John ESENE

    Good mothers are greatest of compassion, love and fearlessness! Unfortunately, when Victoria and her husband had a misunderstanding, she picked up her only child, Gertrude and divorced her husband. She went through pains and untold hardship to sponsor her daughter from SS3 till she obtained her degree. After few years of working, Gertrude introduced Godwin to her mother as her fiancé. But her mother rejected Godwin saying instantly, “I don’t like this boy! Send him away or I get you a responsible boy of choice who will not do to you what your useless father did to me.” Gertrude and Godwin pleaded with Victoria to no avail.

     Your spouse, child, parent, master, etc. is a human being like Peter. So, when he does the unexpected, forgive him   as Jesus did to Peter and all of us. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” Godwin instantly forgave the woman and kept smiling.

     There is need to forgive your enemies their sins against you because you are an enemy to many people also. So, do not command the Holy Ghost Fire to burn all your enemies. Some of your loved ones may offend you unknowingly or unintentionally. So, create a room for reconciliation or just forgive and pray for them.  Mt. 11:25 says, “And when you stand and pray, forgive anything you may have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive the wrong you have done.” We sin against God every day and each time we repent; God forgives us and allows us to come back to Him. I like the song, “Come back to me”

Come back to me with all your heart,

Don’t let fear keep us apart.

Trees do bend though strait and tall,

So must we to others’ call!

Long have I waited for you to come,

Home and live deep a new life.

 

    When Gertrude considered how Godwin assisted her financially and otherwise while they were in the University, she made up her mind to marry him irrespective of her mother’s protest. Godwin was a year ahead of Gertrude during their studies and they did not have sexual relationship because she vowed to remain a VIRGIN till her wedding day. Godwin accepted this condition and walked along the part spending the little he had for her. Even when Gertrude explained all these to her mother, she simply said, “My Baby, I said, “No!” And Gertrude sang the song, “Show a little kindness” as she and Godwin were still kneeling before her mother that memorable day.

     On their traditional wedding day, Gertrude’s mother did not surface at the occasion but her father was there dancing and smiling. During their honey moon only Godwin’s mother accompanied them to US while Victoria rejected the invitation.

       Godwin’s love for Gertrude compelled him to swallow his pride and resolve to bear the pains. To love is to be submissive, to sacrifice, to give away, to let go, to consider the goodness of the other person, to take risk and above all, to be ready for the humiliation the other person forces on you for where there is love something must give way or die is us and that is yourself. Just as Jesus Christ who died on the cross, sacrificing and submitting Himself to save us all.

    2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this land.” 

     Godwin influenced his wife to start a 9 day novena of fasting and prayer after booking for Mass. They meditated on “The Wedding at Cana” and begged that this garment of shame be removed from them.  Both of them relied on Matthew 18:20 which says, “For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.” and it worked for them indeed.  When Victoria suddenly realized that she was walking alone she reflected on her past and the homily directed to parents during Holy Mass the previous day and decided to forgive her daughter and reconcile with her and Godwin.

    Great things happen when God relates with man!  Today as you read this article, Godwin and Gertrude’s faith and trust in God has brought them closer to God and changed their sorrow to joy. Victoria’s life has changed for good also as she forgave all those who offended her including her divorced husband. When we have difficult situations, we should run to God who loves us more than we can ever believe.

   Adam and Eve were doing well when the devil created problem for them. Whenever you notice the unexpected coming from you, your spouse or relation call on the Holy Spirit to counsel you both to enable you overcome all the powers of your enemy and keep your family safe. Time and tide waits for no one. Rather than blame one another for months, go on your knee immediately lest you increase your problem. The Ishan man says, “The stone your eye sees coming towards you cannot blind you!”

     Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another”.  As Christians, we are friends in Christ. In friendship, we love and share! We have a right to expect loving support from one another to sustain our spirits in times of hardships.  In our family we should help one another to nurture our physical emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs to keep us alive and make us thrive to become the best version of ourselves. Yes, the family is the first place to solve these important problems.