Mended Wings Episode 11 – 12
Mended Wings
Episode 11
The mid-week service had been by Joel Mason. Little wonder it ended one hour after it started. He was a seasoned preacher of few words. He never needed a prolonged time to teach to inspire all. He always made use of whatever time he had so well despite the fact that if
people were allowed to decide, they would have loved him to use more time. No wonder people sang his praise and rejoiced whenever he mounted the pulpit.
Rachael, a youth minister, walked toward Ella, who was in her seat praying. She sat quietly beside her, awaiting her to finish saying her prayers.
Ella opened her eyes after some minutes of praying and her eyes
met Rachael’s. “Sister Rachael, you are here. How’re you?”
“I’m very fine, Sister Ella.”
“Hope you enjoyed the service?”
“Enjoy? I was refilled. Pastor Joel’s ministration couldn’t have done any less. It was a wonderful time in God’s presence.”
“Hallelujah.” Ella smiled. She was always excited anytime anyone passed a nice comment on Joel’s teachings.
“I have come to see you, Sister Ella.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I have something I must tell you.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
“I had a revelation. In the revelation, I saw you tied to a stake and tortured. You were so wounded that I couldn’t help crying. I asked the person standing beside me if there was anyone who could rescue you
since everyone was only saying sorry and passing by. The person told me that you couldn’t be rescued because you walked to the stake and tied yourself there. I asked how that was possible and I was told that you
defied all warnings and went there. I couldn’t help you despite how much I wanted to. The more I ran toward you the farther you seemed to be. Then I saw Brother Joel. I was so happy solution had come. I looked
intently and saw him gesture to the torturers. He then walked away, smiling. And that was when the torture increased. When I woke up and prayed about it, I was led to Proverbs 14:12, which says ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.’ That’s why I
have come to tell you. I don’t know what decision you are about to make or have made but God loves you and wants you to have a change of heart.”
“Really.”
“Yes, Sister Ella. I keep hearing it in my ears that you’re moving towards a dead end.”
Ella smiled. “Thank you very much, Sister Rachael. I appreciate you. Many people’s dreams are parables. A dream might mean the opposite of what it seems to. Whichever way, God will lead us. Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m leaving. Brother Joel is having a meeting
with the aged today. He might need some assistance.”
“That’s true. You can go. I appreciate you.”
“Don’t mention.” Rachael stood up and walked towards the
church left wing.
Ella squinched her face in disgust, eyeing Rachael with contempt as she walked away. Rachael must have desired to take her place.
sed-ctress. After all, she had been stalking Joel, trying to win his heart. Did she think her stupid dream would change anything? If at all God wanted to send someone to her, would it be Rachael of all people? She
was nothing but a person who needed deliverance trying to deliver others. Her plot had failed, Ella thought. She hissed, rose up, and walked
to the pastor’s office.
Joel stepped out of his room and walked into the living room. He
sat opposite Ella, who was busy watching a program on the television.
“Hope you’re enjoying yourself,” he said with a smile.
“I am. Thank you. That reminds me of a question I’ve always
wanted to ask. Why do you always sit on that chair every time I visit?”
Ella said in a clear voice.
Joel laughed. “You know, The Bible tells us to flee from every appearance of evil. To me, holiness is priority. I don’t want any dirty thought crossing my mind, which is why I sometimes sit opposite you.
If we were in a public place it would have been different.”
“Hmm.” She scrunched her nose, and smiled. “Pastor of
righteousness.”
Joel gestured. “That’s one of the reasons why I’ve been saying we should take the next step and get married. We are mature in all wise.
What’s keeping us?”
Ella took the TV remote and lowered the TV volume. “Well, I
don’t want people to think we are in a rush. We started this relationsh¡p barely five months ago. I don’t want people to start talking. It’s not even
up to a year you joined our parish.”
“What does that matter? After all, we’re both mature and ready.
Unnecessarily long courtsh¡p causes nothing but sin. And you know I won’t tolerate that.”
Of course, I know. You who wouldn’t even hold my hands
except when we’re praying together.” She laughed.
“E-l-l-a, that’s not true. I’m not an extremist, although I am
principled. Bear with me. The time will come soon when you’ll enjoy the private me.”
“Hmm. Anyway, I was just pulling your legs. I’ll tell my aunt about our decision and contact my parents so we could set the ball rolling.”
“Thanks, darling.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let me drop you home, it’s almost 6:30 p.m. I don’t want you getting home late.”
“Oh, I lost track of time. We’d better get going or you’ll have to explain to Auntie Eve why you kept me late outside.” She laughed and picked her bag.
“That reminds me. I called the mechanic repairing your car. He
said the problem is with the car engine. That car is very old. So, I was thinking you should get a new car instead of changing the engine of the
old one.”
“New car? Don’t forget that car is my aunt’s although I was the
one using it before it broke down. I just want to have it repaired. She could feel somehow if I left her car with the mechanic and got a new one for myself. Besides I can’t afford a new car tyre right now, not to
mention a wh0le car.”
“Okay. I’ll tell the mechanic to find a way to repair the car so you could return it to your aunt. I’ll get you a new befitting one.”
“Are you serious? You’ll get me a car?”
Why not? I can’t be riding in a jeep while my fiancée is trekking around.”
“Huh Huh. You’re such a darling.”
He smiled. “You should know by now that there’s nothing I can’t
do for you. Once it’s not a sin, I’ll do it.”
“Hmm. I wish I could k!ss you.”
He laughed. “Let it remain a wish until I marry you. You’re too precious to be mishandled. When I take the appropriate step, I can take your hugs and k!sses as reward.”
