The woman sat with her hands buried in her laps, her concentration held by the Pastor in a tight grip as he took the congregation back on his teaching in summary.
It had been a quick but very enlightening service for her and she was almost certain she could feel the spirit of God sitting beside her. Although of course beside her was the man in a grey shirt, who had given her his best wide grin when she had asked if she could sit beside him.
He turned to her now and extended his hand as the Pastor said "Look to your neighbor to your left and right and say 'The Peace of the Lord be with this week'".
She offered her best smile, "The peace of the Lord be with you this week,'" she returned.
"Now let us package a good offering to the Lord our God who is our ultimate provider," the Pastor continued. "The principles of Giving and Receiving have not changed since the beginning of time till now. Our God is the same, yesterday, today and always. Find the envelopes in the pockets of the chairs in front of you and place in it your tithes and offerings. May the Lord bless you as you give."
"Amen!" The congregation thundered.
The woman picked an envelope, and then took another. On the one she began to write with a pen.
It was a brief message and when she was done it read,
"My Father, My Lord, I am writing you this letter in Faith. I ask that you take away this emptiness I am experiencing and bless me with an abundance so great that I am able to give and give more. Thank you.
Your Daughter."
Then she folded it as you would a letter and proceeded to enclose it in the second envelope for she had no offering to give. It had been two days and she had barely had enough to eat as her wallets held no change and her bank had no money to her credit. Money seemed to be fleeing from her as though she were a disease it didn't want to catch.
When the basket came her way as it was passed from hand to hand, she dropped her letter to God in it, with a smile on her face so bright you could tell she felt content.
Now that afternoon, As she drove through the city back home, she let her mind wander, thinking about the things she felt gratitude for. It was a beautiful Sunday, she thought, the weather was warm and her soul was alive. There was nothing to take away her joy and she was determined to bask in it through the day.
She had just taken a right bend and was pulling her car through the left lane when a black Mercedes to her right began to indicate at her. And as if the driver was intent on getting her attention he shot his hand out through his window flagging it up and down signalling for her to stop.
This was of course all new but nothing unusual. She decided it was okay to find out what he wanted to say. Perhaps her tyre was going flat and she had no idea? Oh no! The thought made her shudder. This was not the day for fixing things. There was no way to afford such contingent inconveniences.
She pulled up beside his car close enough that she could hear him, window to window.
"Can I meet you please?" He asked, with a plea in his eyes so dramatic that she almost laughed at him. Men do this now? Is this the new fancy way to pick up women?
It amused her. She waved a small frail hand at him and hit the pedal propelling her car forward and away from his.
In her rearview mirror she could see him behind her, tailing her, just maintaining a fair distance between them. She made a left turn at a roundabout and then a right at the end of the street.
When she looked in the mirror again, he was gone. She wasn't quite sure if she was satisfied by that or not as she had almost begun to enjoy the feeling of being followed. It excited her as much as it scared her.
Then realizing she had no money for the toll, she made a stop at an intersection to inquire where the nearest Bank was. Lord help her find an AT Machine that could dispense a N500 note as it was all she had left.
N537.40 to be exact.
She was just going to open her door when he appeared right beside it, his head bent low so she could see him through her window.
He had startled her and her face gave away her shock easy.
What is wrong with this man?
"I am so sorry to bother you m'am, but you look very familiar I cannot help but think it has got to be you."
"Who?"
"I think we met at the Youth Leadership conference by City Bank in December. Is that you please?" He cocked his head sideways like he was trying to figure a puzzle out.
"Yes I attended that conference." She was pleasantly surprised.
"My God! I knew it was you! You gave that speech on Influence and Integrity for Leaders, I would never forget it!" He was beginning to sound like a happy boy left all alone to play by himself in a big park with big toys.
"Thank you so much you are very kind."
"Wow wow wow! This is a good day indeed. I cannot believe I finally am meeting you in person. Wow, wow, wow! This is incredible. Wow! Where are you headed?"
This man must really like the word 'Wow', she thought. The way he said it and opened his mouth wide on the 'O' made him appear comical. She held back her laughter.
"Oh I just need to see if I could use the ATM, I happen not to have any cash at hand for the toll."
"Please let me take care of that, no need to make a total turn back towards the main streets just because of the toll. It is a long way back to find any banks around this area."
