She’s just 13. Brought up in a Christian family. Her Dad is
the Senior Pastor of Oaks Tabernacle. She’s a part of
the Teens’ Choir. She loves singing. She loves writing.
She loves smiling. She loves nature. She’s just a good
girl. Oh! Her name? She’s Sara. But Peter. Peter is 17. He
attends the same school with Sara. Peter is in the Senior High; Sara is in the Junior High. And one more thing –
they attend the same church. Peter’s Dad is also a
Pastor—the Assistant Pastor of Oaks Tabernacle. Peter is
handsome – any girl will know that without much
assessment. And you need to see Peter on sax. The last
time he sustained his breath on sax for like 3 minutes, Sara had to fix her gaze steadfastly on the youngster. She was overwhelmed by this great talent which Peter has. She respects Peter for this. But I need not be silent about how that Peter silently respected Sara. Peter was a
silent admirer – admiring from a distant. A kind of an
aficionado. I could remember a day like that – I
was coming from the children’s chapel and I was
moving towards the mission house. But while I passed
by the church, I saw a young man tip-toeing to the
side entrance of the tabernacle. I heard a sonorous voice rehearsing a solo. It was Sara’s. And guess who was tip-toeing to the side entrance to stealthily watch the lady
indoors rehearse? You guessed right. It was Peter. I
did like I saw no one and walked past briskly. I respect them both, too. And I know they could be a nice combination for a Mum and Dad role in a drama. And perhaps, a good combination for the life investment called marriage. All these happened last year.
But permit me to tell you that the story is now a different story. Sara, now 15, is heavy with child. She’s presently not in school – she’s at home. She doesn’t sit with the choristers again – she sits among the women in the back pews. She doesn’t take solos again – she sings “a dirge” on daily basis. She doesn’t smile again – she weeps. Not only because she’s pregnant but because she disappointed her parents. She misrepresented the church. She failed so many people. How did it all happen – within 15 months!? Hear Sara retell her story in her own words:
***************************************
“I’d just finished taking a
special number in our last
youth convention. It was a
solo and Wao! – It was
lovely. I personally felt this
awesome feeling while
taking the solo. By the time I
brought the solo to a close,
the whole church was
already on their feet. Some
lay on the floor weeping
and praying. Some others
lifted up their hands to God,
pleading for mercies. It was
a wonderful ministration.
And guess who spiced it all
up with Davidic skills on the
sax? You guessed right
again. It was Peter.
After the meeting, Peter
came to me where I was
sitting awaiting my Mum
who had been busy
attending to some of the
“Good Women” of the
church. Then he talked “that
was not a bad performance –
you know?” “Thanks” I
simply responded with a
broad smile. Then he smiled
back, too. He proceeded
and asked “And have you
ever perceived that God has
got great plans for you in
this music ministry?” Then I
paused for a moment and
then responded “What do
you mean?” At that point, he
took his seat on the pew
opposite mine such that he
was facing me, sitting with
his legs crossed. I was
wearing a “dinner gown”
but it wasn’t that long so I
had to adjust my sitting
posture so that Peter is not
seeing “anything” that he’s
not meant to see. Then he
talked further. “You see,
Sara, I’d always had this
great dream of playing sax
around the world to bless
the name of God and to
minister healing to the
people. And as you stood on
that stage today to take the
solo, I got this conviction
that you will be just the kind
of ministry partner I’d
always prayed for. I don’t
know if you really
understand what I’m trying
to pass across”. Then I cut in
“I think I got your point
quite well. But as you know,
I’m still in school. I don’t
even know what Dad and
Mum will say about such
stuff. I mean there is still a
long way to go if that were
to be a reality.” Having said
that, he bent forward as
though trying to stand up,
and then he said “I
understand perfectly. You
don’t just worry. I just feel
like letting you know what is
on my mind. We’ll still see
and talk more.” Then just as
he stood up to take his
leave, he brought his mouth
close to my ears and
whispered a simple
statement – “You are looking
good”. I smiled and said
thanks. But deep within me,
I was much happier. It was
as if I’d never heard that
statement all my life.
