Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home
Christine skipped merrily from her Sunday school class. Today she had accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and savior and in her little heart she was so overjoyed. Her Sunday school teacher, auntie Banke, her mother’s best friend had been to one to lead her to Jesus. She said He would wash her and make her white as snow and that he loved her forever and ever. But the most important thing of all was that she would go to heaven if she continued to be a good girl.
“I will tell mummy so that she can accept him too.” It felt as if God had placed it in her heart to do just that.
She stood for a while and scanned the park for her mom’s car. Her mom did not come to church with her. She never did. Every time she asked her she’d say “Oh baby, you know mummy is busy. But I promise to come soon.” She stood as if deep in thought for a while. Then she saw her car as she drove up to the church.
She ran to the car just as Chioma got out and opened her arms wide.
“Hi angel, how are you doing?” Chioma asked as she swooped the one thing that gave her life meaning into her warm embrace.
“Hi mummy, you are squeezing me too tight oh.” She laughed and kissed her mother.
“So how was Sunday school? Did you do anything new?” Chioma asked as she fastened her seat belt for her child once they were settled in the car.
“Mummy, Aunty Banke taught us a new song. Should I sing it for you?” she did not wait for her mother’s reply but plunged right into the song.
Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;
Swing lo-o-w, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home
When she was through, Chioma whooped in excitement. “My baby is a singing star oh!” and Christine beamed with pleasure.
“I also accepted Jesus into my heart. Auntie Banke says I can now go to heaven when Jesus comes.” She said in a very ecstatic voice all the time looking out for her mother’s reaction.
“Really? So what do you want to have for lunch?” she asked uninterested in what she had just heard.
Christine’s face fell and her voice dropped. So did all the excitement in it. She was silent for the better part of the journey and even when Chioma tried to crack a few jokes she did not laugh
Chioma noticed her silence but said nothing more till they got to the house.
‘Mama,’ she called her fondly, ‘what’s the matter?’ she asked once they were indoors.
Christine was reluctant to speak and Chioma decided to push harder. ‘Sweetheart, talk to mummy, hmm?’
Christine looked at her for a while as if she was trying to find the right words.
‘Mummy, do you hate Jesus?’
Chioma was taken back for a while. It was now her turn to search for the right words.
‘Christine, it’s not like I hate Jesus. It’s just complicated, ok? I promise that one day when you are older, I will explain it to you’.
‘But mummy, Auntie Banke said that if we do not love Jesus, we won’t go to heaven and I want you to go to heaven with me.’
‘Is that what she said? Don’t worry; we will go to heaven together.”
‘Do you promise mummy?’
‘I promise baby.’
‘Do you also promise to accept him? Because he is in my heart and I want him to be in yours’ too.’
‘We will see about that.’ She smiled. ‘Why don’t you go and change and come and help me in the kitchen. What do you want to eat?’
‘Fried rice and chicken.’ Christine replied, her mood coming back to normal.
Chioma laughed. ‘Okay oh. Go and change so that you can help me cook the rice and chicken okay?
‘Yes mummy.’ And she hurried to her room leaving her mother with a bittersweet smile on her face.
TWO WEEKS LATER
‘Mama, what’s wrong? You are not looking so happy. Are you okay? Do you feel sick? What is the matter?’ Banke asked as she fussed over Christine who had a very sordid look on her face.
‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing? Haba mama, you can talk to me now. C’mon, don’t be shy. Did your mummy upset you at home?
Christine looked at her and burst into tears. Banke was taken aback. Christine didn’t cry often but when she did it meant someone had offended her badly.
‘Auntie Banke, my mummy does not want Jesus.’ Banke stared at the child. She had not quite witnessed anything like this before.
‘Christine, come here…’ She said, her heart heavy with sadness at what the little girl was going through. When Christine walked into her hands, she held her close and began to comfort her. ‘Your mommy wants Jesus baby, she’s just not ready yet.’
‘But Auntie, I want her to go to heaven with me. I don’t want to go alone. Jesus won’t be happy.’
Banke smiled. ‘Christine, stop talking rubbish. Your mum will go to heaven long before you do ok? You on the other hand still have a lot of time to grow up and do a lot of fun things before you go and meet Jesus.’
‘But Auntie there is no time, Jesus can come and take me anytime and my mummy will not follow me. I want my mommy to follow me to heaven. Jesus wants to see her. She promised me that she will tell Jesus to come and live in her heart but every day when I ask her just says ‘We will see.’ And there is no time again oh!’
