© Ayo Omolayo
I sat down on my bed and opened my bible. I had just finished praying for one hour. I wanted to read but it was obvious God had been talking to me all these while.
I had left Ella in her room and returned to the room I shared with Susan. The question I was asked earlier was still ringing in my head. Not that I had not given the usual answer many of you would expect me to give, but the Lord directed me to this scripture that blew my mind.
Luke 14:25. And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Verse 26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Verse 27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Verse 28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Verse 29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Verse 30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Verse 31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Verse 32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Verse 33. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
This was what the Lord replied me with when I said yes.
“NO JULIET! THINK ABOUT IT AND COUNT THE COST. ARE YOU READY TO STAY IN THE BARRACKS TILL THE END. DON’T START WHAT YOU CANNOT FINISH. I WANT TO BE CERTAIN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO JUMP OUT AND JUMP IN AGAIN.
THINK ABOUT IT AND LET ME GET YOUR SINCERE ANSWER”.
Ever since that time, I’ve been meditating on that scripture. To be honest, I was afraid I might not last a week in the barracks. I know myself and my weaknesses. Once I’m exposed to harsh life, I back off immediately.
I have been comfortable all my life and that’s how life has always been for me.
Let’s say, I haven’t made up my mind yet when the door opened and the two girls walked in.
“Susan get dressed quickly, I don’t want us running late this year”, Ella said to her.
I looked at her and saw her dressed on a black top and a black knee length skirt, coupled with black heels and a black fascinator on her head to match her black turban or head wrap.
Soon Susan was putting on a yellow long flowing gown.
“Juliet please get dressed, they are waiting for you. Charles is already here to take us!” She said to me.
My heart skipped at the mention of that name.
I remembered the last one he visited and how I was so infatuated by his good looks. I didn’t know why I was taken away by his physiques and started crushing on him. Someone I had just met that day.
Would I be able to resist him this time around?
“Susan, put on something else oooo! I’m warning you. Me that is putting on black is not because I’m mourning someone ooo! I’m putting on black because I know I might not be able to go to that meeting without being slain under the power.
I don’t have strength to wash dirty clothes ooo!”
Susan giggled and put off her yellow gown immediately.
“Is it a church meeting?” I asked.
“Not just a church meeting. But the meeting that would change your life forever”, Ella answered.
“Where?” I asked.
“Don’t worry! Just get dressed. Time is running out!” She replied and sat down.
I quickly jumped to my feet and opened the wardrobe. Thank God I had a black skirt already. I quickly put on a red polo and put on my watch, the wrist watch my father gave to me on my 16th birthday.
He told me it was his watch when he was a young man. He said he had decided to keep it for his child that would come after him. He said he lost something so precious and that watch only reminded him about it.
Now it would remind him of me, the greatest gift in his life. He said he had changed the battery several times and kept it safe for me.
Though I had asked him several times what he had lost, but he never told me what it was. He would take me around with stories and end up distracting me in the process. And the next time I would ask, he would promise to tell me later.
There was something, fishy about my Dad. I really needed to find out what happened to him when he was a young man. Secrets must be revealed. But for now, I was only wearing the watch to a meeting.
Susan got dressed in a green gown.
“This colour is better, right?” She asked.
“Yes! At least, when you come back from the meeting, nobody will call you a dirty girl the way that child did the other day”, Ella said and the both burst into laughter.
“Hurray up!” A male voice sounded from the staircase.
“We’re coming!” Susan replied as she rushed to get her purse and her bible.
The 3 of us practically raced down the stairs.
“You guys are almost late and you still have time to crack jokes?” Charles asked as he gave Ella a hug.
“Don’t mind Ella! She was just teasing me”, Susan replied as they both hugged each other.
I was next. My heart skipped as he approached me, spreading his arms.
“God help me!” I whispered within me.
He came closer and that was it. My blood got hot instantly and I was already aroused.
“Sir, can you help me set this watch?” I asked pointing the digital watch on my wrist at him.
That was a good distraction because it actually worked.
My watch was correct, but I just needed a distraction. And by the way, I knew how to set it myself.
“But it’s correct!” He replied.
“Really?” I said as if I was not aware.
“We don’t have time, we’ll talk about watch later. Let’s be on our way!” Susan said and we all hurried out of the house.
His car was parked outside and we all got in. Ella sat at the front, while the two of us sat behind.
All through the ride, I continued meditating on the scripture, because the devil was present to help me meditate on something else, or should I say someone else.
“Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer”, I kept repeating that scripture in my heart.
Soon the car parked at a large hall and we all stepped out of the car. I saw a lot of cars parked at the same place as well and the hall was filled with people. This wasn’t our church, but I was sure it was a gathering of believers.
“So! Here we are! Are you going to announce to them yourself, so would you want to stick to the plans?” Charles said to Ella.
“The plan’s too awkward! I’ll do the introduction myself”, she replied and they all waved him goodbye.
Part of me was happy he left, and the other part was sad.
“Juliet”, Susan called and took my hand.
“This is a gathering of sons and daughters of…..”
“Don’t say it!” Ella turned and pointed at Susan in the speed of light.
“Okay! But why?” She asked.
“I love surprises! Let’s give her the shock of her life”, she said and we entered the hall.
