THE STRANGE PROPOSAL
Part 14
©Franca Uwuigiaren
While the kids were eating the garri, I left them to the bedroom. I sat on the bed when suddenly I heard a subtle voice.
“Obiama, what are you going to do now that your wife is waiting for the main meal?”
I repeated the question slowly to myself and sighed deeply.
“You are a fool, Obiama. You shouldn’t have told her that the main meal is coming when you know you’re broke and cashless. You would have just told her that there’s nothing except little garri. Now she’s waiting.”
Again, I sighed and shifted one foot.
“How much is in your pocket?” The voice asked again.
“Just two hundred naira,” I said, bringing out the money from my pocket as I stared at it.
“So, where is the main meal coming from? Is your two hundred naira able to provide the main meal for her, talk less of the children?” I heard the voice laugh so loudly.
“But… even my master fed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes,” I said.
The voice laughed so hard, so mockingly.
“Really? Is that what you read from your Bible? Well, Obiama, those are Bible stories. They’re not real. Be realistic! There’s no way five loaves of bread and two fishes can feed five thousand men. Impossible!”
“But my Bible tells me that with God, all things are possible. God does things that seems impossible, that’s why He is God.”
“Why hasn’t your two hundred naira fed you and your children? Why hasn’t God taken care of you people if He does the impossible?”
“Satan, my hope and trust are in the Lord God Almighty. If my master fed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes, then He can take care of us. We’re just five. Yes! If He can take care of the birds of the air and they’re looking so beautiful, then He can take care of us. You know what, Satan? Tonight, we are going to eat well… I mean a sumptuous meal, and I must make sure to eat good meat too.”
The voice began to laugh.
“Sumptuous meal? Really? Where is it coming from? You’re a joker Obiama”
“My sumptuous meal is coming from above.”
“And if it doesn’t come?”
“It’s coming! We’re eating to our satisfaction. God is still God, and He is still seated on the throne.”
“Obiama, if it does not…”
“Shut up, you liar and deceiver. I have decreed, and it’s coming to pass. I and my family will lack nothing henceforth. We will eat to our satisfaction today. Now that I have told you my stand, get behind me, in the name of Jesus.”
I didn’t realize I was standing. I was already angry in my spirit.
“Obiama, look unto the hills from whence cometh your help.” Another voice, different from the first said. ” Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. This is the time you must hold firmly to His word” I heard in my spirit.
Suddenly, some Bible verses I had read before began to flash before me. I remembered Hagar in Genesis 21:15-21. How God provided water and a promise of protection for her and her son Ishmael. In Exodus 16:1-36, God provided manna and quail for food in the wilderness for the Israelites. In 1 Kings 17:1-16, too, God provided food and water through a widow and ravens for Elijah. What of the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:8-16? God provided flour and oil that never ran out.
I jumped up in excitement and began to pray. Father, your word says in Philippians 4:19, And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Psalm 37, verse 25, says I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
I personalized the Bible verses and began to remind Father of His word. The Bible verses came alive as I repeated them. Isaiah 55:11 says So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
“Father, everything good thing you have spoken about me and my family, bring it to pass. Let your word concerning me not return to you empty.”
I didn’t know I was moving round the room, quoting and declaring God’s word in my family.
“Father, I trust in your word to meet all my needs. Let your promises come alive in my life in the name of Jesus. Prove that you’re God in my life. Let no one ask where is my God because of my situation. Just like you delivered the three Hebrew boys from the furnace of fire, deliver me and my family from hardship placed by the enemy. Just like you shut the lion’s mouth and delivered Daniel, shut the mouth of the enemies against me. Silence all the enemies of my soul. Today, prove that you’re God in my life, just like you proved yourself to Abraham, Sarah, and Hannah. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez cried that you would bless him and expand his territory, and you granted his request. O Lord, grant me all my requests.”
I prayed for an hour before I went to the sitting room to meet my wife.
“Are you ready to bathe now?” I asked.
“Obiama, I am waiting for the main meal,” she said. “I’m not leaving this sitting room without eating good food, and I won’t allow you to sleep if…”
“Oroma, I am not the one providing the meal. God is. Everything we need in this house henceforth, God is going to supply them.”
Just as Oroma began to laugh my phone rang. It was Pastor Moses. After exchanging greetings, he asked after my family and how I had been faring. He encouraged me and told me to continue going out to submit my CVs.
“Send me your account details, let me send you something,” he said.
I was overjoyed. I thanked him and, before I could open my mouth to tell Oroma the good news, I heard a knock on the door. I looked at Oroma, wondering if we were expecting anyone, and she shrugged her shoulders to tell me she wasn’t expecting anyone. I went closer to the door and asked, “Who is there?”
“It’s me, Papa Alabo!”
I recognized the voice of Mama, our neighbour. She’s elderly and lives with her unmarried son. I opened the door and greeted her. She was all smiles.
“Mama, where have you been? I haven’t seen you for like three week now.” I said.
“I did some traveling, my son but I have been around for four days now.”
“Four days and I didn’t see you.”
“It’s because you didn’t ask after me” she said laughing.
