was the fallen man’s view of their predicament. As they sat with heads bowed low, Polycarp raised a slow hymn, his voice was laden with anguish, making him sing the song slower than it was normally sung;
‘O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, saints in glory shine All are one in Thee, for all are Thine’
The Family responded, “Alleluia, Alleluia!”
Polycarp continued, ‘O may thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.’
The Family responded, “Alleluia, Alleluia”
‘The Golden evening brightens in the west; Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest; Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.’
Response: Alleluia, Alleluia.
The hymn progressed, from being sung with low, sorrowful tones, to being sung with hope and joy. As they sang, bright, large, and glorious creatures with wings of glory descended into the prison yard. They weren’t there to liberate them from the cell, they were there to liberate the Saints from the terrors of the cell.
Their Presence, although unseen, was strongly felt across the cell. Strength flowed into the hearts of The Family; peace beyond understanding descended into their spirits, upholding them and guarding it against despair.
They sang the hymn, like a tourist walking through a beautiful garden, then they got to the final stanza, the verse that set their faces aglow with joy, even in the shadows of death.
‘But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day; The Saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of Glory passes on His way.’
They responded with a shout, “ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!!!”
Just then, numerous guards of The Empire marched into the cell. It was time! The Elect exchanged glances amongst themselves, and with a nod of resignation, they stood up, walking towards the arena, as they were led by the Guards.
“All Hail King Jesus!” they exclaimed in the middle of the arena, their voice echoing around the arena. “I gave you a choice between life and death, yet, you chose death” The Emperor said to them, with pride in his voice.
Polycarp looked at him with boldness, “Your highness, to you, we chose death, that’s because your knowledge of life and death is fallen. The path we have chosen is the path to eternal life and everlasting glory!” he declared unto the Emperor.
The Family cheered with happiness. The Emperor smirked, he was enjoying this game. He ordered for the Lions to be released. “I’ll see you in heaven” Polycarp said to The Family.
They all smiled at one another, they would surely meet in Heaven, where there will be no sorrow, or pain, or tears; no crying; just joy, life eternal, glory and communion with The Father.
As they fell to the strength of the Lions, Angels, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, all stood in respect, lifting their spirits off their bodies, and leading them unto the place where they would weep no more.
“If I told you,” Bimbo’s hands caressed the chunky mound on my cheeks, her eyes reminded me of firecrackers screaming like dead souls into the rambling Christmas night. “that anything you want, I can give it to you. Would you have a change of heart? ”
She was a beauté. One could get lost into the whirlpool of her eyes; stare hungrily at her full matted lips, or her voluminous thighs that spread over the chair like spilled milk.
A soft slap on the cheek brought me back to reality.
“Wake up.” She shifted a little from me.
“I wasn’t asleep.” I wondered how she was able to sustain her gaze for that long. There were many before her, many who dared to take the reins and pull something out of me, like a tea spoon of affection, but they all failed to hold my interest or my gaze.
“Just thinking about, you know, stuffs.”
“Is that so? See, I’m a Warri girl and I also have regal blood coarsing through me. I could wait a little bit, or I could go ferocious beast on you, and, you know, devour you here and now.”
We were sitting inside The Cube, a very noisy club close to Benin airport. I had offered to buy her a drink, she declined. Turns out, if I’m not the only available form of sustenance to her thirsty sultry soul, she was willing to die of dehydration.
“I admire your boldness.”
“How many girls have you told that line?”
“I don’t keep record.”
She laughed heartily for a second before resuming her gaze. “Are you trying to scare me?”
“Not really. Scaring you would be me reminding you about the royal blood Coarsing through your veins, and how Coarsing somehow has similar pronounciation to Coercing. Like the royalty in your blood, I’m Running out of patience.”
“I’m really impressed, that you could keep me here, watching you spew trash. While I get rejected and — ”
A group of guys walked by, checking her out. One stopped on his tracks, almost moon-walking to our table. The huge guy with a goatie mentions her name, the smile she gave was forced, obviously the guy’s presence wasn’t welcomed. He took his cue and left after exchanging greetings.
“You’re famous.” I mocked.
“Yeah, well, fame doesn’t get you the man you want.”
That’s it!
“Surely it can’t be me. Me that you met a week ago. Sure, my penis is powerful — magic rod. But I assure you, whatever it is you think you’re feeling right now, it isn’t love.”
“That thing of yours isn’t as magical as you make, it is your tongue. What a shame that you’re using such a glorious tongue to spew bullshit. If surely shut you up and make you put it to good use.”
Incredible!
“Okay, that’s hot.” I had to admit.
“And so are you, Afam.”
“Bimbo, I’m not sure of my feelings for you.”
