[STORY] SUSAN’S REVENGE (Episode 11)

Episode 11.

I threw myself heavily on the bed. My stomach growled loudly again.

“God! I’m hungry! What am I going to eat?” I asked, obviously tired of starving all day.

My eyes were almost teary.

“Lord, please provide for me. I can’t starve like this. Please help me!” I said, my eyes were almost teary as I said those words.

I could fast very well. But I don’t know why I go extremely hungry when I’m not fasting. And when I’m fasting, I always reduce my work load. I do so in order to avoid stress and focus on prayers.

Today’s hunger was extreme. There was no money. There was no food left in the house. I look for water and drank. It was all I had left. I drank and drank till I was full.

Then my hunger became worse. I rolled from one end of the bed to another.

“God! Can’t you do something! I’m in pains. I can’t go out there and beg. I’m ashamed to do so. Please help me.”

I never knew revenge is not sweet. This is too much to bear. When am I going to eat again? Where would the food come from?

Lord why are you doing this to me? I wanted to resign, but you didn’t allow me. Do you take pleasure in my pain?

These were the thoughts in my heart when this scripture came like an angel.

“Matthew 5:10-12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”.

I smiled and sat down.

“SUSAN! I WANT YOU TO DO ME A FAVOUR?” Came the gentle whisper.

“Ah! God! You want me to do you a favour? That’s too much Na! I’m your girl! Just command me. I’m your slave! Why ask a favour as if I’m one big woman sitting on an office chair?”

I felt my stomach shaking. I knew what it meant. The Holy Ghost was laughing. It didn’t take long, I started laughing too.

“God! See person wey never chop since morning dey laugh”.

“YES! THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH”.

I grinned and moved to the edge of the bed, placing my feet on the floor.

“SO ABOUT MY FAVOUR!”

“Ah! Stop teasing me Holy Spirit!” I said bubbling with excitement.

“Just tell me what you want?”

“DANCE! SING AND DANCE!” Came the whisper.

“Sing and dance? Do I even have the strength?” I asked, as if I was talking with someone in the room.

“THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE!” Came the gentle response and I grinned.

“Yes! But why am I dancing?”

“FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN”

How I got the strength, I cannot explain. I jumped to my feet and began to sing and dance.

“All the days of my life I’ll praise You.

Everything that I have na you gave to me Baba.

Lord I say for your Love I’m grateful.

Jesu you love me plenty, you came to die for me.

Jehovah Rapha Jehovah Nissi.

I Am that I Am, The Great provider

I searched around, there’s no one else like you.

Lion of Judah: You’re the mighty Man in battle.

Aiyee! God has given me victory

Aiyee! He has given me victory

Hallelujah eh (Halle)
Hallelujah eh! Halle
Hallelujah eh! Halle
Hallelujah eh!

Come and see what the Lord has done for me.

He has taken away my sorrows and now I’m free!

Agam e buru hallelujah e buru (I will carry hallelujah)

Agam a para hallelujah para o (I will carry my praise)

Because of Jesus everyday na shakara I dey do.

Double double heavenly blessings na him I dey receive.

God Your Grace and mercies always dey follow me”.

Sweat broke out on my face as I continued dancing. I was so excited beyond words.

Suddenly, a knock sounded on my door.

“Chai! Holy Ghost! Why do you allow a visitor to interrupt our fun?” I murmured and went for the door.

I opened it and was shocked by who I saw.

It was Sophia.

I had questions written all over my face. What was she doing here? What does she want? How did she find me? Well, questions could come later.

“Hello Susan! Please, I’d love to have a word with you”, she said gloomily.

I knew something was wrong. She was here to seek my assistance. So

I quickly brought her in.

I offer her my only plastic chair and sat on the bed. She is thanked me and dropped her hand bag which was looking heavy on the floor, sitting down.

“I know you must be surprised why I’m here. I’ll go straight to the point.
Susan, I was once like you. I was called lady Apostle by my Christian friends.

I was a preacher. I loved Jesus with all my heart”.

She sniffed and tears cascaded down her cheeks.

“But when I got here, I disappointed God. I allowed Mr George defile me. I lost everything. I had no boldness to preach anymore. I lost touch with God completely.

George promised we would do it just once. But soon he would stop my salary and ask for my body. I starved for weeks and when it was unbearable, I returned to my vomit.

That continued until, I got used to it.
I stopped going to church. I lost my conscience and became one with the Devil.

But since you came, I had been watching you. Everytime Mr George asked to see you, I followed you. I eavesdropped on all your conversation with him.

I’ve never seen such boldness, determination and consistency. I knew you were everything I wasn’t. It made me desire God again. But I feel like I’ve gone too far!”

She bent over and broke into tears. I felt her pain too.

I remembered how I promised myself to avenge Chioma’s death. I was not the best of Christians. I had my own ups and downs. I’m a product of God’s mercy and grace.

I stood up and took her hand. I looked into her eyes and said with conviction.

“That’s the Devil speaking. Would you love to hear the voice of God?”

Sniffing, she nod her head in affirmation.

“Whosoever comes to me, I would in no wise cast away. That’s what God says”, I said, smiling.

She threw herself on her knees and wept bitterly.

“Susan! You don’t understand! I did it not once, not twice. I even aborted three babies for him”.

“Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more”, I replied.

“Susan, you don’t understand!”

“Sophia! I don’t need to understand, because I understand one thing. God is not a man that he should tell lies.

My God is not a liar! It’s too impossible for him to lie! I don’t need to understand, because God’s ways are not man’s ways”.

“What can I do?” She groaned and went down on her knees, hands bracing her from the floor.

“Come, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

I don’t care to know how many abortions were committed, come. I don’t care how many times you sinned against your body, come. I don’t care to know if you’re the worst sinner on the planet, come!”

Suddenly, she screamed aloud

“Lord I’m sorry……..!”

“Thank you Jesus!” I said as I waved my hands in appreciation to God.

“What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! Precious is the flow,

That makes me white as snow.

No other fount I know.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” I sang as she rededicated her life back to God.

It was awesome. I rejoiced in my heart having a Christian sister in Queens high school. Yes! God is truly at work.

After the prayers, we spoke for a while and because it was getting dark, she hurried back home.

I walked her to the door and waved her goodbye.

I shut the door and turned, only to see a polythene bag on my bed.

I rushed to see what was inside and brought out its contents.

The first take away contained rice. The second one contained salad. Last, was a drink of cold Hollandia yogurt.

“Jesus Christ!”

“SO WHO WAS HUNGRY?” The inner voice whispered.

I burst into laughter.

“Thank you Jesus! I’m so grateful!” I said as I opened the jollof rice.

To be continued…