He was taking his wallet out of his hip pocket and digging through a wad of notes as he spoke.
She chuckled, "That's very nice of you, thanks for saving me the trouble."
"No no no, please don't mention. With the wonderful work you are doing, we are all but loyal to you. Wow wow wow! I still cannot believe this is you!"
He extended his hand with several N1000 bills to her, and she accepted it with a smile that was threatening to break into shouts of Joy and praise and thanksgiving. She did a mental calculation of it judging from how heavy it felt in her hand and assumed it to be at least N10,000.
Lord! N10,000???
"It is a blessing to meet you Madam," he said.
"Same here. What is your name please?" It was important for her to remember him by his name. This man who had appeared out of nothing and given her more money than she'd had in over a week! Enough money to feed her for days.
"My name is Folusho," he seemed proud of the name.
"Thank you Folusho, and thanks for paying my Toll for another month."
They both laughed, his laughter out of excitement of seeing her, hers because of the pure joy of knowing that God had read her letter.
It was almost like she was immersed in a world full of magic and endless possibilities.
Just an hour ago she had nothing! There was something definitely magical in the air and she found herself laughing and almost crying as she gave thanks to God.
As she drove by the toll, she extended a N200 note to the official who passed her car.
"Buy a Coke for yourself!" She said to him. The spirit of Giving had definitely wedged itself in her heart. She was going to share her fortune with as many as she could. Let the blessing go round.
"Ahhh thank you Madam!" He flashed all of his teeth back at her. Disbelieving his good grace. Perhaps her face looked like that too when Folusho had given her the money. She counted it now while she drove. N8,000.
She Believed, and for God that was just enough. What do you believe?
It had been a quick but very enlightening service for her and she was almost certain she could feel the spirit of God sitting beside her. Although of course beside her was the man in a grey shirt, who had given her his best wide grin when she had asked if she could sit beside him.
He turned to her now and extended his hand as the Pastor said "Look to your neighbor to your left and right and say 'The Peace of the Lord be with this week'".
She offered her best smile, "The peace of the Lord be with you this week,'" she returned.
"Now let us package a good offering to the Lord our God who is our ultimate provider," the Pastor continued. "The principles of Giving and Receiving have not changed since the beginning of time till now. Our God is the same, yesterday, today and always. Find the envelopes in the pockets of the chairs in front of you and place in it your tithes and offerings. May the Lord bless you as you give."
"Amen!" The congregation thundered.
The woman picked an envelope, and then took another. On the one she began to write with a pen.
It was a brief message and when she was done it read,
"My Father, My Lord, I am writing you this letter in Faith. I ask that you take away this emptiness I am experiencing and bless me with an abundance so great that I am able to give and give more. Thank you.
Your Daughter."
Then she folded it as you would a letter and proceeded to enclose it in the second envelope for she had no offering to give. It had been two days and she had barely had enough to eat as her wallets held no change and her bank had no money to her credit. Money seemed to be fleeing from her as though she were a disease it didn't want to catch.
When the basket came her way as it was passed from hand to hand, she dropped her letter to God in it, with a smile on her face so bright you could tell she felt content.
Now that afternoon, As she drove through the city back home, she let her mind wander, thinking about the things she felt gratitude for. It was a beautiful Sunday, she thought, the weather was warm and her soul was alive. There was nothing to take away her joy and she was determined to bask in it through the day.
She had just taken a right bend and was pulling her car through the left lane when a black Mercedes to her right began to indicate at her. And as if the driver was intent on getting her attention he shot his hand out through his window flagging it up and down signalling for her to stop.
This was of course all new but nothing unusual. She decided it was okay to find out what he wanted to say. Perhaps her tyre was going flat and she had no idea? Oh no! The thought made her shudder. This was not the day for fixing things. There was no way to afford such contingent inconveniences.
She pulled up beside his car close enough that she could hear him, window to window.
"Can I meet you please?" He asked, with a plea in his eyes so dramatic that she almost laughed at him. Men do this now? Is this the new fancy way to pick up women?
It amused her. She waved a small frail hand at him and hit the pedal propelling her car forward and away from his.
In her rearview mirror she could see him behind her, tailing her, just maintaining a fair distance between them. She made a left turn at a roundabout and then a right at the end of the street.