Banke laughed a little but Christine’s stern and determined face made her stop almost as soon as she started. ‘Father,’ she prayed silently in her heart ‘Christine loves you and wants to serve you, give her the strength to carry on with the things that concern you. And concerning her mother, give her the grace to understand how these things work and give Chioma the strength to forgive Dare and to stop being bitter towards you, Amen.’
‘Amen.’ Christine said.
‘What did you say?’ Banke asked, astonished.
‘I felt you praying in your mind. So when you finished, I said amen. I want to drink water.’
With that she stood and left, Banke watched her go, speechless.
TWELVE DAYS LATER
‘Chioma, I think you should seriously consider what Christine is saying. You can’t continue like this now. She hasn’t been happy for some time now and I don’t like it. It hurts to see her like that. This is the first time in almost two weeks that she is really getting a hold of herself. Why don’t you consider what she has said?
Remember in school, you were the one always chasing me about to accept Christ and now that I have, you have let him go. It’s not good oh.’ Banke said as she related her discussion with Christine to Chioma the previous week as they talked in Christine’s office.
‘Banke, you talk like you don’t remember what happened to me then. When I sleep, all I dream about is the hurt and disgrace that Dare brought to me. And where was God then? As we speak, Dare is still living his life normally; I am the one with the child and I am the one that is still being looked down upon. Just once! Only once Banke and I got pregnant. Where is God now?
The very people I called my family in God, in Christ all deserted me when I needed them the most and you come here to preach forgiveness? Why didn’t they forgive me first? Or are they above it? I loved God, I served him with all my heart but I don’t think I deserved to suffer the way I did in the hands of my so called ‘Christian brothers and sisters, so please don’t even give me all that pious bullshit.’ She hissed.
‘But Chioma, that was over five years ago, surely you should be over that now. And have you ever thought of Christine in all of this? For the past two weeks I have been having this feeling in my spirit that something is about to happen, I can’t explain it but its grieving me. It’s like I keep hearing Christine calling out to me. I can’t explain it Chioma but I am here to plead with you. Christine’s accepting Christ now is a dream come true for any Christian mother. You can guide her better because her spirit man has already made a connection with the heavenly realm. You do not understand the things God has in store for her and if you are not connected with God, how do you expect to help her reach the destination God has for her?’
‘Banke, Christine is my life. I will do anything for her. But as for this God business, I am not sure if I can handle it right now. There are a lot more important things on my mind. And if she has decided to follow God, I have no reservations because at the end of the day, it’s her choice and I want to give her the opportunity to make her own decisions and bear the consequences.
When she is old enough, I will explain what happened between her father and I. I know she will understand why I feel so reluctant now. But I will never refute her decision to follow God. If it’s her destiny and it works out well for her, good luck to her. I will guide her as far as she allows me. You were the one that led her to Christ, you can take responsibility for her spiritual upbringing; she is as much your daughter as she is mine, being your God-daughter.’ Chioma said with a tone of finality in her voice.
‘Chioma, when you had Christ, I was a little jealous of you back then because I felt I could never be like you. I felt I couldn’t because I felt bitter towards God for allowing me to go through hell as a child. But when I accepted him, I knew I could understand the way you felt then.
So, I am going to plead with you that if ever you remember how glorious it felt then. How satisfied and fulfilled you felt then; that you come back to him. He is willing to accept you. When you feel God deserted you, think well about it. It could have been worse but you lacked nothing. And Dare is not a reason for you to hate men. You should seriously consider settling down.
Just don’t forget that you are God’s righteousness in Christ. God loves you still. There is still time and you can still answer to Christine’s call before it is too late.’ Banke picked up her bag and left the office.
TWO DAYS LATER
Christine felt giddy. She had been feeling that way the past two days. Today at Sunday school, Auntie Banke had taught them about how Jesus went about performing miracles. But her best story of all was when he had raised the daughter of the synagogue’s leader from the dead. “He was so powerful and strong” she thought. She skipped from her class merrily toward the car park to scan for her mother’s car. It was while she stood there that she felt something. It was like her heart had skipped a beat and she felt a tightness around her heart. She bent over to gasp for air. She gulped a mouthful and looked up. She saw her mother’s car come to a halt a distance away from her. She gathered her strength and clutched her children’s bible tightly as if for support, she began to walk towards the
Christine’s Call (Pt 2)
Posted by davidluiz in Poems
4 MONTHS AGO
Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home
Christine skipped merrily from her Sunday school class. Today she had accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and savior and in her little heart she was so overjoyed. Her Sunday school teacher, auntie Banke, her mother’s best friend had been to one to lead her to Jesus. She said He would wash her and make her white as snow and that he loved her forever and ever. But the most important thing of all was that she would go to heaven if she continued to be a good girl.
