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| [Image by Beni Ishaque Luthor] |
Fiction:
22-year old *Talatu watched the events unfold from the old drab brown sofa where she lay taken by an extreme unknown sickness. There were five other people in the room. Speaking with hushed voices, shameful whispers. Her parents stood over there by the window- mother with her white hair held tightly in plaits, her simple blouse and matching wrapper worn firmly around her small waist, and father hunched way too low on his walking stick, having to bear with listening to mama talking forever like she always did. Two aunts and an uncle surrounded them, also listening to mama's low-pitched rambling words.
Something crackled in the near distance, and when she looked, a fire had been lit to keep her warm. With the last strength in her body, Talatu kept her eyes wide open. She wondered what would happen if she closed them. Would she wake up again? Or would she give in to death? She decided that although it would be a hard thing to do, she would keep her eyes open until she could no longer do so.
Because her eyes were open, she noticed when mama walked over to the drab brown sofa, bent down to place her frail shaky hands on her neck.
"She's too hot," mama screamed. "We cannot stay here and wait any longer."
Mama looked at papa who looked away as though he had suddenly given up all hope for healing. He shrugged his shoulders, her mother could do whatever she pleased. So mama snapped her fingers and ordered aunty Hauwa to go and fetch the village doctor.
A few minutes later, the old man who'd been summoned was standing in front of the sofa, holding out a brown calabash containing some type of ominous liquid.
"Drink this," he urged with his deep sunken voice. "It is a bitter liquid, but you will be well after that."
He was right, it was very bitter. But wellness did not come. After a few days of her intestines crying out, the only words she could say were, "Oh God, please help me."
*Talatu is a Hausa name which means "Girl Born on Tuesday."
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What do you do when you've reached the peak of your humanity? When your arms can't bring down the rain? When your own arms can't save you? What do you do? As much as we want strength instead of fragility forever, we have to come to the realization that our humanity is frail.
"All men are like grass, their glory like flowers; grass withers & flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24
The only constant thing, the only thing which will not pass away is God and His word. When we understand that, it pulls us closer to the One who framed the world with His hands. Every other thing becomes second best. The only way to live for all eternity is to get the life which He has freely given us, eternal life.
Question(s) for the Day: Do you realize that your body has its limits? What are your priorities? What do you dedicate your whole life to? God and His word, or the selfish desires of your flesh? Happy NEW MONTH of November. Have the most blessed week ever, your best days are ahead of you if you keep meditating on God's word. May you prosper & be in good health always.