When she looked in the mirror again, he was gone. She wasn't quite sure if she was satisfied by that or not as she had almost begun to enjoy the feeling of being followed. It excited her as much as it scared her.
Then realizing she had no money for the toll, she made a stop at an intersection to inquire where the nearest Bank was. Lord help her find an AT Machine that could dispense a N500 note as it was all she had left.
N537.40 to be exact.
She was just going to open her door when he appeared right beside it, his head bent low so she could see him through her window.
He had startled her and her face gave away her shock easy.
What is wrong with this man?
"I am so sorry to bother you m'am, but you look very familiar I cannot help but think it has got to be you."
"Who?"
"I think we met at the Youth Leadership conference by City Bank in December. Is that you please?" He cocked his head sideways like he was trying to figure a puzzle out.
"Yes I attended that conference." She was pleasantly surprised.
"My God! I knew it was you! You gave that speech on Influence and Integrity for Leaders, I would never forget it!" He was beginning to sound like a happy boy left all alone to play by himself in a big park with big toys.
"Thank you so much you are very kind."
"Wow wow wow! This is a good day indeed. I cannot believe I finally am meeting you in person. Wow, wow, wow! This is incredible. Wow! Where are you headed?"
This man must really like the word 'Wow', she thought. The way he said it and opened his mouth wide on the 'O' made him appear comical. She held back her laughter.
"Oh I just need to see if I could use the ATM, I happen not to have any cash at hand for the toll."
"Please let me take care of that, no need to make a total turn back towards the main streets just because of the toll. It is a long way back to find any banks around this area."
He was taking his wallet out of his hip pocket and digging through a wad of notes as he spoke.
She chuckled, "That's very nice of you, thanks for saving me the trouble."
"No no no, please don't mention. With the wonderful work you are doing, we are all but loyal to you. Wow wow wow! I still cannot believe this is you!"
He extended his hand with several N1000 bills to her, and she accepted it with a smile that was threatening to break into shouts of Joy and praise and thanksgiving. She did a mental calculation of it judging from how heavy it felt in her hand and assumed it to be at least N10,000.
Lord! N10,000???
"It is a blessing to meet you Madam," he said.
"Same here. What is your name please?" It was important for her to remember him by his name. This man who had appeared out of nothing and given her more money than she'd had in over a week! Enough money to feed her for days.
"My name is Folusho," he seemed proud of the name.
"Thank you Folusho, and thanks for paying my Toll for another month."
They both laughed, his laughter out of excitement of seeing her, hers because of the pure joy of knowing that God had read her letter.
It was almost like she was immersed in a world full of magic and endless possibilities.
Just an hour ago she had nothing! There was something definitely magical in the air and she found herself laughing and almost crying as she gave thanks to God.
As she drove by the toll, she extended a N200 note to the official who passed her car.
"Buy a Coke for yourself!" She said to him. The spirit of Giving had definitely wedged itself in her heart. She was going to share her fortune with as many as she could. Let the blessing go round.
"Ahhh thank you Madam!" He flashed all of his teeth back at her. Disbelieving his good grace. Perhaps her face looked like that too when Folusho had given her the money. She counted it now while she drove. N8,000.
She Believed, and for God that was just enough. What do you believe?
I get the message! Great writing Eva. Thank you for this blog
ReplyDeletelovely piece. nice writing skill but I really don't like how the story came down to be about money and how it had to be a Man waving her down to hand her 8k for a 120 naira toll fee.. I was thinking God would make her see how blessed she is as she is and how we can still give from the little we have...
ReplyDeleteIt’s no secret that most men only want one thing, right?
ReplyDeleteWell it turns out that’s not only wrong, but may actually be the root of many failed relationships.
In fact, the one thing men are universally obsessed with...
Is actually a feeling he’s been chasing his whole life.
It’s an elusive combination of emotion and biological drive that’s rarely satisfied in life or love.
===> (The secret obsession that makes men fall in love) - (What men look for in “The One”) <=====
And when you know how to satisfy this life long obsession...
He will make it his life long mission to cherish and please you...
And he will pursue your love to the ends of the earth.
Here’s a video you won’t want to miss that shows you how to become your man’s deepest obsession:
===> (The most powerful emotion for men) - (Men fall in love with women who do THIS): <=====