There is a saying,
“people don’t know what they have untill they loose it”. Well talking from
experience, its so painful after it happens. This month of March happens to be
my earthly fathers’ 2nd year death annivesary. On the 19th
of March 2014 Rt. Rev Emmanuel Bassey Ene-Ita left us to go be with the Lord.
It was a very painful departure because non of us saw it coming or prepared for
it. I have been literally running away from this post since 2014 now. Like
literally. I don’t know. Maybe i was just not ready. Well, i have gotten to the
finish line and about to run all over again, but i guess God got better plans
for me. (i am out of running tracks) so i have to sit still and just let it
out. EVERYTHING. As usual, i don’t know who this post is for, but stay
connected so you don’t miss that simple word that you need to meditate on.
Growing up as the first girl of my
parents, i had a lot of responsibilty. A lot to learn and look out for. My
parents had always tried to be there for us in all we did, from school
activites down to church, also................. they were both hardworking
people, very HARDWORKING. Always ready to serve at work and in church. I was
daddys’ little girl while growing up but i didn’t realize that untill my
twenties. Why??? I was busy trying to sort myself out so i was pushing myself
far away. (check out my first blog
post NEW BIRTH). I still had much love and respect for both my parents not withstanding
all the challenges i had as a little girl growing up. I grew up into a mess
because i didn’t bring myself close enough to them too and also they thought i
had it all together thats why they didn’t bother to check deeply in on my
life. Daddy loved me because for some reason i always made him proud. After i
found JESUS and got saved,(oooooo the JOY of SALVATION) i think he was double proud of me. I forgave
every ghost hurt i had against him and started getting closer to him to know
him better. He loved the church soooo much he would do anything for it and the
memebers. He will help, get betrayed, still love and help like nothing ever
happened. He wasn’t perfect but he knew when to go to the mercy seat.
He finally retired from the
Prisons’ service of so many years (since my birth) as the deputy controller of
prisions for C.R.S, with so much joy and happiness he was so glad he could
finally focus on the chuch 24/7 and us too his family. He got started by trying
to renovate the church and expand some areas and departments (he had bigggg
dreams) when i started recieving calls from him (i just got started with final
year in college, so was running on my project) complaining about silly
headaches, i will immedietly pray with him on the phone and assure him he will
be fine, i guess so much work and pressure and thinking (he will everyday
literally go to the church site and even mix the concrete with the builders and
push the blocks around). Then one day, my mum calls to say dad is in the
hospital on admission and in coma. WHAT?!?!?!?!?! How can this be? I was deep
at the verge of handling my project and seminars. So i quickly rush out of
school back home for a quick visit, there he was, i didn’t know what to do
except pray for him. I will shuffle between school and home because i was told
i need to come back and take care of him because he kept unconciously calling
my name out from coma to come nurse him. He was in and out of coma like it was
his bedroom. Lost lot of weight and blood was given daily. The doctors checked
and checked but nothing wrong could be found. So there i was, on my birthday 9th
of March beside him in the hospital, so glad he was out of coma that day, he
sang for me and blessed me. Wow! was this man strong. He even ate my birthday
cake. That birthday of my life is now so priceless, i was the 1st
and only 1 to have daddy around for my birthday in 2014. My sis, bro and mum's
birthday came after he left. O
well...... It still aches like it was yesterday.
GOD is GOOD! All knowing, all
powerful and extremly faithful. I got back from school and was picked up from
the park straight to the hospital to see dad and let him know i was around (19th
of March). We got there but i wasn’t allowed in. Mum didn’t even talk to me,
she was busy running about with doctors. “Ummmm what is going on?” The prayers
were bursting out of my head like a rush. My uncle got back outside and ask we
leave. “Why? Let me just say hi to dad”. “You will do that when you get back in
the evening” He told me. Off we went. I got home and my brother was sooooooo
upset at me for leaving the hospital. I told him mum was there, other pastors
were there too, daddy was well looked after. I guess he felt something i didn’t
feel.
Few minutes after, a
black jeep pulled up and mum got out with two men in black. My brother rushed
to ask her why she got home and who’s with dad? She got to her room and looked her
2 children (who were present) in the eyes, with tears she just softly said,
“your daddy has left us”. (fastforward past all the drama of that moment). The
first person i could ever think of calling was my papi (Mr Taylor Nazzal). He
motivated me so much i had so much strength to carry on. It was so hard for me
and the rest of my family. Where did we go wrong? What happened? Too many
questions flooding in.
But the GREAT news
is: GOD IS TOO FAITHFUL TO FAIL. He is sooooo amazing He gave us unlimited
strength, peace and joy. He stepped in as our FATHER and a Husband to mummy.
Most people thought it was over for us but God showed up in such a way that
made the world to know, He got us.
What is that person,
thing or property your holding unto so much and you know deep down in your
heart you put it first before God? Jesus said, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse,
children, brothers, sisters~yes, even one’s own self! ~ Can’t be my disciple.
Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my
disciple”. (Luke 14:26-27 MSG). My
family knows i don’t even put them first because they see how i’m totally sold
out to Christ.
Is it that job? That
doesn’t allow much room for God? I wonder how people tell me, “i work from
Monday till Saturday so i rest on Sundays”. Huhhhhh??!?! Who gives you that
enegry and good health to do all that? How do you stay spiritually on fire if
you don’t feed your spirit man? We go to church to get serviced. It’s time for
us to sit still and know who is #1 in our lives. You can’t serve two masters at
once. Your either serving God or money, fame or beauty. God forbid we choose all
that before Him. This earth is only temporal (just for awhile). Where is our
forever home? We are not leaving this earth with a pin. Trust me i know. I saw
my dad leave without his favourite car or awards. He is gone to be with the Lord
and all those things are still here staring us in the eyes.
Everyday i pray to be
found worthy when the roll is call up younder. We don’t know when it will
happen. (No one do). Don’t be ignorant saying, “ i don’t believe in all that. I
have to enjoy my life please. There is no such thanggg as heaven and hell".
Well excues me mister/miss! You don’t have to do the wrong things, go the wrong
path and say the wrong stuffs before you know your enjoying life.(I will post
shortly about how to be SAVED and still have FUNNNN) You still can be SAVED and
living the most of life. Start out right
by being obedient. Help that friend. Pray for that family you know is going
through a lot rather than bashing them with gossips. Forgive that long time
friend and know your forgiven too. Remember that worker that makes you want to
flip? Talk to them nicely and pray for them. Trust me; the little things count
alot. I am so glad my father made up for lost times before leaving us. He left
smiling with a glow.
Its was my fathers 2nd
anniversary this month and guess what? On that day, rather than feeling sorry
for myself or allowing to be pitied, i made thee most of that day. I traveled
to another part of Nigeria where i got to meet with women of the GOD kind from
across the world. Trust me when i say i still have a huge hang over from that
day.
I love you
BUT, JESUS loves you MOST.
Joann Ene-Ita.
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| Daddy pecking his darling after i won MUN in 2010 |
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| See him dancing with joy during my thanksgiving service |
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| It was love till we meet again in heaven |
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| I was ordained a deconess by Bishop Timothy and daddy was a witness |
