THE STRANGE PROPOSAL
Part 15
©Franca Uwuigiaren
Oroma has been quiet for the past few days. She hasn’t recovered from the surprise, and sometimes I catch her staring at me in wonder. You know when God does something unexpected, something miraculous and wonderful, impossible, it takes time to recover from such. Sometimes one doesn’t even recover. My very own Oroma is still in shock, and each time I look at her, she shudders. No man should underestimate the power of God. He specializes in the impossible. When the devil thinks he has blocked all roads and opportunities, suddenly ABBA shows up with his keys and begins to open the doors.
I know God is dealing with my wife, and at the right time, she will come around. I didn’t stop praying for her. What I did was intensify my prayer for her because I know the devil is very tricky, a master manipulator who uses various tactics to deceive and lead people astray. With money in my account and enough foodstuffs, I stopped going to the motor park to hustle; instead, I started going to submit CVs in different companies. I’m believing that this time, I will be called up for an interview from any good company.
I had returned one evening from a prayer meeting to find Oroma discussing with her mother. I dropped my Bible and diary on the table, then sat on the chair. I paid keen interest to their discussion while pressing my phone.
“I don’t think papa should bother again. He shouldn’t come again,” Oroma said.
“Why? Now that your father has decided to come, you’re saying he shouldn’t bother. He is prepared already. Your elder brothers are even here. Three of them are coming together. Pack some things for yourself and children,” her mother said.
Oroma glanced at me, but I acted as if I wasn’t listening or interested in their discussion.
“Please, mama…my husband will not open the door for them. Don’t say I didn’t tell you. My husband has told papa himself.”
“Oroma,” she called,
“Ma!”
“Don’t you want to be well?”
“Mama, I want to be okay…I want to be able to walk and move about. I feel so much pain all over. I can’t even walk.”
“You’re a woman, Oroma. Do everything in your power to convince your husband…if you need to cry, please do,” her mother said.
“Mama…I am telling you, my husband will not allow him to come in…it’s better they don’t come. Besides, I have not forgiven him for the things he said the other time.”
“Oroma, you know how your father talks. Forgive him. He is your father and has your interest at heart. Do you think he has been sleeping well, knowing that you’re sick and unable to walk? No father will be happy…when there’s a solution, and your husband doesn’t want to comply….he is sabotaging your father’s effort. You should be fighting your husband to let your father come and pick you up. See, the place your father is taking you to is powerful. The priest himself…”
“I don’t know how to convince my husband. He believes so much in God, and…he still believes that God will heal us.”
Mama laughed.
“Both of you are playing.”
“I am not playing. Just tell them not to come,” she said.
I listened to them for a moment, then left her in the sitting room to bathe. Afterward, I prepared dinner. After everyone had eaten, I went outside with my phone. It was dark already, and there was no neighbour outside. I dialed my father-in-law’s line. It rang twice before he answered. I didn’t waste time before telling him why I was calling.
“I heard you’re coming tomorrow to carry my wife, but I am telling you now that you shouldn’t bother because I won’t allow you into my house. I mean, why would you want to carry my wife to the shrine…for your rituals? Sir, don’t bother coming.”
“What’s wrong with you, Obiama?”
“Papa, there’s nothing wrong with me. I just don’t want my wife to be taken to any shrine…please.”
“Do you like her condition? She can’t walk, Obiama.”
“I don’t like her condition, sir. I am believing God for his healing upon her.”
“Obiama…you’re playing with me.”
“Papa, I am her husband. I know what’s right. That place you are taking her to is destructive. That place is not the right way.”
“Obiama, I am her father…her father who doesn’t want his daughter dead, but you want her dead. When someone is sick, you look for a solution, and I have gotten a solution for her.”
“The Bible says that there’s a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end is death. Jesus is not in that place you want to take my wife to. There’s no way there, and I won’t permit her to step there. That place you plan to take her to is death.”
He started ranting and swearing, then he resorted to threatening.
“Papa, I won’t open my door for you to come and carry my wife to one shrine. I won’t!”
