S.I.M.S
(STEPPING INTO MAGGIE’S SHOE)
PART 38
©? Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde
Baba Fire refused seeing us, even after staying a week in Ikeji-Arakeji. Different
people had gone to speak to Baba Fire on our behalf, but he would not set his eyes
on Raymond. Raymond’s mother had found her way to see him on one of the counselling days, but he respectfully told her to please leave his office. Baba Fire had been deeply hurt. I heard he was always around Saturday morning for marriage
counselling, so I decided I was going to go see him.
I prayed before leaving and I asked for the Wisdom of God…
When it was my turn, he didn’t recognize me. He asked me what my challenge was. I
told him about my marriage…
“I got married over a year ago, and my husband has only touched me once, it hurts
knowing that my husband satisfies his sexual urge with married women under our roof.
Sir, do you know how hurting it is, when someone who ought to give you joy brings
you tears that is how I feel. Sir, my husband is back and genuinely born again and is
asking for my forgiveness, do you think I should forgive him?” I said in Yoruba
language.
“Yes, it is a must that you must forgive him, to err is human, to forgive is divine,
meaning it is normal for human beings to offend us, but if you are a genuine child of
God, you must learn to forgive… You must forgive your husband and accept him
back…”
“Thank you Baba, but why are you finding it hard to forgive my husband?”
There was a moment of silence, and I didn’t need to explain who I was and who my
husband was…
Baba Fire was in pain…
“I trusted Raymond too much, and he stabbed me in the back”
“He is human Baba, and it is normal for us as humans to err. Please Sir, forgive my
husband and let him come back to you. We are ready to serve under you. We are
ready to move to Ikeji-Arakeji. My father, God has fought for you, he has brought him
back to you to fulfil his initial assignment” I wept knowing this was not also my dream,
I wanted to be the wife of a general overseer in the city wearing heels, but I didn’t know that was not the will of God for the one who would be the wife of Pastor Ray, she was
to be the wife of an Assistant Pastor in Osun state.
“That assignment has been given to another, there is no more space for him here”
“You can create one for him?
Baba fire knew I was not going to let him go unless he blessed my husband.
“Where is he?”
“He is at the hotel”
“Bring him” he said
I didn’t want to take any chances, so I called him instead, to rush down to the church.
He came along with the triplets and his mother.
The moment Raymond stepped in, he laid on the floor sobbing…
“Baba mi (My father) please forgive me, because ever since I left you, my life has been
a mess, please accept me and let God use you to straighten my life.
With tears in Baba Fire’s eyes, he lifted Ray up and hugged him tightly, praying for
him with tears pouring from their eyes…
“I pull you out from the grip of the strong woman of immorality, you are rid of all curses.
I placed on you in the time of anger and bitterness in Jesus name.”
The prayer lasted about 30 minutes. He later told us to see him the next day.
When we returned later to the hotel, Ray and I sat outside at the balcony
“I have not felt this good in years, Happy I am indeed very happy. You have brought
me happiness…”he said holding my hands in his…
“I am happy, God gave me the privilege, despite the rough beginning”.
We sat outside for hours talking about the relocation plans…
“Thank you for agreeing to move here with me…”
“You are welcome”…
Ray went in early than I did, I sat and had time to reflect, If I had my way, I would have
wanted a better shoe that would have been my perfect fit, but I wished for another
woman’s marriage and I got it.
But it now made sense to me, What John the Baptist said about not been worthy to
even tie the rope of the sandal of Jesus Christ. That means there are some shoes that
we are not worthy to put on, but out of greed we force our legs into them. Most times,
the pain is immediate and noticeable like mine, while others will not be noticeable but would be causing internal pain for the person wearing it, like that of my husband.?
Apostle wanted to be in the Shoes of Baba Fire, but he found himself in the mouth of
the Marine sharks, because God was not pleased with him, therefore making him an
easy prey for them.
We returned back to the city and did the needful.
We closed down Apostle’s Church.
The Sunday service when Apostle announced this move was highly emotional, it was
a Day of tears. I saw Mrs. Beecroft crying in the congregation. Apostle confessed his sin to the congregation without mentioning names. He asked for their forgiveness for
harboring them under a church, God did not ask him to Establish. He told all the branch pastors who knew God had genuinely called them to continue with their Branch asking the Lord for the name of the Ministry He wanted to bear. He also converted some of
the branches to Baba Fire’s branches.
After the service, Mrs. Beecroft walked up to me…
“We thought we were bringing in an emotionally unstable wife, who we could push
around, but we didn’t know God hid a warrior, a savior, a life helper in a bipolar patient.
Thank you for everything you have done, I will forever be grateful to you, and also
thank you for not paying me in my own coin, by destroying my son. He told me
everything”. Mrs. Beecroft gave me another hug weeping profusely.
Gabriel walked up to me…
“I wish I had said something the first time I saw you seated in front of me in church,
maybe I would have had the privilege of having you as my wife. You are a goldmine I
missed.”
“And you are a goldmine I wasn’t patient enough to have, Gabriel, I wish you good
luck, but that is a lesson, life is an opportunity, use it well…God bless you” I also gave
him a final hug and deep within my heart, I knew Gabriel was the man I should have
married, if I had been patient enough.
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