VESSEL

Stretching always felt like freedom,  the luxury of splaying in every direction at once. My hands groped lazily across the sheets until they landed on my Bible. With a sleepy smile, I sat up slowly. “Lord Jesus, thank You for another beautiful day, a day You blessed and gave me. Thank You for my family, my academics, for Tunde, and for my friends. Help us live for You. And Lord, I don’t want to be nosy, but I do care about Tunde and his issues. It feels strange that someone who drives a convertible wrestles with such heavy problems. I’m not saying You can’t bless him or that he doesn’t deserve it, I just… I want to stop driving myself crazy with questions. If it’s Your will, let him open up to me; if not, shut those thoughts out. Thank You for loving me, even though I disturb You every single minute. And I promise not to stop, because I know You love hearing everything from me. In Jesus’ matchless name, Amen.” I flipped open to Joshua 1:5: “There shall not any man be able to stand ...

At home, I balanced two steaming plates of jollof spaghetti crowned with boiled eggs. Doing a playful jig, I announced, “Chef Ada at your service!” Chinaza squealed. I set her plate down and mine beside it. She eagerly gripped her fork.  “Not so fast,” I chided. “Pray first.” She quickly folded her hands. “Lord Jesus, thank You for today’s sermon and this amazing food my big sis made. Thank You for being our provider. Please also provide for the orphans and everyone who doesn’t have hope of a meal. And Lord, bless my sis with a restaurant so she can make even bigger, more delicious meals. In Jesus’ matchless name, Amen.”  I burst into laughter, cleaning up the sink as she dug in, her innocence lighting the room like sunshine.         ------------------------------------------------------------------- Later, in the lab, Funke frowned and nudged me. “Okay, Judas Iscariot,” she teased. Then sighed. “I hate my life.” “Hey! Watch your language. Take it back.” Sh...