I thought we were going to sit somewhere at the back. I was a permanent backsitter in my church. Even when ushers instructed me to come to the front, I’ll prove stubborn and remain at the he back when there are chairs in the front.
Sometimes I would beg them to allow me maintain my back seat. If they refuse, I’ll switch to stubborn Juliet mode. That one would help them understand that I’m a permanent back sitter.
But I was surprised when Ella and Susan took me and we all arrived at the front seat. Not just the front seat but the front row seat.
I looked at what was designed at the front of the the hall.
“GATHERING OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MUMMY ABAYOMI”
I turned to look at the hall filled with people.
“Are these people all mummy’s spiritual children?” I asked.
“Yes they are! Lives she had affected and they are all here to hold an intercessory gathering for her.
Soon, I saw Ella walking up to the pulpit and took the microphone.
“I’m so happy to be here standing before you all”, she said with all boldness.
If I was the one, the mic would have fallen from my hand because of fear.
“This is an annual meeting where we all gather together. Lives that had been touched, hearts that had been transformed, destinies that have been affected and people, who have come to know Jesus and love him, just because one woman said yes to Jesus. Mrs Toyin Abayomi! Can we all celebrate her!”
Their squealing and applauds could rent one’s ears.
“I was informed mummy’s first daughter is in the house”, she said and the screams in the hall grew louder.
“Haa! You people should calm down na! We are all children of the same spiritual parent!” She said grinning.
“This woman had been a hard one to get. I remembered sending her so many mails and and calling her number several times. Finally, she was able to agree to come to this meeting.
Children of God , put your hands together as we welcome our mummy’s first daughter, Mrs Oladimeji”, she said and the hall went noisy as a woman stepped forward to the pulpit.
Ella hugged the woman and they whispered a few words to each other before she was given the mic.
“Hallelujah! Children of God!” She said smiling.
The congregation cheered and applauded.
“This meeting is a meeting that is meant to change your life. It is very true. Okay! It is absolutely true that you can meet a person and from that day onward, things were never the same in your life. That day is today!”
“Amen!” The crowd roared.
“I am so happy for this gathering. And I’m so amazed to find out that it was all the handwork of our mummy’s biological daughter Emmanuella Abayomi! And she’s only 18 years old. Can we please celebrate her”, she said and the crowd went wild.
“I love that. For the past 3 years this meeting has been held once in a year. I find it a privilege to be here in our midst. I was told we all give our testimonies of how God used the vessel to bless our lives. So quickly, I want to do that before we move to the next item on our list.
Because I’m here to announce to you that the prophecy mummy gave years ago, has happened!”
Screams and applauded filled the hall?
“I met Mrs Abayomi on campus. Actually, she met me. Because I was only running away from everyone looking for where to get a strong rope to hang myself in my room. That was when she met me.
I came from a very poor background. Daddy was gone pretty early and mummy was left alone with me and my younger sister. Life was difficult for us. We had to struggle to eat.
But mummy was determined to make sure I study in school get a good job and put an end to our family’s misery. So she decided to train me. Hoping when I graduate and get a good job, I would come back to train my younger sister.
I wrote my exams, got admitted in UNILAG and moved on. It was a struggle. Luckily for me, our campus fellowship rented an apartment to host some sisters who were struggling with accomodations for one year. After a year, you become an illegal occupant.
So I was seriously looking for enough money to rent an apartment when my time in the place would expire. We were already 6 in that small room and feeding was not only a struggle for me, but for all of us.
That was when Satan showed up for me. This rich guy in final year suddenly said he was in love with me. And was ready to do anything for me. I don’t want to go into the details but you know what I’m trying to say.
I had to use what I had to get the financial support I needed. So I was using the womb God had given me to feed my stomach. This continued for a month and everyone was becoming suspicious.
Until one day, he visited me at the apartment and we were commiting immorality, when one of my roommate bumped into the scene.
I regretted my actions, but it was already too late, she invited the entire compound to our room. All those girls who were jealous of me found the opportunity they had been looking for.
I was called several names that day and my tears were endless. I managed to appear in church to at least tell God I was sorry and be reconciled to him. When my name was mentioned from the pulpit.
I was called a sinner! That I had no fear of God. I did not only disrespect God, but disrespected the fellowship who had put a roof over my head. Therefore I was to evacuate the apartment that same night.
All eyes were on me, because they told me to stand up and step out before the entire church. I refused to stand up so everyone would see me.
I just stood up and ran out of the church. I had already mapped out my plan. Get a strong rope and hang myself in the room before everyone was back from church. By the time they would be back, they would meet my dead body.
I was still running, when a hand grabbed me. I turned to see who it was.
Lo and behold, it was Mrs Abayomi.
To be continued……
Will you pay the price for your generation?
Do you know there are people who would die because you failed God?
Do you know there are people under bondage and crying to God for deliverance, but the answer to their prayers is busy sleeping away destiny
God told Abraham that Israel would spend 400 years as slaves in Egypt.
But check your Bible, Israel left Egypt after 430 years.
Who was responsible was the extra 30 years? Was it God that failed man?
Brethren! Don’t know waste away! You were sent for a purpose!
By the way, how many of you like sitting at the back in church? Please obey the usher ooo!
INSPIRED BY THE BREAD OF LIFE
WRITTEN BY AYO OMOLAYO
YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST 🙏