She hit his shoulder playfully. “You make me love you more and
more every day. You’re a huge blessing to my life. Thank God I found you.”
Joel opened the car door and held it, gesturing to her to enter the vehicle. “I’m the luckiest to have such a wonderful woman by my side.”
Ella’s tummy rumbled or was that the butterfly feeling people
talked about? She sighed and smiled, her heart filled with nothing but her love for Joel Mason.
Joel took his seat behind the wheel and drove off.
Mended Wings
Episode 12
No one could be more excited than Ella was, not only because it was a beautiful day with the sun shining effortlessly and birds chirpingwith glee, but also because it was her day, the day she was giving herhand in marriage to Joel Mason. What more joy could she have?
She turned her head, allowing her eyes to wander briefly from one corner to the other, and smiled. How could so many people turn up for her wedding? she wondered. The church was full to its capacity. Perhaps because she wore a double cap in the church, first as the assistant head of ushering department and second as the sisters’ coordinator for the
youth, or because she was getting married to the newly ordained pastor whom everyone loved. Either way, the day was beautiful. She smiled as
she consented to marry Joel who in turn picked the ring on The Bible and slid it on her finger. If anyone cared to measure, her joy would overflow the measure.
The program ended shortly after the new couple exchanged their
vows, signed their marriage certificate, and danced in thanksgiving to God.
Reception was even more splendid than she foresaw. She glanced
at the right side of the hall and there they were gathered, gifts of various types and sizes, more than could be packed in one vehicle.
“God is amazing,” she said under her breath. Only God could
have done such a beautiful thing, she thought. Was she that good to have received all those gifts on her wedding? That couldn’t be the reason. It was a sign of heaven’s blessing on her marriage. Thank God she married Joel. She smiled at her thoughts. If her wedding were rated, it would be listed among the top ones. She couldn’t have wished for more. Her dress, his suit, accessories, and all they used were imported from overseas. She’d had her dream
wedding. Now she’d look forward to having her dream marriage. All she knew was that she’d gotten the best, nothing could be better.
A driver drove Joel and Ella to their new home in Verdi Estate
after the ceremony that introduced them to the world as a couple. Although Ella had wanted them to have their honeymoon in a posh hotel outside the city or at least anywhere special and different
from Joel’s house which would serve as their home, but Joel had insisted having the honeymoon in the house. He’d told her that lodging at hotels
for honeymoon wasn’t the best for them as Christians.
“How could we start our married life on a defiled public bed?” he had asked. And He’d finished it off by telling her they’d make no difference if they did what secular people did. Even though she had wanted to repudiate his opinion, she couldn’t, after all, she knew of no verse of the scripture to corroborate her own opinion. She’d agreed not only because it was no case but also because she wanted to prove to him she’d be a submissive wife.
Joel alighted from the car and held the door open for his new
bride. “Careful,” he said as Ella hopped off the car. They walked handin-hand into the house leaving the driver outside to sort out himself.
After a short prayer, Ella beckoned on Joel to assist her pull off her dress to which he obliged.
“Should we bath together?” Ella said after much hesitation, as Joel unbuttoned her dress.
Joel smiled. “I don’t want to bath yet. You go first Okay,” she said. So, men could also be shy, she thought and smiled. Ella stepped into the bathroom and took enough time to have a
refreshing bath. She walked out and towelled her body. She rummaged her box and brought out a set of lingerie she’d bought specifically for her honeymoon. She picked the pink one, wore it, and covered her hair
with a cap. She stood before the dressing mirror and smiled at her reflection. She couldn’t fathom where all her timidity flew to, perhaps her wedding ring had imprisoned it. She applied a light makeup, checked
her reflection again, and was satisfied with what she saw in the mirror.
Although she was tired, she was determined to stay strong. She’d
promised never to deny her husband of her body and she wouldn’t tonight. After all, it was her first night as Joel’s bride. She walked out of the room, content with her look. She had to make a strong impression, she thought.
Joel sat on the chair watching a church programme on the
television. She slowly approached him, goose pimples all over her.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you bath now so we could eat and retire for the night?”
Joel turned his head to face Ella and froze. He stared at her. He’d never seen her like that. She was wearing a fitting pink polka dotted lingerie, which barely covered her h¡ps; her face rid of the garb of heavy makeup, and her smile the type he never had seen. He coughed. “U-uh uh. I’ll go now.” He rose from his seat. “By the way, you are beautiful.”
Ella responded with a broad smile and a nod. Words just wouldn’t escape her mouth. She went into the kitchen, brought out their dinner from the fridge, and heated it before taking it to the table. Joel joined her shortly after the table was set. They prayed and ate in silence, their eyes exchanging unsaid words. The atmosphere was heavy with
emotions. She couldn’t wait to finish her food and be in the arms of the one she loved.
Ella cleared the table as soon as they finished eating and joined Joel in the sitting room. She sat beside him, staring at the television, waiting for him to place her head on his chest. Wasn’t that how r0mance
started in the books she’d read? When she saw that he did nothing, she moved closer and positioned her head on his chest. How she wished his
chest were bare, she’d have fondled the hair on it, but now that it was covered in a vest, she knew there was nothing she could do than wait for
him to make the first move.
Ella’s smell and touch sent chills down Joel’s spine. He clumsily f0ndled with her nape. “Er uh. I think we should go to bed now. It’s been a hectic day,” he said.
She nodded and stood up. They went into the bedroom and lay on the bed.
“Let’s pray,” he said. He prayed on and on, and by the time he was through, Ella was fast asleep.