When I was fourteen, Constance, who lived across the road from us, invited me to a local Teen-Time for a Saturday afternoon. I knew how my father regarded these type of events, that they were worldly, and that they did not serve any purpose. Nonetheless my heart wanted to go and be with other teenagers.

I prayed secretly and asked God if He would allow me to go, and He answered my prayer. Crazy as it might sound, I knew God had granted my request. From that day onwards I knew of a certainty that, I had two fathers. My Heavenly Father and my earthly father, and that my Heavenly Father knew me more for He always addressed me in my own language and in a tone which accorded with my ear. I became close to Him.

At home we were free from all the stifling ways of superstition and tradition which appear to have engulfed a lot of people all around us. We all know how people hold on tightly to culture and tradition lest they are said to have no roots and are seen as lost, and yet it was not so with us. Over all, we had a wholesome life of love, joy, peace and happiness which we found to be contagious to all, who we were blessed to be acquainted with. We loved and respected our parents very much and they loved us so much too. I consider myself blessed to have had a good upbringing and I hope to give my children and my grandchildren the same love for I have enough to pass on. One associate pastor that worked with my father mentioned this to me when we met at a church service, long after my father had passed away that, “each time your father spoke about you, he had a tinkle in his eyes.” How that warmed my heart to know that my father loved me so dearly.

The day finally came for me to present my request to my father and I was so nervous, in case he said no. I knew God had granted my request and I was very interested to know what my father’s answer would be.

He wanted to know what time the event would start and finish and I mentioned it was from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. To my amazement he allowed me to go! My father allowed me to go to Teen-Time! I was so excited and I thanked him and left the room. Under normal circumstances, he would have said no but, he said yes!

When we got there, there were still a few people and gradually it started filling up.

People would dance to the music and took to their seats when the music had stopped. Others would be standing by the sides having conversations. There was laughter. Soft drinks were sold as at any such-like events, and it was pleasant. I was having a very good time but to my surprise Constance was not.

She had this look on her face as if she was puzzled about something, and I asked her what was the matter. She pointed out she was finding the place quite different that day. I asked her why she would say that as I was actually impressed with the whole set up. She answered saying that each weekend that she’d come, the place would be so wild such that some people came in through the windows to avoid paying for their tickets and that it was good fun. She couldn’t understand how everyone who was there that day would be so well behaved. She directed her finger to one boy from school, and said even he, was behaving well!

Connie remained detached from what was going on around her and as I looked at her, when I returned from talking to someone I knew from school, it dawned on me.

It is God! His presence is here! I thought to myself. My Heavenly Father is here! The reason why Connie is behaving this way is because today, everything is different, and she is wrestling with the presence of God!

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” proverbs 3:6

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6

We stayed on until 5:00 pm.

I had had fun and wanted to go back the next weekend but Connie never came for me again after that. She would sneak out as she had made new friends from there, much to my disappointment. I know my father was relieved though, for I complained about Connie and her new friends to my mother.

I remember inviting Connie to a youth meeting at our church but her mother had an excuse for her not to attend. I never understood how her mother would allow her to go to Teen-Time but not to a Christian Youth Meeting! But that’s another chapter.

I always wondered how Connie knew not to bring me to Teen-Time again.

But I knew God had taken control of that situation for me and how much I thank him.

It must not go unsaid that Satan attacks the pastors’ children. More so these days as we are living in the last days. We must remember to lift them up in prayer. We need to pray for one another, always.

I will leave you with this song and I hope it blesses you too, for we serve a Mighty God. May His name be glorified. Amen.

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