“Alright, Obiama…I won’t come to your house. May God punish you if you refuse to allow my sons in. I trust them to beat hell out of you…before carrying their sister and children. You just try and stop them. I will instruct them to tie you up with a thick rope,” he said angrily.
With that, he cut the line. As I stared at my phone, I had this feeling that Papa wasn’t entirely telling me the truth when he said he won’t come with his sons. I believed in my heart that he would show up with them.
“Father, how do I stop these people from coming to my house?” I asked with eyes raised to the sky.
Questions started popping into my head. Will I actually not allow my in-laws into my house? I thought about the question for a moment, then shook my head. Of course, I will allow them in, but won’t allow them to take my wife out of the house.
I entered the house and soon discarded that thought. I didn’t discuss it with my wife. I was tired and wanted badly to sleep. I went straight to the bedroom, and Oroma was crying. She said her body hurts so badly. I prayed for her and told her to try and sleep. For close to an hour, I sat on the chair waiting for her to sleep. The moment she slept off, I slept too and had a dream.
In that dream, I entered the bedroom and met a lady lying on my bed beside my wife. The moment this lady saw me, she sat up and smiled. I recognized her immediately.
“What do you want?” I asked harshly.
“I know you have been angry with me…”
“Of course, I am angry,” I replied sharply.
“I want you to listen to what I have to say, Obiama. I don’t like the condition of your wife and children. I can help. I can make things return to normal if only you accept my proposal. Why is it difficult for you to accept me?”
“I can never accept such. Never!”
“See, Obiama…all I want is for you to just say yes, and I promise, you won’t see me disturb you. I will just be there supporting you with whatever you need. All you will do is come visit me once in a while. It is not too much to ask.” She stared at me, waiting for me to say something, but I kept quiet.
“Obiama…Do you know Reverend Otito of International Christian ministry?”
“Yes!”
“What of Dr. Matthew of Blessed Assurance Church?”
“I know him.”
“What do you know about them?”
“I know they’re great men of God who…”
“Tah!” She said, “They’re my children. I gave them power, money, and fame. There are many more I have not mentioned. These people come to worship me and offer their sacrifices. Obiama, there are many who are not even pastors but they’re working for me. I give them power to heal the sick, give children to the barren, I bless their handiworks and businesses. I have children all over the world working for my kingdom. Day and night, they’re working. In my kingdom, there’s no room for laziness.”
I was surprised as I stared at her.
“I have sons and daughters who have been assigned to collect the virtues of the careless ones. I have eyes everywhere. No hiding place. We know when someone begins to make waves for the good of the other kingdom. We find them and bring them down.”
I still kept quiet.
“I give good gifts…”
“You give death as gifts. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, and not you.”
I could see her getting angry, but she soon smiled.
“Take,” she said, stretching forth her hands towards me.
I didn’t make any effort to go close to her.
“I said, take this,” she repeated. She opened her hand, and there was a beautiful ring sparkling so bright. “Wear it, and you will have power, wealth, and fame. Take it, Obiama! Take it.”
I moved backward, but suddenly she stood before me n***d, with her hair as snakes. Every snake on her head began to move.
“I don’t need anything from you accept marry me. If you don’t marry me…I will marry you. Yes, I will marry you by force.”
I saw myself laughing so hard, and it seemed to infuriate her.
“You lie!”
“Why, why, Obiama.” She was shrieking.
I saw her long nails as she slipped the ring into one of her fingers.
“I can’t accept anything from you. I have no connection with you.”
She suddenly transformed into a snake and glided towards the bed. There was a crown on her head. She pushed Oroma from the bed and suddenly transformed into a human being again.
“The covenant between me and your grandmother is still binding, and I am here to fulfill my part. Why do you think I left my kingdom to attend your naming ceremony? Why do you think I played with you all the time you come to the river with your mother? Do you know how many times your grandmother asked me to protect you? Even your parents have dedicated you and your siblings to me. Obiama, the covenant between I and your grandmother and parents cannot be broken.”
“It’s broken already. I have nothing to do with you. You represent darkness. I don’t know why my family made that mistake of worshipping you.”
She laughed.
