Mended Wings episode 19 – end
Mended Wings
Episode 19
Ella sighed, the umpteenth time. Thoughts filled her head. She
took a bottle, labelled poison, from the cabinet and poured its contentinto a cup, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
Joel walked into the kitchen to get a drink and saw Ella. He
glanced at the labelled small bottle. “What is that?” he said.
Ella took the cup and raised it to her l-ips. “What’s your business with what it is? I’m going to kill myself and rid you of me. It’s not as if you wanted me here anyway.”
“Is that why you want to kill yourself?”
“Yes. It’s better to be dead than to live in this hell of a house.”
“I hope you know you’re buying yourself a ticket to hell.”
“Who are you to judge? Are you God? You are the hell’ candidate we have here. Not me.”
“Have you forgotten that whosoever takes his or her own life willbe judged? The life we live is of God and not our own. Who are we to take it?”
She hissed and lowered the cup. “Mr Preacher, how sweet
preaching is on your l-ips! How I wish you did one-tenth of the thingsyou preach. Preach to yourself first before attempting me.”He smiled. “I’m saying this for your own good. If a preacher preaches genuine word of God, whether or not he does it, if anyone obeys the word, such person will be saved, even if the preacher perishes.
So why should you hang your own safety on another’s? Will taking genuine prescription from a sick doctor make you sick? Whether he treats himself or not, you’ll still be healed if you followed the prescription. Once the word is genuine, it will stand.”
“Excuse me. I don’t need your sermon. You can fool everyone,
but you can’t fool me. You are a son of the devil.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that suicide is an abomination unto the Lord. By doing it, you could secure a furnished apartment for yourself in the pit of hell. Mind you, it isn’t just your life you’re about to take, you’d be murdering the baby in,side of you. Double crime.”
“Baby conceived out of pain and sorrow. Baby who has no father.It’s not even a baby yet?”
“It will be and I will father it. But if you take its life, you’ll rot in
hell.”“The Bible tells us to judge not that we may not be judged.”“I’m not judging you. I’m stating facts.”
“Just get out of my sight.”
“Do as you wish. But remember, it has been appointed for a man to die once after which is judgement.”
“Get out,” she scre-med.
Joel walked out of the kitchen, praying in his mind that Ella would change her mind. He couldn’t afford to have to tell people why his wife committed suicide if she did. What would he say? How would he say it? But he could show people the video he recorded while she was r@ped.
He could tell anyone who cared to ask that she was promiscuous and ended her life because he caught her in the act several times. People would believe him. He was too respected to be doubted, and not withhow he treated her with so much affection and respect publicly that people praised him. He discarded his thoughts and sat on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the television. Ella wept. Although she was having a hærd time, it was not comparable to the description of the agony in hell. Joel was right. Even if he were a devil’s agent, he had talked right. Perhaps it was Godreaching out to her through him, she thought. She dropped the cup and poured its content into the sink.
“Lord, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I know I’m not worthy to callon You but I believe You are merciful and gracious. Please give me away out of this mess,” she said. She fell on her knees and wept. “Lord,please forgive me, have mercy on me, and please give me another chance.” She prayed on, weeping Joel sat behind the wheels, driving, with Ella in the front passenger’s seat beside him. They had travelled for a program in another state and were returning home.
Ella sat, facing the side window, her elbow against the glass and her palm supporting her chin. She stared absent mindedly at the fast moving cars and grass at the side of the road, her heart as heavy asalways. She’d been praying and asking for God’s mercy but she still feltheaviness on her heart. So long had she been disconnected from Godthat heaviness of heart had become the norm.Nothing weighed her down more than her marriage and the newlife that was in her womb. Wonderfully well had she pretended in thepublic and suffered in the house. Confidence, charisma, andcheerfulness were words that had lost meaning and expression in her life. No wonder she was replaced in every post she had previously held in the church. The only special thing she did in church occasionally, as a minister, was moderate collection of offering. The so-called ministry she had wanted to guard by marrying Joel had slipped through her hands.
