On a beautiful Saturday evening, I sat on my balcony, relaxing my tired body from the week’s work. I was glad I had no wedding or any ceremony to attend. It was just me having a good time in my own way. Thankful to God, the breeze was cool, so soothing it was to my tired head that I was beginning to doze off when I suddenly heard a shrill voice downstairs. It was the wailing of a child, I wanted to ignore it and just keep enjoying myself but the cry wouldn’t stop. So I bent over the handrails to shush the child but I just stood there watching, as the drama unfolded before me.
I saw the weeping child rolling on the floor, throwing tantrums and crying nonstop, I managed to listen to her words, she was shouting “give me my candy, give me my candy”. There was another older child trying to placate her while the oldest was inspecting the so called candy. Obviously the oldest child had snatched the candy from the youngest child now wailing. The older child was confused, while trying to placate the youngest child he was staring angrily at the oldest. All I wanted was to make them stop so I can get back to my relaxation but the drama hadn’t finished.
The oldest child shouted “David come here” the older child didn’t answer, he didn’t want to leave the wailing child. But the oldest called again, “David, are you deaf? I say come here now”! Still, he didn’t respond to the call. But as he saw him coming, he ran towards him and angrily mumbled ‘Yes’. The oldest looked him over, he even wanted to slap him but didn’t carry out his threat. All the while the wailing child didn’t stop, the oldest child drew David by his ears, reprimanding him sternly “Are you blind? Can’t you see that there is a hole in the candy you bought for our Daniella? Didn’t you hear when Mum told us to always check the things we buy very well before we leave the shop? Again, I can see an opening on the wrap, which means a sugar ant had gained access.” David was now remorseful, he saw that the fault was from him. So he bowed his head, avoiding the eyes of his brother “Now what are you going to do? The oldest child fired back “I will go and change it”. David said silently.
David took the candy from his elder brother and ran out of the compound, when the wailing child saw David taking the candy away, she increased her wailing again. The drama was interesting, I could not go back to my chair. While David was away, the oldest child looked away from the wailing child. The child looked at him judgingly but he stood there with his back turned to her. David ran into the compound with another piece of candy, he was elated as he ran towards his elder brother. The brother inspected the piece of candy over and over and certified it okay. “Now go and give your sister, he ordered”. The child rose silently as he saw David coming towards her, David gave her the candy and helped wiped her tears. The child stopped crying immediately and took the candy joyfully. The Oldest child smiled with satisfaction and walked inside while the girl started practicing some dance steps. Everything looked peaceful again.
I went back to my seat as I smiled to myself “what an episode!” I was Relaxed again and wanted to keep dozing off when the Holy Spirit started giving me some insights into the story.
When you ask God for something and he does not give you, it means it’s not right or good for you. When the candy was collected, it seemed the oldest child hated the youngest, but that was love. When she wailed and wailed, it seemed he didn’t care as he turned his back but he shared in that pain too. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to her by eating a seemingly infected candy. When God delays your request, he is only making sure that what he is giving you is the best and nothing but the best. And while God is at it, making sure that you have the best, no matter how hard you wail, roll on the floor, go without eating for days or even refuse to talk to him, he won’t pity you and give you the bad choice. Though your wailing is great, he will wait till all things are ready and are in their best condition so that your joy may be full indeed. So, some times when it seems God is delaying your answers, be grateful because he is working it out to give you the best and when you don’t seem to get what you want from God, be grateful for the things he didn’t give you. He has your best interests at heart and he won’t do anything to hurt you. Most Importantly, Remember that those times when it seems the pressure is unbearable and it seems you cannot take it any longer, please hang in there because your answer is only a step away. God is faithful, he will never forsake any of his own.
Credits: Bro Wole Olusanya, Coordinator, Family Life Seminar, Akure.
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