SUSAN REVENGE Episode 22 Ayo Omolayo
“What happened?” I asked.
He sat down and leaned forward.
“Susan! Please have your seat”, he said in a calm voice.
I sat down and stared into his eyes.
He breathed down heavily and began.
“It was an attempt on my life!” He said abruptly.
“An attempt on your life? Sorry sir, I don’t understand!” I asked, completely confused.
“Someone sent the hoodlums after me. He had just been apprehended by the police”.
I was shocked. So the attempt on George’s life was planned by someone? Wow! This is unbelievable!
“Do you know who it was?” He asked.
How would I know?
“Who did it?” I asked.
“Raphael!” He banged his fist on the table and stood up.
“Who is Raphael?” I asked.
He walked a few steps away from his seat.
“He’s my cousin”, he said dryly.
I was shocked beyond words. A cousin killing his cousin, for what purpose? I think he was seeking revenge too, just like I once did.
But this guy was more skilled than me. Perhaps I would have killed him before this guy succeeded. Now I understood why God instructed me to go home and pray. I was pleading for George’s life to be spared. That’s why, a police patrol car met them on the s₱0t. They would have ensured he was dead that day.
God had truly shown him mercy. So much for revenge. The guy is now in the police custody. He would have received some rounds of torture from them.
That would have been me. I sighed in relief and thanked God in my heart for being merciful.
“They want me to appear in court and ensure the prison remains his home. I’m going to make him pay for what he did to me. I almost lost my dentition that day!”
“Look at this guy! You could have lost more than your teeth”, I said within me.
“George, please calm down!” I said in a calm voice.
“Please take your seat!” I said softly.
Sometimes I wondered if I was actually the boss. It’s so wonderful mentoring my boss. I just unleash commands and he follows.
He sat down and stared into my eyes.
“Do you love your neighbour as yourself?” I asked.
I guess that was a mistake.
“God forbid! Raphael is not my neighbour and would never be! I reject l a Devil like him as a neighbour”, he said, obviously irritated.
I saw agitation written in his expression.
“Wow! Lord help me!” I whispered in prayers.
Instantly, my eyes s₱0tted the Bible on his table. I was seriously blasting in tongues within me as I flipped the pages. Arriving at the passage I was searching for, I read aloud.
“And the Lord called Brother George Oluwagbade and said unto him. George, you wicked servant! I forgave you all your debts because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?
And the Lord was angry and delivered him to Satan the tormentor, till he should pay all the debts he owed”.
I paused and looked up. His eyes were blurred with tears. Those words and the pattern the Lord instructed me to read with, had pierced his heart.
“So also”, I continued.
“Will my heavenly father do to you bro George, if you do not forgive your cousin Raphael, from your heart!”
I looked up at him and saw his anguish, his frustration and pain.
“Susan! It’s so difficult. I’m not like you. You’re one of the best Christians I’ve ever met. Not everyone can be like you!” He said.
I grinned and shook my head. He only reminded me of how much of a failure, I was to God. He succeeded in bringing back memories of bitterness.
“George, I’m not the best. In fact I’m the worst. I am what I am today by God’s mercy and grace”, I replied.
“No Susan! You were the only one who stood for Jesus. You have always stood for him ever since I’ve known you. Stop trying to deny it”, he argued.
“But I’m not denying anything!” I said.
“Yes you are! If not for your strong faith in Jesus, I would still be a slave to sin by now. You are a perfect example of a Christian. Just like I read last week. Be ye perfect, just as your heavenly father is perfect. You are just as perfect as God!”
I shook my head in disbelief. I knew it was time to share with him my little secret. The mission that brought me to Queens high school.
“Lord help me!” I whispered in prayers.
“I’M RIGHT HERE SUSAN!” Came the gentle voice.
I smiled at God’s reassurance and looked up at the man sitting before me.
“George, do you remember when I told you of a lady who was so desperate for revenge?” I asked.
