Monday, September 14, 2009

Raw Animosity From My Late Husband’s Kinsmen


Dear Agatha,


God bless you. My problem is killing me and since I have no friends and family, you are the only one I know to see me through in Jesus name.

My predicament started when I got married to my late husband some years back. His family never accepted me, never liked me from the very first day. I am an orphan and despite all odds, my husband loved and stood by me against the decision of his family.

When we got married, only his father was in attendance at the ceremony. He was very supportive and told the rest of the family he saw nothing wrong with me.

Unfortunately, I lost my father after my third child and my husband too, two years after. He left behind three children for me to look after.

After his death, all hell was let loose as the family came out strongly to accuse me of killing their son. They branded me a witch who left her parents in a less privileged home.

They pushed my children and I out of the house and with nowhere to go, I decided to pack into the church. The pastor, an elderly man, and his wife gave us a room in the church to stay.

But my husband’s people won’t have any of that as they went all out, spreading the rumours that the pastor and I were having an affair. The leadership of the church, to protect the reputation of the church, transferred the pastor out of the place. Before he left he gave me some money to feed the children, his number to always get in touch when we need anything as well as narrated my ordeal to the new pastor. The new pastor, who took over won’t have children and I living in the church because he didn’t want his name and reputation to be dragged in the mud.

As a matter of fact, he told us to leave a week after he resumed.

While all these were going on, my last child fell sick, and that resulted to death. It was a particularly harsh period for me. The pastor had to force the children and I out few days after I lost the baby.

Thank God I was able to save from the money the former pastor gave me. He was not only a pastor, but also a father and a mother to me. He took my children as his own even the wife made sure my children never lacked anything.

To regain my sanity and avoid the maliciousness of my in-laws, I decided to relocate particularly as my late husband’s people were planning to take away the children from me for what they called spiritual cleansing in their village.

Though I had nowhere in mind or place to stay, I ran away because they were determined to apply force to take children from me. Besides, it went against my religious beliefs, as a born-again Christian.

Agatha, right now, things are so difficult, but His grace shall always keep us. I have sent many messages to you through NIPOST, but never got a reply. Since I don’t know how to use a computer, I had to pay someone at the cyber cafĂ© to do this for me. I came across your column when I visited my pastor, we read a story, and your advice was to the point and also very Godly.

For some time his number hasn’t been going through. He may have lost his phone and can’t reach me because my phone was also destroyed during the whole crisis.

Agatha, all I want you to do for me is to help publish this as well as get in touch with me for him get in do touch with us. This is my new number for him to get in touch. His name is Pastor, Godwill Okaeor.

Please help me.

Grace Amadi.


Dear Grace Amadi,

The God who never disgraces widows, who is never known to vacate His ancient throne of mercy would never leave you and your children to suffer in life. At every point you call on Him, He will answer.

Just be strong for those children whose care God has given you the sole responsibility. Your current predicament isn’t unknown to God who sees and knows all things. He has allowed this to happen to train you to be stronger and also teach you some basic lessons in life. Having gone through this harrowing experience in life, you now know what it takes to be kind to people.

You will surely come through this whole episode smelling roses, once you have the faith and confidence in God.

What you should do now is to prepare yourself for the challenges of looking after those children in the best possible way you can. Granted, it would be difficult especially as you don’t have anybody to run to, but you will eventually overcome. Always commit them to the hands of God. When it is time for God to exalt you before the world comes, nobody would be able to stop the work from manifesting.

I am sure, your pastor, after reading this piece would get in touch with you. As for your other letters sent through NIPOST, I didn’t get any.

Whether the pastor gets in touch or not, keep faith with God as you struggle with the challenges of life. His is the only solid shoulders to lean on and you can be sure, he would raise other helpers for you.

Good luck.