“I will tell mummy so that she can accept him too.” It felt as if God had placed it in her heart to do just that.
She stood for a while and scanned the park for her mom’s car. Her mom did not come to church with her. She never did. Every time she asked her she’d say “Oh baby, you know mummy is busy. But I promise to come soon.” She stood as if deep in thought for a while. Then she saw her car as she drove up to the church.
She ran to the car just as Chioma got out and opened her arms wide.
“Hi angel, how are you doing?” Chioma asked as she swooped the one thing that gave her life meaning into her warm embrace.
“Hi mummy, you are squeezing me too tight oh.” She laughed and kissed her mother.
“So how was Sunday school? Did you do anything new?” Chioma asked as she fastened her seat belt for her child once they were settled in the car.
“Mummy, Aunty Banke taught us a new song. Should I sing it for you?” she did not wait for her mother’s reply but plunged right into the song.
Swing low, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home;
Swing lo-o-w, sweet chariot! Coming forth to carry me home
When she was through, Chioma whooped in excitement. “My baby is a singing star oh!” and Christine beamed with pleasure.
“I also accepted Jesus into my heart. Auntie Banke says I can now go to heaven when Jesus comes.” She said in a very ecstatic voice all the time looking out for her mother’s reaction.
“Really? So what do you want to have for lunch?” she asked uninterested in what she had just heard.
Christine’s face fell and her voice dropped. So did all the excitement in it. She was silent for the better part of the journey and even when Chioma tried to crack a few jokes she did not laugh
Chioma noticed her silence but said nothing more till they got to the house.
‘Mama,’ she called her fondly, ‘what’s the matter?’ she asked once they were indoors.
Christine was reluctant to speak and Chioma decided to push harder. ‘Sweetheart, talk to mummy, hmm?’
Christine looked at her for a while as if she was trying to find the right words.
‘Mummy, do you hate Jesus?’
Chioma was taken back for a while. It was now her turn to search for the right words.
‘Christine, it’s not like I hate Jesus. It’s just complicated, ok? I promise that one day when you are older, I will explain it to you’.
‘But mummy, Auntie Banke said that if we do not love Jesus, we won’t go to heaven and I want you to go to heaven with me.’
‘Is that what she said? Don’t worry; we will go to heaven together.”
‘Do you promise mummy?’
‘I promise baby.’
‘Do you also promise to accept him? Because he is in my heart and I want him to be in yours’ too.’
‘We will see about that.’ She smiled. ‘Why don’t you go and change and come and help me in the kitchen. What do you want to eat?’
‘Fried rice and chicken.’ Christine replied, her mood coming back to normal.
Chioma laughed. ‘Okay oh. Go and change so that you can help me cook the rice and chicken okay?
‘Yes mummy.’ And she hurried to her room leaving her mother with a bittersweet smile on her face.
TWO WEEKS LATER
‘Mama, what’s wrong? You are not looking so happy. Are you okay? Do you feel sick? What is the matter?’ Banke asked as she fussed over Christine who had a very sordid look on her face.
‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing? Haba mama, you can talk to me now. C’mon, don’t be shy. Did your mummy upset you at home?
Christine looked at her and burst into tears. Banke was taken aback. Christine didn’t cry often but when she did it meant someone had offended her badly.
‘Auntie Banke, my mummy does not want Jesus.’ Banke stared at the child. She had not quite witnessed anything like this before.
‘Christine, come here…’ She said, her heart heavy with sadness at what the little girl was going through. When Christine walked into her hands, she held her close and began to comfort her. ‘Your mommy wants Jesus baby, she’s just not ready yet.’
‘But Auntie, I want her to go to heaven with me. I don’t want to go alone. Jesus won’t be happy.’
Banke smiled. ‘Christine, stop talking rubbish. Your mum will go to heaven long before you do ok? You on the other hand still have a lot of time to grow up and do a lot of fun things before you go and meet Jesus.’
‘But Auntie there is no time, Jesus can come and take me anytime and my mummy will not follow me. I want my mommy to follow me to heaven. Jesus wants to see her. She promised me that she will tell Jesus to come and live in her heart but every day when I ask her just says ‘We will see.’ And there is no time again oh!’