“Then I’ll be here to reassure you. Trust me, if I was to use my List to rate you, you’d never be an option for me. You’re not making as much as I am, you’re loud as hell when you’re overly comfortable with someone, Afam your voice is terrible for singing and yet I couldn’t stop listening to you sing in the shower that morning. Sure you have a basic penis but I can manage. Your fingers and tongue skills is consolation. So fuck the fear and let’s build something good.”
Huh?
“Wait, so this shit ain’t about just fucks?”
“On the scale of one to ten, you’re an ‘abso-fucking-lutely not!’ if I were to choose a toy.”
She scooted closer and cupped my jaw with a hand, guiding my lips to hers. She sent her saliva of confusion down my throat and my brain resetted.
Then and there, entangled in a kiss, from a girl I met less than a week ago, I knew I was falling in love, and it was surely going to end in tears.
Once upon a time, a medical doctor was to take the delivery of a baby. The pregnant mother was fully dilated and it was time for her to start the series of pushes that will force the baby, head first and then shoulder next, out. This doctor had seen different kinds of mothers in obstetric labor and no matter how many times he had witnessed this matter, every one still proved to be awesome.
The wonder of carrying another human being in yourself for months and then having him or her delivered from you whether by pushing or by cutting, was never lost on him. In fact, he had since reached the conclusion that childbirth was proof that, generally speaking, women whether mothers or not, were stronger than men. God had equipped them with a little more of that inner capacity to withstand adversity, than men.
This is medical science. Girl babies, especially, premature ones, are stronger than boy babies. They survive more. If ten premature babies die for whatever reason, maybe only 3 will be girls. It is also biblical. The first woman was created to help the first man. That word “help” is like the word “helper” used to describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is a very powerful word. God likes to hide great strength under humility. Just as the Helper submits to the name of Christ in everything and is not with us in His own name (John 16:13-14), the real God-given power of the wife is seen in submission (1 Peter 3:4-5). May worldly ideas not rob our sisters of their mighty estate.
Anyway, where I am going is that this remarkable strenght of our wonderful wonders, also comes with remarkable drama. Real men know how to handle the drama and focus on the strength. Foolish men complain or fight or try to dominate and control.
So that was how this our doctor was to take this delivery and he was monitoring all the 3 Ps of labout [powers (the pushing mother), passageway (the birth canal), and the passenger (baby)], with all the required seriousness; and you wouldn’t believe this woman in labor. She said
“Doctor you are not smiling. You have to smile”
“Wha….What?! Madam?”
As in “Pardon?” He did not see that coming. At all.
“I said you cannot take my delivery with this frowning face. You have to smile”
(Hey! Dear nurse, are you hearing this? Are we all okay? Is this low blood sugar? When last did she have a meal? Is her blood pressure high? Is she dehydrated?)
“Madam please can I see your tongue?”
She shows Mr. Doki. Tongue is wet enough. She’s not dehydrated.
“Doctor I’m fine. I just want you to smile”
(For wetin? In this fairly hot room (cannot be too cold, baby will soon be out and babies don’t do cold) where I’m covered in long gloves, aprons and stuff? Inside labour you are also monitoring my face? These people have strength. Women can monitor 23 difrerent things at the same time with equal effectiveness.)
“Madam please let us work together to get a smooth thing going here. My smile has nothing to do with this”
“Doctor, I can see your face from here…if you don’t smile I won’t allow you deliver my baby!”
The doctor looks at her. Gosh! She is serious! Ah!
(Goodness me! Worrisdis?! If I don’t smile??? Reeaallly? If I don’t smile?!!! What of if I don’t spectranet?)
Drama drama drama drama
So our doctor had to ask, out of sheer perplexity
………”Why. Do. You. Want. Me. To. Smile?”
She said…..”Doctor, your face is the first face my baby will see when she comes into the world. I want her to see a smiling face!”
(Chei! Say what? Wetin you talk madam? So overgasting and flabberwhelming!)
He did not have time to explain that babies come out with eyes tightly shut and you had to clean their bodies and faces, and so they couldn’t see anything for the first few minutes; couldn’t see beyond some centimetres for the first few days, and couldn’t recognise smiles or frowns for the first few weeks.
No time. Head was wrapped tightly in a small corridor. Imagine this woman!
Maka why?
Tell me, can a man ever put you through this kind of nollywood something, even if he is in labour? Drama upon drama upon drama upon drama! Biko carry your inner strength and be going. Leave us alone.
That was how Mr. Doctor stepped out for 1 minute, and with immediate effect and automatic alacrity, recomposed his serious work-face into a smiling face for our drama queen in labor (It was a real smile too. He understood)
KOINONIA ART 