When we got back home,
guess what was the first
thing I did – I rushed to my
sister’s room to have a look
at myself again. And I
smiled at my image in the
mirror. Just then, my eldest
sister came in. She smiled at
me and asked – “What are
you looking at?” Guess what
was my response? I asked
her a question – “Am I not
looking good?” She laughed
as she made a statement I
should learn from. She said
“And are you just
discovering that for the first
time?”
Ever since that Sunday, I’d
had this strange desire to
always want to be around
Peter.
To cut the story short, one
evening, I told my mum
that I was going to play with
Elizabeth – Peter’s sis-ter.
And I left. When I got to
their place, unfortunately,
Eliz wasn’t at home – but
fortunately, Peter was.
Unfortunately, Peter was the
only one at home – but
fortunately, he still
welcomed me and made me
feel at home. I was wearing
a short skirt and a fitted top.
He was wearing a v-neck
and a three-quarter jeans.
He was actually doing some
rehearsals on the keyboard
when I came in. so he went
into the kitchen while I lay
on the rug to play the
keyboard. He stealthily
walked in and kept on
looking at my “rear” when I
suddenly looked back and
he gave me a big
appreciated smile and cut in
“Have you been learning
the keyboard before?” “Why
did you ask?” I asked back
trying to get myself
composed again. “Those
chords you are playing are
too complex for someone
just handling the keyboard
for the first time” he
explained further. “Then
you guessed right” I replied
and with that brought the
conversation to a close.
He handed me a tumbler
and filled it with some apple
juice. As I took the first sip,
he went on and said “Has
any one ever told you that
you are beautiful?...as in…
your eyes…your nose…your
lips…your gol-den black
hair…everything is just
superb”. At that point I must
confess, my head began to
swell and he never stopped
as he kept on down pouring
some romantic rhymes and
he kept on coming closer. I
was too ecstatic to catch
those words in my memory
but it was as if those words
were working wonders on
my body – in and out!
Then suddenly, his lips
located mine and…he kissed
me. That was exactly where
I lost my guard. And before
I knew it he had me. I
never believed I could be
deflowered so cheaply. And
after the whole thing, we
became Adam and Eve. Our
eyes were then kinda
opened…but it was too late.
He gave me some
contraceptive pills which I
used… but it was too late. He
gave me a douche…but it
was too late. I wept…but it
was too late. I dressed up
and looked innocent again…
but it was too late. I went
back home to pick up my
books and continued my
preparation for my “A-
Levels”…but it was too late…”
***************************************
Let’s cut Sara short before
she begins to weep over this
screen.
Did you learn the lesson?
I’d come to realize that most
of the times that “we” ladies
sell out ourselves so
cheaply, it’s just because one
guy came and tell us things
we ought to know – but
which we tend to have
forgotten.
“You are looking good”…and
so what? You should have
always known that (See Psa
139:14).
“You are beautiful”… and so?
Should that be new to you?
(See Psa 139:14).
“You are the one that makes
my world go around”…says
who? What makes you think
he hasn’t said the same
thing to ten ladies last week?
Let not those words
unnecessarily disrupt your
internal physiology and
metabolism.
You need wisdom.
I’ll leave you with this verse
– Prov 7:4,5 from four
different Bible translations.
Let wisdom be your sister
and make common sense
your closest friend.
They will protect you from
the flattering words of a
strange man –
(Contemporary English
Version. Words in italics
mine)
Treat wisdom as your sister,
and insight as your closest
friend.
They will keep you away
from other men, from men
with seductive words. –
(Good News Bible. Words in
italics mine)
Talk to Wisdom as to a sister.
Treat Insight as your
companion.
They'll be with you to fend
off the Tempter-- that
smooth-talking, honey-
tongued Seducer. – (The
Message)
Say to wisdom, "You are my
sister." Give the name "my
relative" to understanding
in order to guard yourself
from an adulterer, from a
loose man with his smooth
talk. (God’s Word Version)
***************************************
Then, here is the concluding
part of the Sara’s story: I
FINALLY WOKE UP FROM
MY DREAM. Then I
discovered there was
actually no Sara. No Peter.
No Oaks Tabernacle. No sax.
No solos. No re-hearsals. No
juice. No kisses. No sex.
No….. It was all a dream.
But who knows? The Sara
might just be you. And the
Peter might just be that guy
with a baritone voice that
called you on extra-cool last
night.
Just becareful.