7 Dad's Back

Dear Jesus,

Thanks so much for bringing my dad back home in one piece.

He returned home today. I was so excited. Relief was so evident in my mom’s demeanour.

Hardly had he gotten down from the car did we bombard him with squeals of delight and tirade of questions.

And that notwithstanding the fact that we always spoke to him everyday for the past two weeks he had been away ever since the miracle escape from death.

After we prayed together, he settled down to catch his breath. I sat beside him like Mary sat at Jesus' feet while mom (who's the Martha in this scene) served his favorite meal - pot roast and gravy with a chilled bottle of chap-man for family celebration.

I didn't want to be rude though. I had to eventually help her out in setting the dinning table. Dad took a quick afternoon shower while we were at it.

As we began eating lunch, I began breathlessly pouring tales of what occurred while he was away to my amused dad. I left no tiny detail out and even added gesticulations to make my point. Dad had to, at a point, tell me to slow down.

I recounted all that had happened while he was away - how we almost had panic attack at that awful news, how members of the church who didn’t know the details of the event were spreading rumors that he was dead but it was being kept secret, how mom decided against telling them the whole story in view that he would be back to share the testimony himself.

I also told him about the revelation I had prior to the incident and my quest for the infilling of the Spirit.

He encouraged me with scriptures of your promises.

Dad took time to tell us the outcome of his mission trip in South Africa.

“He that God has blessed won’t know until he loses it. I saw grown up men and women, most in despair and even some children who had no hope of food per day, not to talk of shelter or clothing. We helped those we could and witnessed Christ to those who were willing to listen. Many gave their lives to Jesus. Some remained adamant, saying that a loving God won’t allow them to go through such torture. I pray it won’t be too late for those ones.” Daddy said.

Mom and I chorused Amen with great feeling.

In short, we spent hours just talking and talking, making up for the time we had not spent together for over a week.

As for the rest of the day, I simply took time to read some books and pray alone in my secret place. I didn't feel like going out at all.

Jesus, I’m in desperate need of the Holy spirit. It’s getting more and more difficult to keep battling with temptations and lukewarmness.

More so, I need a comforter with me at this times.

The mild persecution at school is already escalating. Just the other day, I narrowly escaped sitting on glue that an anonymous person had intentionally placed on my chair.

I’m really happy that I didn’t fall into that snare. It would have been horribly humiliating. My uniform, which cost my parents a lot of money, would have been permanently ruined, not to talk of the disgrace and pain I would have gone through that day.

As in, do they expect me to go skirtlessly naked for the rest of the day? *Shudders in consternation at the thought of that*

Thank you Jesus, my hero, for saving me at the nick of time and please forgive them because they don’t understand what you mean to me.

I considered telling mom and dad. I decided against it to save my neck. Mom and dad would want justice for their only daughter and maybe in addition to all the nicknames they’ve labeled me, a new one would have been given. Something like mama’s pet, PK (short form of pastor’s kid) or worse of all, Maniac.

Besides, I’ve decided to forgive and let go of it. I even had to beg Kathlyn not to take any action in my defense but to allow you do the defending for us. I reminded her of the spiritual forces she and I had noticed in Charios’ atmosphere: for we are not wrestling with flesh and blood.

That should give you a hint of the reason for my desperation. Holy Spirit, please come speedily and fill me till I overflow.

Tomorrow is Saturday. I’m hoping to get a good night rest because tomorrow will be one busy day. I’d be going with some volunteers from church to visit an orphanage.

I also invited Kathlyn and Priscilla to come with me. Kathlyn agreed but Priscilla can’t make it cos her paranoid mom won’t allow her to go “in company of unknown persons”.

I’m so excited cos I love kids a lot. I'm actually considering choosing a career that will keep me in contact with kids. Maybe something like teaching, paediatric medicine or gynaecology. I'm still praying to you for guidance to do your will.

I can’t wait for tomorrow to dawn but I guess I have to.

Jesus, I also want to ask you for all the help I can get. My final examinations are coming up very soon - In about a month’s time or so.

This term slipped so fast before I could say “Jack Sprat eats fat”. So far so good, I’ve been topping the sciences. I’d need your extra help because this term was sort of competitive and stressful for me.

It has always been my dream to be the Valedictorian and best graduating student in my high school set. I’m humbly pleading that you’d make my dream come true for your glory. I completed all the necessary registrations for the SSCE (Senior School Certificate Examination) about 3 days ago. It’s gonna be an external exam with external invigilators and all.

Apart from my own personal preparations, Kathlyn, Priscilla and I have been studying together and tasking ourselves with past questions and mock exams.

Oh! I forgot to tell you about Priscilla (There’s actually no need to tell you when you know everything, but that’s the essence of my writing to you right?).

She’s this girl in my class, you know, the average loner who strives to belong in the clique of the populars. I’ve never really noticed her until recently.

Kathlyn and I were secretly studying in the library last week Monday when she summoned courage to meet us.

She said she’d been observing the way both of us are different from the other yet we’re happy and content even despite the constant bullying we face. She was convinced that we had something that she would love to experience.

She confided in us her struggle with porn addiction because of her loneliness and cos of her nonchalant, drunk, single-mom.

That revelation made me sober. There are so many of my classmates who put on a cool, fake facade and are falling apart inside. I, who have found the light, am not doing much to reach out in love and proclaim Jesus to them. Oh Lord, please forgive me for my selfishness and help me to be a faithful witness that will rescue others from their bondage.

Kathlyn and I took turns right there and then to lovingly lead her to You and Hallelujah! She became a new creature that day. So now she’s part of our Jesus freak’ gang. We gave her a spiritual-birthday gift of a Gideon’s bible.

She’s learning and growing fast in Christ; she even testified that it’s as if the urge to engage in porn movies and books just left her, she now finds them repulsive.

Together, our trio created a WeChat group where we pray together online, expound the scriptures, share life’s struggles, joke with one another and build each other both spiritually and academically.

It’s been really amazing. To me, they’re like sisters that I never got. Thank you so much Jesus.

Today, while we were studying together at the library, Priscilla shared with us her burden for her mom’s salvation. We agreed to meet online by 9:00pm tonight to pray for her. It’s already 8:45pm by my digital clock. I have to stop my writing now; duty calls.

Jesus, you are our special guest of honor in this intercession. Please, guide us hear our prayers and answer us.