She was worthless to herself, always depending on Joel for provision,useless in her ministry, maid in her home and restricted from her family.Tears began to form in her eyes, gradually sliding down her flatcheeks. If only God could mend her broken wings, she’d fly high for theLord, she thought. If only God could forgive and restore her, she’d live
for God. If only God could show her mercy, she wouldn’t disobey Himever again. If only…The deafening sound produced by the burst tyre interrupted Ella’s rumination. “Jesus. Jesus,” Ella kept shouting, as the vehicle lost control.
Joel pulled the brake and the vehicle began to somersault beforecolliding with another vehicle, starting a fire
Final episode
His Love Tabernacle church was filled to its capacity. Many
people, who didn’t have a place to sit in the church, sat on the porch ofthe church, and under tents outside the church, watching the transmission of the ministration on large screens installed to feed the people outside the large auditorium.
It was the last day of the singles’ summit and the minister for theday was a widely known teacher of the word, Mrs Ella Mason. Little wonder the congregants doubled the previous day number. In spite of the thousands of people present in the auditorium, the drop of a needle could be heard clearly.
Many were crying and some were shaking their heads in pity.
Almost everyone was listening with rapt attention to the preacher. Not only because she was an anointed, seasoned, sought-after minister, but because her message was touching the hearts of many and opening theeyes of countless.
She continued her message, “the accident was fatal. I thought I would die in it and be forgotten. But somehow, God saved me
miraculously. I regained my consciousness on the hospital bed many days later and found myself alive but in a terrible condition. I had wounds all over. The doctor later told me I had 75% burns and femoral fracture. The scars are still here as evidence.” She raised her hands and pointed to her face. “I didn’t even have the courage to ask anything from God, I just kept begging God for mercy, even while I was on the
hospital bed. It got to a point, I was praying and wishing God would forgive me but allow me die so I could at least gain eternity. But God didn’t take my life.”
She mopped the tears on her face with a flannel. “Weeks after, I was told my husband, Joel Mason had passed away. I couldn’t help crying. I still cry when I remember him till date. You could be wondering why I cried instead of rejoicing, I was crying because hedidn’t get a chance to repent as I did.” She paused and sighed. “Shortly after, when my health started improving, I was told I had lost my fivemonth pregnancy and not just that, I had lost my womb because it had
been torn during the accident. I couldn’t cry, maybe because I accepted it as a punishment for my disobedience or because a part of me didn’twant that child. I was just thankful I got my life back and I got time to repent. The doctor came again and told me I’d have to be on drugs for life because I was HIV positive. And that was when I broke down. I lost hope and my condition started deteriorating. Thank God for my aunt, siblings, Kunle, and a few other people God used for me. I accepted mystate and started seeking the face of God. The journey to recovery waslong, I must say.” She dabbed the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead with a handkerchief.
“I fasted and prayed. And God being ever merciful showed me
mercy and mended my wings. Now my wings are mended and I can flyagain. That is my story, not my message. My message for you today isTotal Submission to God’s will. Obedience is better than a thousandsacrifices. God sees better. He knows better. And His will is the best for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says and I quote, ‘For I know the thoughts thatI think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil,
to give you a future and a hope.’ To the singles here, I say, anotherimportant decision you’ll take after surrendering your life to Christ is deciding whom to marry.” She nodded and swallowed.
“God does not drag our decisions with us but He’ll always showus the way. But most time, we choose ways that are pleasing to usinstead. The Bible, in Proverbs 14:12, says, ‘There is a way that seemsright to a man, but its end is the way of death.’ Get this now, that itseems right doesn’t make it right. You can’t force your will on God justas God won’t force His will on you. And you can’t have God take responsibilities for your own actions. Let me give you this nugget to hold onto, ‘if it ain’t God’s will, it ain’t God’s bill.’”The congregants clapped, with many nodding.