“Because I represent goodness and light. Your parents come to the river all the time, thanking me for my goodness. They offer sacrifices to me because I am good.”
“We have nothing in common.”
She was angry. Her eyes were already red.
“It’s either you accept my proposal or I kill you, but first, I will make your life miserable. One after the other, I will kill your children and wife. I will so deal with you that you will crawl on your knees, begging, but it will be too late.”
“My life is in God’s hand. You didn’t give me life, neither can you take it.”
She laughed; it was eerie.
“Obiama, I will not spare you. Every gift I have given to you, I will come and take them.”
She was angry, and all the snakes on her head stood out. I moved backward until my back touched the wall. Suddenly, balls of fire appeared on her hands, and she threw them at me. Before they could reach me, I saw that I was covered by a dome. The balls of fire hit the dome, but they couldn’t penetrate it. Angry, she threw more balls of fire, but surprisingly, none of them reached me. It was as if she wasn’t seeing the dome that covered me. Several times she tried, but they would hit the dome and bounce back.
She screamed and, in anger, threw the ball of fire at Oroma, and it went straight into her. She threw more into her, shouting like a wounded lion. I saw Oroma’s body shake violently for a moment, then become still.
The river goddess was crying profusely. She opened the wardrobe and started destroying whatever she could.
“I’m still coming for you, Obiama. I am coming for you.” She screamed, not attempting to come close to me. “I will make you pay,” she said, still crying.
I woke up immediately and glanced at my wife on the bed. She was sleeping peacefully. What kind of dream is this? I heaved a sigh of relief then wipe the thick sweat on my face. I stood up and checked on my kids, and they were sleeping soundly. I sat on the chair with my Bible ready to pray when Oroma screamed. She screamed so loudly that it shook the house. I jumped out of the chair and ran to the bedroom. She was rolling on the bed.
“My body is on fire… I am burning. Oh God, save me… I am burning. Help me,” she cried.
I began to pray. I prayed for many hours, and she was still crying. My kids were awake and joined me in the prayers. By morning, Oroma had boils all over her body.
“I’m dying… save me. Obiama.”
“I can’t save you, Oroma. I don’t have the power to save you. It is only Jesus who can save you.” I told her.
“Call my parents… call my father… I want to go home to my parents. They will know where to take me to…”
“It’s not happening!”
I left her in the bedroom crying and insulting me. I bathed the children, then prepared food. After my kids had eaten, I went into the bedroom to try to feed Oroma, but she wouldn’t eat. She kept crying and rolling on the bed. I carried her to the bathroom and bathed her with cold water. Her body became cool. I took her to the bedroom. She lay on the bed, and I fed her. She ate a little, then I dropped the food.
“Oroma, why are you hardening your heart? You are so open that anything can enter you. You have no protection around you.” I told her.
I told her about the dream I had before she screamed.
“You can’t meet the devil for a cure or healing when the devil is the cause of your illness. If you surrender to Jesus, I tell you he will fight for you. Oroma, you can’t fight for yourself, and neither can I fight for you. You need the head of all principalities and power to fight for you. Do you like the way you’re in pain all the time…” Oroma grabbed my hands and cried.
“Pray for me.” She said.
“I have been praying for you,”
I watched her cry for some time then she said:”I am ready. How should I do it?” She asked. I got a handkerchief and wiped her tears. I took her hands in mine.
“1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
“I’m ready, Obiama. Lead me to Him.” She said.
“You will repeat after me,” I said, and she nodded. So every word I said, Oroma repeated after me.
I congratulated her. “You’re now a child of God. You have invited him to take charge of your affairs. God has forgiven you your sins and delivered you from his condemnation and eternal punishment. You’re now his child. Isn’t it amazing? John 1:12-13 said “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Oroma sighed.
“2 Corinthians 5:7 also says For we walk by faith, not by sight. Thank God you’re now a child of God. That verse is a foundational principle of the christian life. You see, as christians, we are called to trust in God and His promises, even when we cannot see or understand what is happening in our lives.”
She nodded her head and wiped her tears. For close to an hour, I sat with her talking about Jesus.