“Come inside, Mama!” I invited.
“Ahh! No! There’s no need. I wanted you to help me do something in my house.”
“Okay! I’m coming.”
I went inside and told my wife that I wanted to help Mama do something inside.
“Alright!” she said.
I left her and went to Mama’s flat. She was inserting her key into the keyhole when I got there.
“I haven’t seen Somto for a long time; did he travel?” I asked as she opened the door. She opened it wide for me to enter. As soon as she closed the door, she told me her son has traveled out of the country.
“Jesus! This is great news.”
“UK, to be precise.”
“Wow! Congratulations, Mama.” I said, grinning.
“You see, my son, God gave me four children. Two females and two males. Before I got married, I told God how my children would be. I told God I wanted children who would love Him, give me peace and joy. I told God that none of my children would be poor. My dear, I laboured on my knees in prayers for my children when I began giving birth. How I wanted them to turn out in life, I told God. The suffering I suffered, I told God my children would not experience it. I enforced my victory through prayers.”
“Hmmm!”
“Daily I mention the names of my children as I pray. I tell God my children will not be wayward. They will not be found in the wrong places. They will not be found in prison, only where great people are. You see, the devil is after the souls of the young ones.”
I listened to her talk. She told me her husband left her for another woman and didn’t last long with her before he died.
Mama was quiet for a time before she shook her head.
“Now that Somto has relocated, my other children don’t want me to live alone. So, I am going to live with Chinenye. Her husband built a mansion at Alakija, and the man is even worried that I live alone. Tomorrow, I will be moving out of this house.”
“Ahh! You’re leaving us in this compound.”
“My children don’t want me to live alone. I was told two days ago to start packing my things. I have done so, but other things in the house, I don’t need them. I am taking my clothes. For the television, I have called the pastor of my church to give it to the children’s department. He has promised to send someone to pick it up tomorrow morning.”
“That’s good.”
“Actually, I was expecting my daughter and her children to come visit me so we could spend my last day in this house together, but somehow, they couldn’t make it.”
“Eyah!”
“I made so much preparation. Who will eat the food now? Anyway, you can carry the food to your wife and kids.”
I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I thanked her so much. She wanted me to bring the television down, so I did. I helped her wrap it so the screen wouldn’t get broken.
“My son-in-law will come tomorrow to pick me up, but I don’t know who to give some of these things to.” She said, pointing at the leather chairs and other things.
“I…I…don’t know… maybe you will have to talk to the other neighbors in the compound. Some of them might be interested in…”
“One thing I know is that I am giving you my deep freezer.” She said.
“Ahh! I remembered when you bought it, Mama…it’s not up to three months.”
She smiled.
“You’re right, but my son-in-law has everything. They won’t need the freezer there. I bought this for over 300k. I didn’t know I was going to leave this compound so soon. My children are not comfortable with me living alone, especially with Somto out of the country now.”
By this time, I was so relaxed because even as I stood there, I could feel ABBA was about to do more.
“Go round and take whatever you can before I call the neighbours.” She said casually.
I nodded, dumbfounded. I went straight to the kitchen first. I was dumbfounded because Mama’s kitchen was loaded, well-stocked. I stared at everything. Her kitchen was like a market where whatever you are looking for is there in abundance.
“You’re wasting time, Papa Alabo. Carry whatever you can.”
I first went for the bag of rice.
“Take everything in this kitchen. They’re all yours.” She said, standing at the kitchen entrance. I went to work immediately. I carried the bag of rice home. When Oroma saw me with the rice, she began to ask me questions, but I told her we would talk later. I got a big bag, called my second son, and told him to follow me. We entered Mama’s kitchen, and I carried everything my hands could lay on.
We went carrying foodstuffs for more than three trips. I could tell her children were really taking good care of them. By the time we went to the place the fourth time because I really wanted to thank her very well, she said,
“My son, you have not carried everything. The rice I boiled is in the pot. I only ate a small portion. Carry everything with the pot.” I opened the pot of stew, and I was overwhelmed. In anticipation of her children coming, Mama had garnished the stew.
“Ahh, Mama!” I exclaimed eventually.
She smiled.
“Carry the pot.”
I carried the pots and didn’t bother taking them to the kitchen. I placed them before Oroma on the table. I made sure to open the pot of stew before I dashed out again. Mama was putting off the deep freezer when I entered.
“Mama, I can’t carry the deep freezer today. Probably tomorrow in the morning before you leave.”
“Okay, but come and pack everything inside.”
My God! The freezer was loaded with egusi, banga, and Ogbono soup. There was meat, boiled tomatoes, drinks, and things there. The freezer was well-stocked too. I didn’t waste time but cleared everything. I returned to mama and prostrated before her with tears in my eyes. She laughed with a glint in her eyes.
“God has blessed me, Papa Alabo. Just like I told you, I have a covenant of long life and prosperity with Him. I can’t lack. My children are always sending me money…yet they stock the house with food and what I needed. I have clothes. They’re always buying even where many I have not sewn. At the end, I don’t spend the money they send to me.”
I shook my head,
overwhelmed.
