12/01/2025
Chike is a child who is naturally stubborn from the early age of his life. Growing up was rosy and seamless because everything is available. He is the only child and moms pet.
His, is to ask, and his mom provide his needs.
His mom remained his best friend and advocate whenever he is involved in any problem with his fellow mates outside home or school.
It continued for long and he became a known child that always got the back of his mom. A brat lad .
His dad is a busy man who has no time for what goes on at home. Always busy at work. Chike enjoyed life till his higher institution. He graduated waiting enthusiastically to wear the corper uniform.
The batch or the stream he was to be mobilised, the school delayed and could not meet up the requirements. And he missed the batch. During the waiting period, his father died.
The mom who is a complete housewife, became confused and devastated.
Chike does not know where to start from. His dad's business which he tagged dirty became more even to him because he is now a graduate, and would not like to go closer either.
When his dad was alive, he begged him to be following him but he refused and called the business a dirty type of career. His mom corroborated his thoughts most likely.
'Yes is a dirty business indeed for my one and only son' she reiterated.
His dad is a professional vulcanizer and sells tyres and its products.
The business helped him to train his son, build two houses. One in his home town, and as well, the one they lived in.
After his dad's demised, life changed. They lived on the proceeds of his late dad.
Service time came, he left. During the period, he was mainly concerned about his mom. He turned out to be her breadwinner from his allowances. While others are having good times in their service year, he was saving to cater for his widowed mother.
His life changed at a point. People that knew him never believed he could be humbled and calm like that.
Someone summed it succinctly; 'nothing humbles man like situations of life especially death'.
He left for Abuja to seek for greener pasture.
He joined a friend and they start struggling going to sites where there are constructions.
His mom became a malady because of often sickness because of the new situation she found herself.
Hypertension took grip of her for long. At last, she suffered a light stroke.
Hearing that, Chike struggling doubled because of consistent medical attention and bills.
He and his friend were invited to a Sunday service which they indeed honoured.
The pastor stood on the pulpit and preached faithfully on giving and sowing of seed and watering the seeds as well.
Chike was moved and became more elated because he was motivated spiritually.
They were told during the offering time to give freely and not grudgingly and they will harvest bountifully in no distant time.
The pastor gave an analogy on how he starts life struggling and at the end, he discovered a formula. He started sowing seeds. And at once, God saw his offerings and blessed him in the open. 'Today, I don't struggle to eat or pay bills.
He continued; the money is coming effortlessly because I break the yoke way back through giving and sowing of seeds. This is an opportunity for you to break barriers or the spirit of struggle in your life. Was his word.
If you want to get financial freedom like me, do as I did.
'Anywhere you are in this auditorium, give all you have and you will never be same again'.
He started singing praised songs and people trooped out, giving offerings and donations as well as tithes . because is end of the month..
Chike and his friend were moved and gave out all money on them.
They lived generally on daily pay. So Monday is their waiting day to be on site where they get their daily pay.
After the close of church service, they started trekking home.
Abuja heat is something else during dry season. The sun seemed to be closer to the earth.
They trekked for a far distance and it seems their destination seems extended. His friend became agitated. He wants to complain but Chike reminds him of the pastor's sermon;
'give freely and not grudgingly'. For God hates people that complain.
And the last word: 'give
all in your pocket and your life will never be the same'.
That's true said his friend.
See us trekking home under the scorching sun from the city centre. No hope of food at home nor transport to the site tomorrow morning.
Is our life the same? Chike tried to calm him but he refused and vow never to worship in that church again. Chike interrupt him saying : 'they are the same'. He went further to say; the pastor and his family are on their way home in an air conditioned car, living in a split and filtered air condition at home as well .
Drive one of the best cars, the children attending best of schools in town and as well, nvesting in their future. And here we are, struggling to eat and the little we had, has been taken from us. Are we not the biggest fools?. He stressed.
Chike begins to reason with his friend and became more confused. His shirt was socked in sweat because of the scorching sun and heat.
Finally, Chike totally agreed with his friend's analogy and, said truly their life was not the same.
Reaching home, Chike got a call that his mom was rushed to hospital for renal failure and it will result in diabetes if treatment is not followed immediately.
He was confused. He reached out to some of his contacts, no one gave a positive response financially .
His friend reminded him of the church as the last resort. They got the pastor's number. He put a call to him informing him of the critical condition of his mother at the emergency ward in the hospital. Money is required urgently for her treatment hence she will die. Immediately, the pastor asked him to bow his head for him to offer prayers. He obediently did. He was having hiccups within the prayers. After the prayers, he said it will be well with her. He went further to explain to him by saying the church is struggling financially because of church expansion going on and other projects.
Chike, got despaired in life.
He was disillusioned. He finally resigned to fate. And at the end, his mother died.
After that day, he finally borrowed money from his fellow hustlers at site to travel home.
The places of worship are not for one to get help when in need financially but to offer prayers. But in return, accept money all times.
Giving and receiving are not the same there financially or materially
They collect but do not give in returned said his friend. Last last I got to know. He too resigned to fate.