He shared another story of a man who, somehow slept with his mother-in-law and was caught in the act. The shame pushed the man to God and after many years, God restored the marriage.He talked for a long time but there was something he said that sunk deep into my spirit
“Forgiveness is the highest form of love…it is the closest a mortal can get to being God-like. Real forgiveness is God’s nature; because it is not based on merits but on love” Then he asked Folahan
“Do you have enough love in your heart to forgive your father and Aramide?
Do you have enough love within you to drop this discovery at the feet of Jesus?”
Folahan did not respond Uncle Ade continued“Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 32 says “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you”.
Jesus also said in Luke Chapter 17 verse 3 “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him”.
Folahan, do you have enough love in you to forgive?”
There was no responseCaptain cautiously moved closer and crouched down next to Folahan“Son, I’m sorry to be yet at the center of another family crisis.
Just when I thought I had cleaned up my act; something from my past showed up to further drive a wedge between us.
Is there a way out of this?
Can we move past this?
I will do anything you want me to…I will pay any price if it will fix this
If I had seen the future, I would have made better choices
Folahan, I beg you with everything that means something to you
I beg you in the name of that God that you know and serve.
Help me…
Say something”
Captain held Folahan’s right hand as he started to chant his family “Oriki” (family praise-poetry).
I could see the veins on the sides of Folahan’s head throbbing and his face turning red…it wasn’t long before he burst into tears. I had never seen him like that before…his tears were like drops of acid on my heart.
It was a heart wrenching five to ten minutes as Folahan cried like a baby…I sat on the floor and cried along. I felt like comforting him but I couldn’t…it hurt me that I hurt him that much, even if I didn’t intend to.
Folahan, all of a sudden, snatched his hands from both his dad and Uncle Ade. He wiped his face, got up and said
“I can’t do this.
I am so sorry but I can’t do this. God! This hurts so bad…”
“I thought I was too grown to be hurt by you again…I thought I had passed that stage” (pointing at Captain)
“Aramide…I know you are hurting too but I can’t do this.
I am trying not be mad at you because this is not your fault but I gotta be honest, I can’t I just can’t”
I was devastated but I couldn’t do anything about it…I managed to say “I’m so sorry”
Then he turned to Uncle Ade
“I’m sorry Uncle…not trying to disrespect you or anything but I gotta get out of here”
He walked out of the door as he slammed it hard
“Jeez!
Dang it”
“Sir Ade, ó mà ti nl? (He is leaving)
You won’t say anything?” Captain asked Uncle Ade…he was still pointing at the door when we heard Folahan’s car zooming off “Don’t worry about him…
God is already working on him
That’s why he is struggling…
I understand the struggle, we are all human and I can only imagine what’s happening in his mind.
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