“Yes!” He answered with rapt attention.
“It was me!” I answered.
I saw the shock in his eyes. He let his tears drop and quickly wiped it with a handkerchief.
“Chioma was my best friend and roommate. We lived together in the same house. Everything happened so fast. She died aborting the pregnancy you gave her.
I was so bitter! So angry! I was at the restaurant, because I followed her there. I heard every single word you both discussed about the unborn child. I heard every insult you threw at her. It only served as fuel for my rage.
So my plan was to become your mistress. Make you fall in love with me and lure you into a place no one would be able to find you. That’s where I would end it all”.
His eyes w¡dened in shock as he heard my plan. Sure, it was so perfectly arranged. No one could have survived that.
“But I thought you were a strong believer!” He said in a choked up voice.
“George! Jesus arrested me and took the knife out of my hand. He placed his love in my heart and taught me to forgive.
So I came here to kill you, but the Lord made me kill you with a completely different sword. The sword that gives life, the sword of the Spirit”.
He looked up at me and said softly.
“Sometimes! Following Jesus can be so demanding”, he said.
I giggled and watched a flicker of smile appear on his face.
“Yes it is bro. You just have to let go of self. You have been bought by Jesus Christ. He is the one in charge of your life. But as in charge as he is, he won’t force you to allow him.
He allows you to do it willingly. God is a principled king. His people follow him because they love him and willingly chose him. They were not forced to serve him. No! He’s not a tyrant.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. What’s before you right now is only an opportunity to prove how much you love him”.
I stood up and leaned forward.
“Do you love him?”
“Yes I ….
“Don’t say it!” I interupted.
“Let what you do speak it. Let your obedience to his word do the talking!” I said and headed for the door.
“Susan!” He called.
I paused and turned to look at him.
“Thank you!” He said with a smile.
“God this your son is handsome oh!” I said inwardly.
“OF COURSE! MY CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS THE BEST!” He replied.
I giggled, but quickly stopped my laughter in its tracks.
“What’s funny?” He asked.
“Oh don’t bother yourself!” I quickly responded and left.
George did exactly what the Spirit led him to do. He called me back the following day and told me all that happened.
“Susan! I could’nt believe myself. Sadly, my cousin was unapologetic. But that was not the amazing part. I offended him two years ago and he promised to take his revenge.
That was the cause of all the drama. But he was such a drama king. He talked right from the police station where I bailed him, till we got to his house.
What was he saying? He was justifying his actions. Giving me 5 reasons why he was right and I was wrong. The Holy Spirit was really at work in me. He gave me a meek and quiet spirit. I was just smiling at him at the face of each accusation he threw at me.
It was tempting but God was using to help me. We got to his house. You need to see the fear in his wife’s eyes. She was so embarassd by her husband’s behaviour and pleaded with me on his behalf.
I smiled and told her it was no big deal. Before leaving, I counted twenty thousand naira and gave it to her. She was looking at me like a zombie.
I was about driving out of the compound, when she came to my window.
“George, are you a Christian?” She asked.
I smiled and nodded in affirmation.
“No wonder! This is not you! This is Jesus living his life through you!” She said and left.
Those words brought tears of joy to my cheeks.
I bowed my head and whispered thank you to God.
To be continued……..
How often did the Lord visit that fig tree in the vineyard.
Oh brethren, how often did he go there year after year seeking fruit and found none.
John the Baptist told the Pharisees.
“Bring forth fruits of repentance.
Some translations said.
“Prove by the way you live that you have repented”.
Beloved, it is not enough to say the sinners prayer. Many of us have answered altar calls countless times and still see the need to answer it one more time.
Why? We are yet to produce fruits of repentance. Can sinners testify to the transformation that occurred in your life since you accepted Jesus. Or do you always have to say it to them to prove a point.
Let your light so shine that men may see, not necessarily you announcing it. Even a blind man without eyes can notice when a burning and a shining light is close by.