Later, I told her to try and sleep because she looked so tired.
“I don’t know if I can sleep!”
“Please try.”
I helped her lie properly on the bed then put on the fan for her because she was sweating. She closed her eyes, and I left the bedroom. I went to the sitting room and thanked God for my wife’s salvation.
“Satan, you have lost,” I said aloud.
I was very happy that my wife had given her life to Christ. It was as if I should scream for joy. Now that Oroma had given her life to Christ, I promised to help her grow. I sat there thinking of the exploits we would do for God’s kingdom. Then my thought shifted to my in-laws, who were already on their way to Lagos.
“Father, when Elijah decreed that there would be no rain for three and a half years, it was so. You honoured his request and held the rain for three and a half years. Lord, Your word says decree a thing, and it shall be established. This morning, I stand in the authority of Your word and decree that Oroma’s father and his sons will not come close to this environment in the name of Jesus.”
Just as I finished praying, I heard my wife’s phone ringing, and I heard her greeting her father.
“But I told Mama to tell you not to come. My husband won’t welcome you. Moreover, Papa, I gave my life to Christ today, and there will be no need to come again.”
“I’m already on the road. If not for Belema’s car having a little issue, we would have left Rivers since…”
“Papa, don’t come again. Since you are still within Rivers, you can still turn back.”
“You’re mad for telling me that.”
“If it’s just to see me because you missed me, fine, but if it’s to come and carry me to the shrine… then I am not going anywhere with you.”
“I think Obiama has manipulated you. You’re not talking with your right senses. You will see us tomorrow, Oroma. I know we will definitely get to Lagos late. We will lodge in a hotel, but tomorrow expect us.”
“Papa, I have told…”
It was like her father cut the call, for my wife started murmuring.
“I don’t know why my father doesn’t listen. Hmm, my husband won’t allow him to take me out of his house.”
I soon slept off. In fact, I slept for a very long time. It was my second son, Dokubo, who woke me up. He was so excited. “What is it, Dokubo?” I asked.
“Alabo told us something this morning, but he is feeling shy to tell you,” he whispered. I sat up on the chair and created space for him to sit.
“What did he tell you?” I whispered back, looking at their room entrance if others were coming. Dokubo smiled and shook his head.
“I promised that I won’t talk. He will tell you by himself.” He whispered back and smiled.
“It’s alright!”
“Daddy, do you know that God is good.”
“Of course, He is good.” I said. “Come and give me an idea of what Alabo wants to tell me.” I said, tickling him. He laughed loudly, then quickly covered his mouth with his palm. “It’s a secret,” he said. “Daddy, be patient.”
I sighed!
He soon put on the television to watch. If not for the school holiday, my kids would have returned to school. I had earlier gone to their school to offset the debt I owed. Hopefully, when the holiday is over, my children will go back to school. When I told my kids I had paid the debt I owed the school, they were happy.
“That means we will return to school,” Boma said.
“But how will Alabo and you go to school?” Dokubo had asked.
“Why will you ask that kind of question?” Alabo asked.
“You’re sick…” Dokubo said.
“I don’t care; I will go to school. Let’s wait for the holidays to be over.” Alabo said.
“I will wash our school bags then,” Dokubo told them.
“Do you know that I have been asking Jesus to heal us? So don’t worry; before school resumes, all these bones showing on my body will fill up. My eyes will not be deep again. The other time I went outside to receive fresh air, Femi told me that I look like a Skeleton.” Alabo said, looking at me.
“But it’s true. You can hardly stand on your own.” Dokubo told him, touching his body.
“Don’t worry, I will go to school when it’s time.” He said firmly. “Even Boma too.”
Boma had looked at us but said nothing. He was weak.
“You have heard what Alabo said, and so shall it be. When school resumes, everyone will be going to school.” I told them.
They had nodded their agreement. Since that time, I have been hearing Alabo pray consistently concerning his health and that of Boma and his mother. The other time, I was about to enter their room when I saw Dokubo touching Alabo’s head, and Boma his leg, and they prayed for him. When the prayer was over, Alabo instructed Boma to lie down while he touched his head and prayed for him; Dokubo held his leg and prayed too. That day, I was really impressed.
