It was a journey of offense, pain and heated arguments. Take that back! Oh what’s the matter i asked, you wanted this? We discussed earlier, I will not eat that, he exclaimed! I was confused at this point, got offended and out of frustration I shouted for the first time in our 13 years of marriage.
I shouted at my husband! With his eyes widely opened he said you’re raising your voice at me? I headed for the door; he followed and slammed the door.
Unfortunately my mum visited that morning; she was around when this happened. She was so uncomfortable, she asked questions spontaneously like, what does he want? What should we cook? I calmed her down and assured her I would handle it, and then advised she returns home, that we will be fine. I didn’t want her in the middle of it all. She obliged.
I walked towards the gate, sat on the stone and called Aunty B (Mrs. Bukky Mordi). I said aunty (as I fondly call her) I just shouted at my husband. Aunty I am tired I exclaimed! She answered with a question: Where are you? At home I answered, she said wait for me. After like forever, she called back in the evening and said: Don’t go anywhere! It was an instruction. Guess what, she never showed up. I waited, kept waiting, I believed she was praying. She called back after 2 days to tell me she will pick us up from the house. At this point she asked again, how is the house? What can I say at this point? The house was in a warmly heated temperature, two hearts beaten with a sense of confusion and loss, hmm.
We prepared, joined them to a destination unknown, we drove quietly, with my experience with the Mordis they were praying for us, we were driven to a distance that day, if not that I know them, I would have asked where are you taking us to?
Our hearts were full with sadness but we patiently and obediently followed them. Just follow Jesus in any situation you find yourself you will not be lost. We finally got to the house, the faces were unknown but for two families, the Mordis and the Istifanus (the dears).
I was still wondering what we were doing there? Is it a settlement house or are we going to discuss in this house, thoughts flying…. the meeting started behold it was a family fellowship. This was in March 2010.
The icing on the cake came when birthdays, anniversaries were announced. Behold, it was our anniversary week. We couldn’t hide it, we owned up when it was our turn to stand up. You can imagine the excitement in the house but the celebrated couple, hmm, were not literally smiling, our hearts still mending. Something inside was so strong… We had not talked for days! This experience was the burst of the bubble – slowly our pain melted away. We were asked to K-I-S-S each other, and warmth returned in that 0.01% – we trudged wearily through this cold spell to our chairs as if walking on thin ice – a little baby step!
Our emotions weren’t the same again. The heart kept lightening up; the journey back home was livelier. I requested we alight at the junction to bond on the way home; you’re free to imagine the rest. The experience cemented us into Christian Couples’ Fellowship that brought greater things into our marriage. We are 26 years in marriage now, growing and doing marriage with Jesus and praising God. Amen.
Grace and Foster Okwu.