Mended Wings episode 7 – 8

Mended Wings

Episode 7

Joel held Ella’s hand as they walked down Crescent Street. The
street was platted in gold. Flowers and ornamental plants adorned the sides of the road. She’d never walked in such a street. Although the sun
had set, the arrayed streetlights made it difficult to believe what the time
was. Persistent fireworks excited the sky. The sight was enchanting. Or was entrancing the perfect word?
Her dress was beautiful, like none she had worn before. Jewellery adorned her hair, ears, and neck. Her steps were punctuated with grace
as she walked hand in hand with Joel, her husband, into the church. The church was overfilled. Everyone rose up to welcome Joel and Ella, and
sound of applause rent the air.
She couldn’t hide her euphoria. They walked toward the altar and a man handed them microphones to teach the church. Just as they
collected the microphones, Kunle emerged from the congregation and stopped them. Despite the cheering from the congregants, his voice was distinct.
“Ella, please come with me, there is a large gaping pit on the altar.
There is no way you’ll mount the altar and not fall into the pit. Come with me. But you must leave him. I can’t take you both. Give me your hands, let’s go,” Kunle said.
“Go where? You liar,” Ella said. She looked intently at the altar. It looked stronger than ever, adorned with precious stones. “Where is the pit? Are you saying the altar of God could harbour a pit? You would be disappointed if you think you could stop me from feeding my flock.
Look at them,” she spread her hand toward the thousands of
congregants cheering them on, “they’re waiting for my husband and me.”
“They’re not your flock, they are the Lord’s. He’ll feed them.”
She sniggered. “You think you can deceive me from reaching
where God has designed for me? You lie. Psalms 16:6 says ‘The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.’Leave me alone.”
“This isn’t a pleasant place but hell. And this man isn’t your
husband; I am.”
“Oh, lying liar.” She ostentatiously waved her left hand, a golden ring, with a diamond gem affixed, glinting on her ring finger. “You see,he’s mine.”
“There’s someone else the Lord has prepared for Joel, the one
whom the Lord will use to break the yoke on his neck. Your place is by my side, Ella.”
“What yoke?” She glanced at Joel’s neck and saw a weighty golden chain padlocked at the joint. “You call this a yoke? This is nothing but a fanciful jewellery. Don’t bad mouth it just because you can’t afford one.”
“May the eyes of your understanding be opened. Listen to me and escape torment.”
She stared at him with contempt, a wretched mendicant was better off. “You, filth. Get away from me!”
Ella, the ways of God are higher than our ways. Please give me a chance to show you how much God loves you.”
“How much God loves me to give me you filth? Leave me alone,”she scre-med.
She pulled Joel’s hand and headed for the altar. Suddenly, she saw it. The pit was real, emitting a great force to pull her in.

Ella jumped out of sleep. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
It was a dream. A nightmare. The devil must be trying to fool her, she thought. She knelt down and began to pray, casting, binding and rebuking the devil and his agents.
She wiped her face after a long prayer session and sat at the edge of the bed. Kunle was definitely up to something. Did he bring up the discussion of marriage in order to take her from the singles and prevent her from marrying the right man for her? But there was a pit there indeed, she thought.
“How could a pit be on the altar? It’s a lie of the devil. Marrying Kunle is that pit you saw. Won’t you feed your flock? Even Jesus told Peter in the scripture to feed His flock. Can’t you withstand persecution for the sake of the cross?” a voice in her head said.
“No. That is not the will of God for you. The calling of God differs from man to man. Remember, Uriah died despite having a good intention. He wanted to savethe ark from falling but he was not a Levite. It was not his calling. Saul offered sacrifice in Samuel’s place and lost his kingdom. God owns the church and He won’t leave her untended. The glamour isn’t real. Nothing in this world can offer you such glamour. Kunle is your man,” another voice dropped in her mind. That’s a lie of the devil. Remember that the devil can also quote the scripture.
You can’t leave Joel. He has the anointing. He’s blessed and he has all you desire ina man. You’ll be the Aaron for his Moses. And you’ll be celebrated. Why must you accept something of no value in the name of humility or God’s will? Don’t be fooled. Do you think it was merely coincidental that he sat beside you on his first day in church or that he noticed you out of over a thousand women in the church? Are there no better women there than you are? It wasn’t a coincidence that you saw him againimmediately after you cried out your heart to God to direct you. Joel is the man,” thefirst voice added.
“That is not true. Be aware that The Bible in Ephesians 6:11 says ‘Put on the wh0le armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.’
Ella, do not be ignorant of the devices of the devil. You can fast for hundred days and still come across a device of the devil. The onus lies on you to make decision whether to
win over or lose. Remember, a person might be excellent and yet be bad for you. Godis the best matchmaker. That Joel has a calling doesn’t make him yours. God will show you where to serve Him always. A little with God is might. Do not bedeceived,” the second voice said.
“Ella, an assistant head of department in the church and a sisters’coordinator, marrying an ordinary member of another church. Where will you putyour oil? How will you explain to people? Who will rekindle you when you feel week?
Do you think Kunle who can’t pray for two hours can do you any good? Be wise. Ironsharpens iron.”
“Kunle is a believer. A genuine child of God, who is operating in God’s will.
He genuinely loves you. Don’t forget you got a go-ahead before you started. Has Godtold you otherwise?”
Believer, my foot. Didn’t he try to k-ss you one day. If not for your resolution,what would have happened? Joel is the fire. He’s holy. He’s the one you’ll never regret marrying.”Ella sighed and lowered her head unto her palms. Her mind was on fire. She stood up and walked into the bathroom. She had to get acold bath and sleep. She’d leave her decision-making process until morning, she thought.