Banke laughed a little but Christine’s stern and determined face made her stop almost as soon as she started. ‘Father,’ she prayed silently in her heart ‘Christine loves you and wants to serve you, give her the strength to carry on with the things that concern you. And concerning her mother, give her the grace to understand how these things work and give Chioma the strength to forgive Dare and to stop being bitter towards you, Amen.’
‘Amen.’ Christine said.
‘What did you say?’ Banke asked, astonished.
‘I felt you praying in your mind. So when you finished, I said amen. I want to drink water.’
With that she stood and left, Banke watched her go, speechless.
TWELVE DAYS LATER
‘Chioma, I think you should seriously consider what Christine is saying. You can’t continue like this now. She hasn’t been happy for some time now and I don’t like it. It hurts to see her like that. This is the first time in almost two weeks that she is really getting a hold of herself. Why don’t you consider what she has said?
Remember in school, you were the one always chasing me about to accept Christ and now that I have, you have let him go. It’s not good oh.’ Banke said as she related her discussion with Christine to Chioma the previous week as they talked in Christine’s office.
‘Banke, you talk like you don’t remember what happened to me then. When I sleep, all I dream about is the hurt and disgrace that Dare brought to me. And where was God then? As we speak, Dare is still living his life normally; I am the one with the child and I am the one that is still being looked down upon. Just once! Only once Banke and I got pregnant. Where is God now?
The very people I called my family in God, in Christ all deserted me when I needed them the most and you come here to preach forgiveness? Why didn’t they forgive me first? Or are they above it? I loved God, I served him with all my heart but I don’t think I deserved to suffer the way I did in the hands of my so called ‘Christian brothers and sisters, so please don’t even give me all that pious bullshit.’ She hissed.
‘But Chioma, that was over five years ago, surely you should be over that now. And have you ever thought of Christine in all of this? For the past two weeks I have been having this feeling in my spirit that something is about to happen, I can’t explain it but its grieving me. It’s like I keep hearing Christine calling out to me. I can’t explain it Chioma but I am here to plead with you. Christine’s accepting Christ now is a dream come true for any Christian mother. You can guide her better because her spirit man has already made a connection with the heavenly realm. You do not understand the things God has in store for her and if you are not connected with God, how do you expect to help her reach the destination God has for her?’
‘Banke, Christine is my life. I will do anything for her. But as for this God business, I am not sure if I can handle it right now. There are a lot more important things on my mind. And if she has decided to follow God, I have no reservations because at the end of the day, it’s her choice and I want to give her the opportunity to make her own decisions and bear the consequences.
When she is old enough, I will explain what happened between her father and I. I know she will understand why I feel so reluctant now. But I will never refute her decision to follow God. If it’s her destiny and it works out well for her, good luck to her. I will guide her as far as she allows me. You were the one that led her to Christ, you can take responsibility for her spiritual upbringing; she is as much your daughter as she is mine, being your God-daughter.’ Chioma said with a tone of finality in her voice.
‘Chioma, when you had Christ, I was a little jealous of you back then because I felt I could never be like you. I felt I couldn’t because I felt bitter towards God for allowing me to go through hell as a child. But when I accepted him, I knew I could understand the way you felt then.
So, I am going to plead with you that if ever you remember how glorious it felt then. How satisfied and fulfilled you felt then; that you come back to him. He is willing to accept you. When you feel God deserted you, think well about it. It could have been worse but you lacked nothing. And Dare is not a reason for you to hate men. You should seriously consider settling down.
Just don’t forget that you are God’s righteousness in Christ. God loves you still. There is still time and you can still answer to Christine’s call before it is too late.’ Banke picked up her bag and left the office.
TWO DAYS LATER
Christine felt giddy. She had been feeling that way the past two days. Today at Sunday school, Auntie Banke had taught them about how Jesus went about performing miracles. But her best story of all was when he had raised the daughter of the synagogue’s leader from the dead. “He was so powerful and strong” she thought. She skipped from her class merrily toward the car park to scan for her mother’s car. It was while she stood there that she felt something. It was like her heart had skipped a beat and she felt a tightness around her heart. She bent over to gasp for air. She gulped a mouthful and looked up. She saw her mother’s car come to a halt a distance away from her. She gathered her strength and clutched her children’s bible tightly as if for support, she began to walk towards the