ALL FOR NOTHING…

episode twenty nine (semi finale)

??????

The moment was as sad as one could ever think of. No one born of a woman could back his or her tears as my beloved Toyin was being laid to rest. I wanted to believe that it was all a dream but it wasn’t.
Standing before the grave, we all paid our last respect to the beautiful Toyin Belle. Memories of the past came back and increased my tears. I could still remember the very first day I set my eyes on her, our first conversation, our good days at Achievers high school, our bad days, our reunion, our love, our dreams, our hopes and our aspirations but too bad it became nothing but a beautiful memory.

Lola had come to know about everything and was really sorry for what had happened to Toyin. She expressed her sympathy and was with me all through the funeral rights. She had come to Canada just as she had told me she will.
After the funeral, I was left alone to take care of little Toyin. I named my daughter Toyin after her late mother so as to keep her memories fresh. Toyin’s father had to get a nanny to look after his granddaughter while I continued with school.
Every night I went to bed, I couldn’t stop but see Toyin and every time she would tell me to get a mother for her daughter.
“My daughter mustn’t grow up without a mother. She needs to grow up having a mother and her love. Get a mother for our daughter.”

I decided to see a psychiatrist if probably I was losing my mind. I underwent series of therapy but it didn’t appear as such.

One fateful night while I was asleep, I had a dream. I was about crossing the road in my dream when a man appeared to me. He was holding a file and it appeared he had kept alot of records about me, Toyin and Lola.
“Excuse me sir” he called out to me.
I went to him and asked him how I could be of help to him.
“Are you not Mr Ayomide Akintunde?” He asked me.
“Yes I am, any problem?”

“I’ve been sent to give you this.” He said handing over the file to me.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Open and see for yourself.” He said.

I opened and saw three documents neatly placed in the file. They belonged to me, Toyin and Lola.
“What are these documents for?” I asked.
“Why not see for yourself?” He replied.
I opened that of Toyin and it was written in blood. I threw it down immediately as an uncontrolled fear gripped me.
“Open the other one.” He said.
I was still shaking in fear but I couldn’t move an inch from where I was. I opened that of Lola and it was the same thing. But I didn’t drop it this time around.
“What’s the meaning of this?” I asked.
“You just sealed your fate my dear. When you opened Toyin’s documents and saw it written in blood you dropped it and thus you allowed her to go and she did but with Lola you held on to it and by doing so you just saved her life.”
“What are you saying?” I asked.
He didn’t wait to give me an answer before disappearing. I didn’t get to open my own file before I opened my eyes.
I was still pondering over why happened when Mr Omotayo sent me a text to tell me that Lola had been shot and was rushed to the hospital.

“Lola was returning from the Library when she encountered a group of cultists. No one knew what really happened but she was shot. It was the gun shot that attracted help and by the time they got to where she was, she was almost dieing. She is currently in a critical condition and I’m afraid. Please pray for her.”

I couldn’t believe my ears and could easily relate it to the dream I just had. I haven’t been the praying type but I had to pray that night. I didn’t understand why I was always seeing such things. I wasn’t a prophet of any kind nor do I even commit myself to the things of God but I had this special ability to see deep things which only spiritual people should see. I wanted to pray but couldn’t find the right words to utter. The only thing I found myself saying was “Please don’t allow Lola to die.”

The following morning, I called Mr Omotayo to ask how Lola was and he told me she was out of danger but still comatose. I was glad to hear that and could say at least, God answered my prayers.

I decided to visit the church that day as it had been long since I last went and since it was on a Sunday, I decided to worship God.
The sermon that Sunday touched me like it had never done before. The priest had talked about James and Herod. Herod had James killed because the church didn’t interceed for him but when it got to Peter they gathered to pray and he was delivered. He also talked about people who had received the call of God but are running away from it. He made mention of Jonah and the troubles he encountered while refusing to listen to God’s call. At that point, I remembered the time I had found myself in a strange land and how the man had told me to tell others about what I had seen. He had told me to speak about it to others, to write about it so that others could read it and be blessed. I had completely forgotten about it. I fell on my knees and cried. If I had listened to him and had done as he had instructed me then none of all these would be happening.
I realized I was living amiss and that no matter how hard I try to do it on my own terms, I’d still fail. The call was greater and I was ready to answer it now.
After the service, I went to the priest and told him of my ordeal.

“My dear, you are God’s chosen vessel and not until you yield completely, more difficulties are bound to come your way and it may take your life at the end. You’ve been given a second chance and you are not using it well. There won’t be another chance after this so I implore you to seek the face of God and ask him to show you the path to take.

When I got home, I fell on my knees and wept.
“God please forgive me for being rebellious. Please show me the path to take. I am lost. I don’t know where I am heading in life. Even with this scholarship, I’m still incomplete. Father have your final say in my life. As if it was a dream, a man on white robe appeared in my room. I couldn’t behold his face. It was too bright to look at. I fell on my face and continued weeping. Please forgive me, I’m not worthy to ask you for mercy but please have mercy on me.

“Fear not my son. I am happy you finally came back home. He told me I was on an assignment and not until I do that which he has sent me, all my struggles will amount to nothing. I heard him loud and clear.
“Tell others about me and do that which I have called you to do.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I was already in my finals. How do I get myself so involved with the things of God?
What about having a good life for the sake of mama? What would people say? This must be ridiculous. I never imagined being a man of God. I wanted to be an engineer, a highly respected and innovative engineer. How would it sound to people that Ayomide is now a pastor?” I thought.
But the priest had told me that the man whom God would use must be ready to sacrifice everything for him.

For the next couple of days I was still contemplating on the message o had received. How could that be done? I was actually the best in my faculty and that means alot for me but now I have to let it all go for what? This is impossible! I imagined.
That same day, Mr Omotayo called me up to tell me that Lola’s condition was getting worse and that she may not make it. He told me they had almost lost her and that he was really getting scared.

I had to go into a deal with the Almighty God that I’ll be a hundred percent dedicated to his work and do as he wants only if he saves Lola. I was desperate.

The following day, I received a text from Mr Omotayo that Lola had regained consciousness.
“So this is what it takes to be a man of God.” I said to myself.
I joined a Christian fellowship and from there hoped to get to know more about God. I was still studying and hoping to graduate as the best student in my faculty.
With time, I was able to see myself fully engaged with the things of God. I accepted the new life of Christ and embraced it whole heatedly. I was happy to know that God’s love for me was far more than I could ever imagine.
I still remembered the day I was asked to give a sermon in our campus fellowship. After ministering the word that day, I was convinced that God had really touched me. The sermon affected me more than it affected any other person that was seated there that day.
After the meeting, a young man walked up to me and told me he was touched. He confessed to me that he was addicted to pornography and couldn’t stop. He asked me to pray with him. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was still a baby in the ministry and people already want me to pray for them. I prayed for him and encouraged him to always come for our fellowship meeting.

I finally found happiness in the new life I was now living. Studies were still going on smoothly and Lola and I were now okay. Some of the things I struggled with naturally started leaving me and I found myself loving my daughter so much. I couldn’t wait to graduate and be a good father to her. At that point in my life, I realised that God can use anyone he chooses to use irrespective of his or her past..

Hope you enjoyed this episode?

Vicky’s stories….
Touching lives…
Changing people….

All rights reserved: Ayodawha Ejaeta Victory.

Click 10 below to continue reading