When Joshua stepped out to their home verandah, he stopped in his tracks and thought the better of it, perhaps he should let Daniella be at the moment. He knows he also needs to speak with someone, all of this is still crazy to him. Ever since God has made His mind clear and plain to him, he has not spoken to anyone else about it.
He has been brooding over it, brooding, and brooding until he eventually spoke with Daniella about it a while ago. But then, he knows that with the matter on ground with Daniella, he needs to speak with someone but not just anyone is spiritually discerning to understand how God wants to deal with him and his family. But who can he speak with? Joshua wondered!
While he was still thinking, there at the verandah, Joshua’s phone rang, it was Pastor Dave. Picking up, ‘hello, Sir. Good afternoon, Pastor. Yes sir, iya ibeji (mother of twins) is doing well sir, we bless God. No sir, I am not busy at the moment… You want to see me? Hope all is well sir? About Simon?… He is on suspension again!… Pornography? Ah!!! Jesus Christ! Alright sir… I will meet you at the office… Okay we will meet then, sir… Later sir’.
Joshua has always loved Simon specially. Even though he was in the Sunday school unit, he has always spent time with the children’s church whenever he had the opportunity. It was at the children’s church he had taken a liking to Simon and the child to him.
Before he and Daniella got married, Simon would sometimes come home with him on Saturday to spend the night and return home on Sunday.
Sometimes when there is a special programme that requires mummy pastor and the Pastor travelling out of town and they don’t want to take the kids, his place has often been their go to. Simon is simply like his spiritual child and Joshua has been so keen on discipling the young child in the ways of Christ.
At first, Joshua had not noticed any change in Simon. He was still ever pleasant when they were in each other’s company. Whenever he came around, he would usually play video games with Simon and while doing that, he would ask him about school, friends, his quiet time, and if he had questions about the Bible.
Simon always seemed to have had a great time bonding with him. He barely hid anything about himself from him, they were that close. When he was even getting married to Daniella, Even though Simon was already a big boy, almost a teenager, he still served as the ring bearer. If he would borrow from Apostle Paul, he would describe his relationship with Simon as Paul was to Timothy and Timothy to Paul. Simon is his spiritual son.
It was not just him he had such a lovable relationship with. Simon also had a very enviable relationship with his dad, Pastor Dave. It would be a wonder if they did not as Simon is a spitting image of his father. They even tend to have the same mannerisms when they speak. Due to the great relationship Simon and Pastor Dave had, Joshua had also hoped that when he had a son, that he would be a spitting image of himself.
Now, he was not sure about Simon anymore. It feels like he took a 180 degree turn around from who he used to be. How can someone change that drastically? He was not particularly the observant kind of person unlike his wife, Daniella.
Daniella was the one who pointed out that Simon seemed not so eager to come over to their place after he had declined to come over twice. That was unlike him. He simply shrugged it off as a teenage thing and possibly his Junior School exams preparations were weighing on him then .
Some other time, when Simon eventually came over, he was somewhat moody and would rather just eat and sleep than play video games with him. Again, he saw it as teenage moodiness. But then, Daniella would not take that, she pestered him some little, even trying to be funny with him, Simon would not budge an inch.
When he was leaving that day, what eventually convinced Joshua was the look on Simon’s face when he saw that it was his dad who came to pick him up and not his mom. Simon’s look can’t be described. Repulsion? Anger? Something just was not right.
When they met in church next, Joshua had called Simon towards the car before church service began. He asked him random questions just to make him feel comfortable to talk. He even tried to engage him in helping with choosing a gift for Daniella but Simon was simply not enthusiastic about anything.
Then he confirmed something was really wrong. So he was blunt with him, asking him directly, ‘Simon, what is going on in your mind. Something is off with you. I know it, you know it. Ain’t you my best buddy anymore? What is up? I am really and genuinely interested because I am concerned’.
How Simon responded that day drove him to the place of intercessory prayers. He was not sure he had ever prayed that hard for Simon in the years he has grown to know and love the little man. Simon lashed at him in anger. ‘What is it with you? I am fine! I am fine! Everybody should leave me alone!!!’. Then he stormed off.
After service that day, he sought an audience with Pastor Dave and the many things he said broke him. Pastor Dave is usually very busy on Sundays after service. He would rarely not have a meeting to attend to.
On this particular Sunday, He was equally busy but after giving a brief audience to Joshua and knowing he wants to talk about Simon, Pastor Dave willingly left the other meetings in care of two deacons.
While in his office alone with Joshua, Pastor Dave shared how Simon had become so rude to him, started lying about things that he clearly did. Simon fighting with a senior such that his school uniform was badly torn and they had to purchase new ones after his suspension.
He would fight with his sisters such that the usual attention and pampering he normally would give them seemed non existent again. He has been rebuked, spanked, punished, admonished, and nothing seemed to move him. Simon has simply chosen the path of rebellion. Why? He won’t say anything.
It is as though he is possessed by some strange spirit. He and Vera had prayed for him the moment they sensed the change, they have fasted, and consulted with God but it seems heaven is locked on Simon’s case.
Joshua only listened in bewilderment! Simon did all this? Same Simon? Pastor Dave then told him ‘I am hoping that it is the Lord who brought you to me, to us. Perhaps He will use you to lead us on the right thing to do about Simon. Please join hands with Vera and I to beseech God, petition Him, about Simon, MojetiJesu. He is Jesus’ son, he belongs to Him alone. The devil can not have him at all’.
Right there and there, on their knees, Joshua bore with Pastor Dave, his burden. They prayed hard and long for Simon. But nothing has changed, still!
Wheeeew!
Have you prayed hard and long for something and it all seems the heavens are closed? Why would getting God to speak in response to the prayers for Simon seem impossible? Let’s discuss in the comments! And don’t forget—Episode 7 is on the way. You can try the link below to see if it has dropped.
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Checkmate Episode 7