“I hope you have given your life to Christ?” She asked suddenly.
“Yes, ma.”
“Good! It’s the best decision anyone would ever make. Those outside Christ are exposed. Please do well to bring your children in God’s way. Let the kingdom of darkness shake because of them. Since I started following Jesus, I have never looked back and don’t let situations bend you or force you to look back like Lot’s wife.”
“Yes, ma!”
“Our path might not cross again, my son…but we will surely meet ourselves in heaven. Please don’t come alone. Make sure all your family members are there.” I nodded.
Tears began to run down my eyes. I prostrated before her again. Why won’t I? The foodstuffs I collected will last us for a long time. As I got to the door, she called me back.
“ABBA is instructing me to bless you more.”
I didn’t quite get what she was saying at first.
“He said it’s for this reason that He sent me into this compound. He wants me to bless you. Please give me your account details.”
I seemed not to hear until she repeated it two more times. I didn’t know whether it was I who called out my details, but I got an instant alert of 339k.
I jumped with my head touching the roof. I was too overwhelmed.
“Jesus! Oh Jesus” I kept repeating.
I went to her and held her legs, crying profusely. My son joined me.
“All these thanks don’t belong to me. God made it happen. So give Him all the praise.”
“There are a lot of people in this compound that you could have called, but you came to me, Mama.”
“God made it happen. Papa Alabo, it’s getting late. Take your son home and let them eat before they go to bed.”
I took Mama’s hand and kissed it multiple times before leaving with my son.
When I got home, Oroma was crying.
“Why are you crying?” I asked, perplexed.
“I’m sorry, Obiama. I’m sorry.” was all she said. I smiled because I knew God had started dealing with her. I went to the kitchen, carried some plates and spoons to the sitting room, and then I dished food for my family.
“Oroma, my darling wife, God has provided the main meal. Is God not full of wonders? Let’s eat and be thankful to God.”
Oroma ate! She was eating and crying. I guess she was so overwhelmed. God showed up for me. He didn’t leave me to be mocked and put to shame. I guess the devil has been disappointed again.
Everyone ate to their satisfaction, and the remaining food I kept. I warned the cooked food to avoid spoilage since they’re not in the freezer. Then I bathed my wife and bade everyone good night. Later, when I went to put off the socket, I heard my kids praying in their room. They were truly grateful to God for showing up on time.
All through the night, I noticed that my wife couldn’t sleep. She kept tossing on the bed. I didn’t sleep in time. I was too overwhelmed to close my eyes.
I soon left the bed to prostrate before Father. I worshipped His Majesty, who answered me when I called Him. My mouth was full of praises.
“Great and mighty God, I praise your holy name! You are the God of the impossible, the One who shows up when all hope seems lost. Your wondrous power knows no bounds, and Your love for us is infinite. In the darkest of times, when the road ahead seemed uncertain, You appeared, and Your presence lit the way. You turned my struggles into triumphs and my tears into joy. Your favor surrounded me like a shield, and Your grace lifted me up from the ashes.
I prostrate in awe of Your majesty, Your wisdom, and Your unwavering faithfulness. You are the One who causes all things to work together for our good, even when we cannot see the bigger picture. Your plans for us are plans for good, to give us a future and a hope. You are the God of miracles, the One who parts the seas and moves mountains. Your power is unmatched, and Your love is unrelenting. You are our Rock, our Refuge, and our Savior…”
I could not stop worshipping His Majesty. At a time, I stood up and sang His praise for a long time.
In the morning, I called a neighbour who assisted me in carrying the deep freezer into the house. When Oroma saw it, she cried again and again. It was like she was dreaming. When she was calmed and her tears dried, I gave her my phone to check my account balance.
“Where did you get such money?” She asked in alarm.
“Yesterday, God arranged everything in my favour.”
I explained how Pastor Moses and Mama blessed me. I could see that her eyes were misty again.
I didn’t want to see her tears, so I went into the kitchen to take care of things. Foodstuffs were kept anyhow in the kitchen, so I needed to arrange them properly.
“What do you want for breakfast?” I later went to ask my wife. She looked at me and began to cry again.
“Why are you crying? I asked only a question.”
“Because yesterday there was nothing at home, and then…I ate a wonderful meal. Now you’re asking me what to eat?”
“Yes, what are you eating?”
She wiped her tears and said shyly, “I want solid food for breakfast.”
“I’m right on it,” I said. Just like she requested, I prepared semo and served her with Ogbono soup then i prepared spaghetti for my kids and myself.
Later, I was with Mama to bid her goodbye when her son-in-law came to carry her. She didn’t carry much except two boxes. I noticed that some neighbours were already in her flat, taking whatever they could. I smiled as I walked to my flat, singing:
“It’s a great thing to serve the Lord.
It is a great thing to serve the Lord.
It is a great thing to serve the Lord,
walk in the light of God. Oh, walk, walk, walk, walk
walk in the light.
Oh, walk, walk, walk, walk
walk in the light.
Oh, walk, walk, walk, walk
walk in the light.
Walk in the light of God.”
To be continued…
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