“It is best if you acknowledge God in all your decision-making inlife. Kunle that I thought was spiritually lower than me was the sameperson God used for me when I was dying. He’s blessed with awonderful wife and four grown children today. You might be worriedabout people’s opinion, just as I was. What would people say? Howcould I tell the world Kunle was my husband? He was too unattractiveand unspiritual for my liking. He had no post in church, blah, blah. The
truth was I wanted someone I could be proud of, someone that
appealed to my senses, and I cared less what God wanted for me. I got what I wanted indeed and you all know the end of the story. I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim for the best, or desire something beautiful. TheBible, in Proverbs 10:24, says, ‘The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.’ However, you mustalways submit your desires and will to God. Always allow His plan to
override yours.”People clapped again and different sound of agreement rent the air momentarily.
“Amen,” she said.
“Amen,” the congregants responded.
“Many things we trivialise in Christianity will count against us ifcaution is thrown to the wind. Crush, lust, infatuation, give it any sweetname you like, impatience, haughty mindedness, and so on, can cloud your vision and judgement. More reason I cried for Joel was that he wasimpatient. One day when we were discussing, he confessed to me thatGod never told him to marry me. He said God told him to wait. But because he was beginning to think people would realize he had aproblem, and for the fact that he liked me too, he gave in and married me. Perhaps he wouldn’t have ended the way he did if he had obeyed
and waited and hadn’t married me. After all, God created him and knewexactly what to do about his situation. Take this from me, as manybelieve, God is indeed merciful. He will accept you when you return ingenuine repentance. Nevertheless, part or all of the damages you did toyourself while you were away might remain forever.
Ten pairs of mended wings can never be as good as a pair of unbroken wings. Donot crave mending but crave power to maintain your unbroken wings.But for as many as have been broken, don’t wait until things get worsebefore you return and seek the face of God. And for any of you who still don’t mind mended wings instead of maintaining your unbroken ones, hear this, I’ll be fifty years old on Saturday, I don’t have any biological child, although I have many spiritual children, and I don’thave a husband, God is the husband of the widow, anyways. Listen, andlearn. I could have had all those and still be in Christ if I had obeyed theLord. But glory to God, I believe my name is written in the book of life.My soul is saved. The Bible tells us that it is better to enter into lifemaimed that to go to hell with a wh0le body. So, if you’re listening tomy message and you have spent your life in a terrible way in the past or
even until now, done abortions, taken drugs, or made wrong decisions,come, the Lord can still mend and renew you. And your soul will besaved. No one knows when the end will come. If Joel knew, he wouldhave repented before the accident. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done inthe past or how much you’ve disobeyed, just come now, He is ready tosave you and write your name in the book of life. John 1:12 says ‘But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children ofGod, to those who believe on His name.’ Surrender your life to JesusChrist. Rededicate your life to Him if you’ve backslidden. He’ll acceptyou, wash you, and change your story,” Ella said.
People trooped out in twenties and hundreds, to surrender their
lives to Jesus.
“Those of you with unbroken wings who can’t fly or want God tohelp you keep your wings from tearing, come, lay it at His feet. He’llhelp you. He’s ever ready. Come.”
Many people walked out and she prayed with them before
allowing them to return to their seats.
If you have any disease in your body, lay your hands on it right
now with faith in your heart. The Lord is going to heal you today. He’s ahealer. By His stripes, you’re healed. In Jesus name you are healed.”Sound of rejoicing rent the air as many began to wave their handsto signify they had been healed.
“I can see, hallelujah, I can see,” a blind woman, who had just
received her sight, shouted.
Shout of hallelujah filled the auditorium, as miracles began to
happen.
Ella prayed for many categories of people, those waiting on theLord for future partners, direction in life, and many more. It was a dayto remember for everyone who attended the program.
Ella lived the rest of her life sharing the gospel and touching lives,and through her God did many miracles.Her wings were indeed mended, although she wished she had maintained unbrokened wings.
The End
Thanks for reading hope you learnt some lessons from this story, obedience is better than sacrifice. God knows what is best for us and he is a merciful. I pray for all single that in marriage the Lord will order our steps if only we put him first.
PLEASE, LETS SAY A WORD OF PRAYER FOR THE AUTHOR, AND TO YOU GUYS, THANKS FOR READING AND COMMENTING.