Wanted – 14
Part 14
“I will not leave this house. Dad, are you being serious? Leave this house to where? Daddy, please, I’m not going anywhere,” Benita replied.
“You are a heartless, self-centred, arrogant and wicked child. The devil wants to use you to destroy my labour in ministry for twenty five years. Elder Sam is threatening to leave. Someone whose three months tithe alone brought about this building we live in. A six bedroom duplex; many of them like that, so that my colleagues in ministry will start laughing at me? Benita, I suffered, I saw hunger, I saw starvation. My twin boys died on this journey because of poverty. I held unto my faith. You too almost died; how you managed to survive that sickness due to mal- nutrition is still a miracle. I rather lose you now than go back to poverty. PACK YOUR THINGS AND LEAVE MY HOUSE.”
“Jesus,” she cried, “This is not happening. This is not my dad speaking. This is not REV. FERDINAND JOHNSON. Daddy, you can’t do this. Where do I go from here? Daddy, it was on that sick bed you made me this BENITA that I am today. We had no money and the doctor asked us out of the ward. I was laid on the floor almost dying. Mum was in tears. You came close to me and held my hands and you said to me; ‘Benny, you are five years old, the name of Jesus has five letters, you will not die; now keep saying it to yourself’. I kept saying it.”
“You made me believe that all I got then was JESUS. All I needed was JESUS; the one who could heal me was JESUS. I should only call JESUS, and I did. Daddy, you said to me; ‘BENNY, I’M SORRY. DADDY HAS NO MONEY, HE CAN’T HELP YOU. JESUS HAS THE POWER TO HEAL YOU’. I kept calling on JESUS, and on the 3rd day, I got up. That was the man you were. I saw God’s power through you. Daddy, do not give the devil a winning trophy.”
“I taught you everything you know about the devil. I groomed you into who you are today. I showed you the way to righteousness. You cannot be more righteous than me. Get rid of that bastard and save my ministry.”
“I will not. My faith in Jesus is stronger than the father daughter bond. When you could not save, Jesus did. You may give up on me and throw me out, JESUS WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON ME.”
“RICHARD…”
“Yes dad?”
“Are you done?”
“Yes dad.”
“Good! Throw her out.”
Richard lifted his sister up and headed to the gate. He had packed all her stuff and kept them outside the gate. Benita was crying and singing.
“Richard, put me down. Dad, don’t do this. Oh Jesus.”
And so it was. Benita was sent out of her father’s house. She kept hitting at the gate but no one answered. She started worshiping.
“You are great, yes, you are, mighty God. Walked upon the sea and raised the dead. You reign in majesty, mighty God. Everything written about you is great. Demons tremble at your presence; what a mighty God we serve. Glory, glory hallelujah, everything written about you is great.”
As she sang, she started putting her things together. She decided to go to Shola’s place.
Shola’s mum did the unimaginable. As she sighted Benita from afar, she ran towards her.
“Mummy, good evening ma.”
“Keep that greeting first. Where do you think you are going with all these bags?
“Mummy, please, I will explain when we go inside please.”
“Inside where? You must be out of your mind, shameless prostitute. Sherimama, sherimama, kakakaka… after everything, na belle. You people now use rape to cover up. Please you are a bad influence oooooooo. Don’t come and corrupt my virgin daughter for me ooooooo. Oya goan meet your armed robber boyfriend and continue where you stopped. Omo oshi!”
“Thank you ma.” Benita left. She stood by the road side.
“Where do I go from here? Holy Ghost, help me. Please bring out Shola for me now. Please Lord.”
Some minutes later, keke stopped in front of Benita and Shola came out.
“Omg, Benny, are you travelling?”
“Yea, I was asked to leave the house. Dad said I should leave his house.”
“What? That’s a lie. Daddy can’t do that.”
Crying, she said, “He did oooooo. I just need a place to rest my head. I’m asking my spirit for direction. Good thing I have cash but I need God’s direction.”
“You can pass the night in my house,” replied Shola.
“No, as we were discussing, the Lord said I should go back home.”
“Hmmmm, you sure?”
“Yea.”
“OK, I will help you.”
(Story copied from another source).
To be continued in part fifteen…