Sighing, I asked Dokubo to get me water, and after drinking the water, I went to the room to check on Oroma. She was soundly asleep, but then the boils on her body were increasing in size.
“Father, what’s this?” I asked in alarm.
I watched her sleep for a time when I suddenly heard, “This is what will eventually kill her.”
“God forbid!” I said and i rebuked the voice.
I was still in the room when Alabo, assisted by his brother Dokubo, entered the bedroom. Dokubo soon left and returned with Boma. I noticed Alabo smiling.
“Daddy, I have something to tell you,” he said. Dokubo stared at me as if to say, “I told you.”
“Your dad is listening,” I told him. He looked at his siblings and smiled broadly.
“I’m healed, Dad. Jesus healed me and Boma.” He said shyly.
“Really?”
“Yes! I have been telling Him to heal us. There was no day I didn’t tell Him. When He came yesterday, I told Him we can’t return to school if we’re not healed. He assured me that I would return to school very robust.”
“As in, He came to you?” I asked.
My wife was already awake, looking at us.
“Continue!” Boma said.
“I don’t know how to explain it. Whenever I sleep, I just see Him. This morning, He came to visit me again. He told me to stand before the mirror. As I stood there, I saw that my body was full of spikes…needles, nails…sharp things in my body. I was scared when I saw them, but He told me not to be afraid, that He came to make me well. He said the enemies placed them on my body to make me uncomfortable.”
He looked at me with misty eyes.
“One after the other, He removed the things from my body, and there were a lot of holes on my body, and blood started coming out. He wiped the blood and hugged me; then, I noticed that my body was smooth, fresh like a baby. My body filled up, and I was looking very handsome. My ribs were no longer showing.”
There was a great silence.
“He carried Boma on His legs and removed everything that made him uncomfortable. His body became smooth like mine.”
I could hear my wife sobbing.
“He told me that I will start seeing the manifestation. So, Dad, we are not sick anymore. Even though I can’t walk properly on my own, I know I am strong and healed because He told me so. Soon, I will start joining my friends to play football.” Alabo said.
“Daddy, you’re crying,” my last child said. I didn’t even realize that tears were dripping down my cheeks. I was too emotional and overwhelmed to speak. Instead, I hugged my kids so much.
“Daddy, Jesus is full of so much compassion and love. When He hugged me, I knew He loved me so much, and He can do anything for me if I ask Him.”
I sighed deeply. When my kids left their room, I closed the door and wept so much. I rolled on the floor.
“Thank you for victory over my children’s health. As you have done it for them, you will do for my wife.”
Oroma asked me to help her sit up, and I did. She didn’t even allow me to sit beside her before she grabbed my hands.
“I’m sorry, dear…I am sorry for all the bad things I said. It was because I was angry and frustrated. Please forgive me.”
“I don’t have anything against you. My joy is that you have given your life to Christ. Together, we are going to enforce our victory in this family. We’re stronger together.”
“From now on, I will join you to pray and study God’s word. Anything you tell me, I will obey. I want to grow too.”
I smiled.
“Now I believe that God is all-powerful. My father said he would summon your spirit. I waited, but he failed. Then that night we had nothing to eat; God put me to shame…then look at kids talking about being healed.”
I sighed again. We were quiet for a long time.
“Obiama.”
“Yes, dear!”
“You once told me it’s Jesus or nothing else.”
“I remember!”
“For me too, it’s Jesus or nothing else. He has been so good. I haven’t been able to sleep. I have been counting all the good things He has done for us.”
“Hmmm!”
“Now, papa and my siblings are on their way. By tomorrow, they will be here. My brothers will fight you and take me and the children by force.” She said remorsefully.
I allowed Oroma to exhaust everything she had to say.
“And I told papa not to come, but he insisted.”
“None of them will even enter Lagos. The angels of God on assignment in my life will stop them. So, my dear, don’t worry yourself.” I said confidently to her.
Whether my wife believed what I said, I don’t know, but I have sent forth the word of God, and I know God is bringing it to pass.
To be continued…
