WITH THIS RING – a novel – will be posted all through this month
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
Read and be blessed.
Feel free to share it.
(Day 8)
When he reached a red traffic light, he stopped and quickly searched his CD collections. He chose Brenda Fassie, slotted the CD in the CD player and soon, the late South African singer’s strong voice filled the car as she sang Vuli ndlela. He didn’t understand what she was singing about but he moved his head to the rhythm of the music.
When the light turned green, he moved on.
Ibie had been lying on her stomach in her queen-size bed which occupied the center of the room, using her laptop. But now, she set it aside, turned on her back and stared at the ceiling as she began to think about Grace and Albert.
She was very sure that the young man sitting in the living room with her daughter did not know the ways of God. Why had Grace told her that he was a good Christian the first time she told her about him?
Realising that Grace deceived her, Ibie sighed. Grace didn’t need to do that. Didn’t she realise that her mother’s questions and approval or disapproval were meant to protect her, and that she was the one who would suffer if things went wrong? As her mother, she would feel bad and probably weep but Grace was the one who would suffer the consequences the most. When would these young people learn these simple truths? Ibie wondered sadly. Well, not all young people, she corrected herself. Some of them were serious about the things of God.
Grace needed to be more careful and committed to God. At the right time, God would bring the right man to her, afterall she was still young. She had told her daughter this truth a number of times that God’s time was the best and He would make everything beautiful in His time as stated in the Bible.
How could Grace be in such a relationship in spite of everything she had told her and what she was being taught in church?
In spite of Ibie’s busy schedule, she created time regularly to be with her daughter and discuss with her. She tried to be both father and mother to her yet sometimes it seemed as if she wasn’t doing enough. She had told Grace several times how she made the mistake of dating a married man and became pregnant. The man, Lulu Adejoh stayed with his family and Ibie became a single mother.
She had also told Grace about the dangers of premarital sex and dating a man who did not love God. Grace attended the Singles’ fellowship in church and had heard several messages about how to have a good and godly relationship, yet she had chosen Albert. Could she be engaging in sex with him? Ibie wondered with concern. She hoped not.
Grace knew the truth yet she was sometimes rebellious, Ibie thought and wondered what else she could do to help her daughter serve God better.
Suddenly, she heard Albert’s raised voice and it seemed he was angry. What could the matter be? She listened but didn’t hear anything again.
Just then, her cell phone began to ring. Without checking who the caller was, she answered it and heard the voice of Lizzy, her cousin. Had she returned from Australia?
“Are you back?”
“Yes. I returned yesterday.” Lizzy said.
Though Lizzy was two years older than Ibie, they were very close. They prayed together and confided in each other.
“Oh, I thought you said you were returning next weekend.” Ibie said. “So how was your trip?”
“It was great. I enjoyed myself.”
“I’m sure. Did you get the clothes for me?” Ibie asked. She had given Lizzy some money to purchase some clothes for her.
“Yes, I did.”
“Oh thank you. I’ll find time to come to your house to get them.”
“I want you to come this Saturday.”
“Fine. What time?”
“Afternoon will be good. I’ll make fish peppersoup for you.” Lizzy said.
Ibie smiled.
“And there will be snail.”
Of course Lizzy knew she liked peppersoup and snail. “Really? Great. I’ll be there. Er, I should be there at about four.”
“Perfect. I’ll expect you.”
Ibie put the handset down and soon, her thoughts returned to Grace. She might have to have another talk with her daughter when Albert had left. That man in there with Grace was up to no good. If Grace was not careful, she would get hurt; Ibie could feel it in her spirit.
She asked God to give her the right words to say to Grace.
Femi was still in his living room but now, he was sitting on the sofa with his laptop on a table in front of him, drafting a proposal letter to an elementary school to use his bus services for their pupils. Dayo would take it to the school the next day.
Femi had not ceased to thank God for providing such a trustworthy and very active young man for him. Honest people are very hard, almost impossible to come by these days, even among those who call themselves Christians.
One of his friends in America had told him of how he sent four cars to his brother in Nigeria to sell and give the money to his wife who was in Nigeria; the brother sold the cars but did not remit the money.
One of his church members in America also told him that he sent money to his friend in Nigeria to buy an acre of land for him. The friend told him it had been done only for the man to discover when he came to Nigeria that the friend spent the money, and there was no acre of land.
How could people be so deceitful? Femi had not ceased to wonder.
Suddenly, his cell phone which was beside him on the sofa began to vibrate, and then ring out the tone, ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’.
He glanced at it and smiled when he saw that it was one of his very close friends, Jaye.
He picked it. “Pastor J.”
“Hey FC, how are you?” Jaye said in greeting. He was the pastor of a young fast growing church.
“Good, good, good. And you?”
“I’m doing well.” Jaye replied.
After exchanging pleasantries, Jaye told him, “Hold on for Lizzy.”
“Is she back from her trip?”
“Yes. She returned last night.”
“Oh, that’s good.” Femi said.
“Hold on. She wants to talk to you.”
“What about?”
Jaye laughed. “Hold on for her. She will explain.”
“Jaye, just a second.” Femi quickly said.
If his wife was trying to fix him up with a woman, he wasn’t interested.
When he had just returned to Nigeria and told Jaye of his plan to remarry, Jaye had told him that he would like him to meet one of his mature female church members who was also his neighbour. Although Femi told him he could get his own woman, he eventually agreed to come to Jaye’s church and see the lady, after all it wasn’t as if he had found someone else at that time. He had told Jaye not to discuss anything with the lady. If he would like to pursue a relationship, he would then make his intentions known to the lady.
On the agreed day, he went to the church. The lady seemed good enough and as Femi chatted with her, he checked his spirit.
To be continued.
You will learn about the mercy of God and that there is hope for you, in this novel.
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