Mended Wings

Episode 8

Kunle Adedoyin sat on one of the three black sofas in Mrs
Olawoye’s house, his forehead thrown into furrows. He puckered his dry l-ips, seizing the moment to ruminate on Mrs Olawoye’s question, which was hanging in the air. He wasn’t sure if explaining everything to
her would worsen the situation. He didn’t want anyone to see him as person who would always allow a third party to mediate in his marriage in the future. But he knew keeping to himself wouldn’t resolve the issue either. His problem was getting out of hand, and if he didn’t take
appropriate decision, he’d be back to square one.
Talking to Evelyn should not be a problem. After all, Ella had
been living with her since she graduated from the university and was her intimate friend. Moreover, Evelyn had been aware of his relationsh¡p with Ella from the very beginning and had given as much support as
needed. He hushed, thinking of what action to take.
“You have not answered my question. What is going on between you and Ella? Something is not right and it’s obvious. Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” Evelyn said.
Kunle heaved a sigh and adjusted in his chair. “I don’t understand what is going on. Ella has become a total stranger to me. She doesn’t…”
Words failed him, frustration written over his face.
“Hmm. I understand how you feel. Calm down and try to explain
what’s happening.”
It is true that she was indifferent toward our relationsh¡p in the
beginning, but I felt she would change with time. Few months later, things got better and my joy knew no bound. I never knew it would be short-lived. I never expected the apathy to resurface and reach its peak.”
He paused and swallowed. “When I noticed she was avoiding me and
wanting out of the relationsh¡p, I took my time to wait on the Lord and pray. I came to Ella after receiving God’s consent and told her we should start planning to get married. She told me she would pray about
it and demanded that I stay away till she gives me an answer.”
“How did you respond to that?”
“I did my best. For the first week, I stayed put. No
communication of any sort. The following week I could not hold in. I would send text messages to her, asking about her welfare and telling her how much I loved her. She called me that weekend and said I was only prolonging the time she’d take. She said if I didn’t stop trying to
communicate with her, she wouldn’t pray about it. She insisted she couldn’t communicate with God and me at the same time.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, I’m serious. I apologized and gave her three weeks to pray. It was the fourth week that I was forced to meet her at work. I asked what was going on and she said I should stop tailing her around, as she wasn’t a kid. I reminded her that it was the first time in almost two months we
were seeing. After much complaint, she said the visions she had about me were bad and that each time she prayed about it she had a bad
dream. I asked her if she asked the Lord for a word. She said she wasn’t comfortable with the relationsh¡p and that she had a feeling I would prevent her from serving God.”
“Did you try to convince her otherwise at all?”
“Yes, but all my promises and pleas fell on deaf ears. She insisted that all the odds were against me and that she was in the relationsh¡p in the first place because she had heard God and not because she’d wanted
to.”
Evelyn shook her head. “You mean Ella said all these?”
“Yes, she did. She told me she no longer felt any spiritual backup and couldn’t continue the relationsh¡p. Ever since then, she rarely picks my call and never replies my text. She even warned me not to visit this
house or report anything to you. I’m just so…”
Evelyn exhaled. “Hmm. This is a big issue. The devil is at work
here. We have to be sensitive. First, I apologize for everything she said to you. Please find a place in your heart to forgive her.”
“I have forgiven her. I just want peace.”
“Thank you. Second, we’ll both have to fast and pray about this
situation.”
“That won’t be a problem. I want our relationsh¡p restored.”
“Alright. Please inform your pastor so he could pray along with us.
I’ll also talk to her. Please be patient. Only the patient dog eats the fattest bone. Let’s commit her to God’s hands.”
“I’m worried that she could have received a wrong message from
someone out there. The change was too abrupt.”
“It’s possible. Nowadays devil uses anybody, even the most
respected pastor if care is not taken. That’s why every counsel or prophecy received from anyone must be brought side by side with the word of God. If it’s contrary, it must be discarded. So many wrong messages being preached today that have hærdened the hearts of many.
God will give us victory.”
“Amen. I sincerely appreciate you. God bless you.”
“Amen and you too.”
“I’ll do as you’ve said. Although I’ve not stopped praying, I’ll intensify it.”
“That’s good. Thanks for honouring my invitation.”
“You’re welcome. I appreciate your hospitality.”
“You deserve even more, my brother.”
He smiled. “I’m flattered.”
They talked about few other things and laughed before Kunle took his leave, his hope renewed that the situation would be resolved.