Read ‘Brother Kolade’ here
“Ade! Ade! You are walking out on me abi?” Adepoju screamed as her husband slammed the door against her. “It’s okay,” she continued. “You will still come back to meet me in this house.”
With no one in sight, she sank into the chair and began to sob and lament.
How did we get here, Lord?
Why is Ade changed all of a sudden?
It wasn’t like this in the beginning when we got married, she wailed.
“God please help me. I’m losing my husband. He doesn’t listen to me anymore. I feel alone in this marriage, God please help!”
In the midst of the anguish in her heart, she heard Him whisper. “Love is not rude.”
She sat up. “I don’t understand, Father. What do you mean by love is not rude?” she inquired.
His whisper came again. “Let your words be seasoned with GRACE”
She was having a hard time comprehending what the Lord was saying to her. “Ah! Father, I don’t still understand. Are you saying I’m rude? Lord I’m not the rude one,” she defended. “Ade is the rude one. Don’t you see how he gives me the silent treatment all the time? In fact, you saw how he snubbed me this morning just because I hissed at his stupid question,” she rattled on.
“How can he ask me how much I spent on my hair when he knows that I don’t joke with my hair. He is not my father and I am not his daughter!” she finished, breathing heavily. Her face was defiant, as though prepared for a fight.
For over thirty minutes, silence enveloped her. She remained in the place of prayer, thinking and reflecting on what the Lord had told her. In the midst of her solitude, 1 Corinthians 13 dropped in her heart. She already knew what the passage talked about, but she was nudged to read it again, this time with a broken and a contrite heart.
She got to verse 5 and paused. Something dawned on her. It was like her eyes were opened and she saw how rude and proud she has been to her husband for the past two months. Her sharp tongue and impatience had largely contributed to her uncalled behavior towards her husband. It was Ade’s calm, cool and collected nature that had always saved the day. Most times, he chose to remain silent rather than exchange words with her.
With tears in her eyes, she fell on her knees. “Lord I’m sorry. Please show me mercy. Show me mercy. Teach me how to speak gently. Give me wisdom on how to respond to issues without being rude. Kill every seed of pride and impatience in me. Please, Lord”
She stayed on her knees for a few more minutes until she felt peace envelop her heart. At that moment, she knew what to do.
She picked up her phone and typed:
Honey, I’m very sorry for my attitude towards you. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did, and from the depth of my heart, I apologize. By God’s grace, such will not repeat itself again. Ade mi, you’re my crown and my jewel, and I promise to treat you as such from now henceforth. I love you Honey”.
The phone rang few seconds later and she picked up. “You’ve been forgiven”, Ade said. His voice was soothing and it brought instant relief to her.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Will you be home early today? There is a surprise waiting for you.”
“Sure! Ade replied. “I can’t wait to carry you in my arms. I have missed my wife so much!”
They both giggled, and she looked up in silent appreciation to the Lord.
************************************************************************
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. {1 Corinthians 13:4-6}
THE END
Written by Chioma Chukwudi. Follow Chioma @ www.faithfulchioma.wordpress.com
Nice short story. Hope we are able to make it this short in real life situation (humility and apology/reconciliation )?
May God help me ??????
Amen. Thanks for engaging!
This is beautiful..
God help my ?
Thank you!
Wonderful 🙂
Thank you!
I pray God gives us the grace to love like him.
Great write up sis. More Grace and oil on your hands
Amen! Thank you so much