"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs.
The passage I have read above is teaching us to love,yes children of God to love unconditionally".The tall and ever smiling preacher could be heard almost through out the whole neighborhood."If you truly and genuinely love someone", he continued "you don’t keep any record of the wrong things they have done against you. Love simply erases all wrongs and you continue loving just as Christ loved us, in the filth of our sins He love and accepted us just as we are."Went on the big voiced preacher.
"Pure and genuine love, forgives and forgets. It is when you check in the records of your heart and there are no wrongs recorded against anyone, only then can you surely say you truly love. Christ showed us a perfect example, in that whilst we were still sinners, He died for us.Therfore, I urge you, brethren, to keep no record of wrongs towards your loved ones, Yes love ,love and forgive always. " The congregation nodded whilst the preacher went on."Take sometime right now to think about that person that did you wrong ,yes I mean that one that has just come to your mind as I'm speaking.Think about them right now,nomatter what they did against you, just continue loving them and forgive them."
Chenai was enjoying every bit of the sermon.The young lady could be seen nodding her head and smiling .She had a beautiful notebook and she kept on jotting down some notes as the preacher was delivering his beautiful sermon.The young lady tried to think of anyone she had a grudge against but could not come up with a single soul.This particular sermon was not for her.As far as she knew ,she had no grudge against anyone , not at all. She was just glad to be back home and listening to her pastor’s sermon, she had missed that a lot . After being overseas for a year pursuing a course in fashion and designing .
The young lady looked around the church she grew up attending as the pastor continued preaching.She just loved the sight of familiar faces,most of which she had not seen in a while. Seated in the back row was Lucky and Wiseman.It was a surprise to see these two in church .They must be up to something naughty she thought to her self. She smiled knowing how the pair was known for their mischievous deeds. In the front row was Marjorie the nosey neighbor with her large eyes roaming around the church in search of gossip .Chenai and Majorie’s eyes met and instantly Marjorie winked at Chenai. Chenai knew she was going to have a hard time after church with the nosey lady and her gossip.
…… Shortly after church……
" Pssss Chenai, Chenai" someone was shouting behind her back as she was leaving the church.The young lady who had been away for a year looked behind her to find out who was calling her .She saw nosey Majorie running behind her trying to catch up with her."For a moment I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw you in church .I couldn’t wait for the preacher to be done with his boring endless sermon so that I could see you and catch up with you my dear. Where have you been? " She said hugging Chenai tightly.
Chenai smiled courtesly and replied her nosey neighbor."It's so lovely to see you again Marjorie.I have been abroad,doing a course in designing . "Well done girl" replied Marjorie,"I knew you were doing something constructive with your life,unlike what some gossipers were saying.Can you imagine some people were saying that you had fallen pregnant and eloped.But I was like ,no, not with our Chenai ,she wouldn't stoop so low .You should have heard how I defended you my dear when some shameless people were spreading rumours about you" winked Marjorie. " I'm sure you did"replied Chenai who knew that all the things the lady was saying were nothing but a bunch of lies.
"So how is your father?I'm sure he is glad you are back"asked Marjorie."He is ok,he is thrilled that I’m back" answered Chenai. " He definitely must be glad ,the old man has been lonely. He spends most of his time at the brothel. Just imagine a man your father's age and calibre a well respected man in the community hanging around the brothel with boys, young enough to be his sons. You must have a word with y him what he is doing is shameful" said nosey Majorie
Chenai who was not at surprised by Marjorie's news replied calmly"Thank you for bringing that to my attention,I will have a word with him."Yes please do" replied Marjorie.There were a few seconds of silence between the two ladies ,then Marjorie's cleared her throat , probably as a way to raise another issue."Ummmm Chenai my dear,don’t you think your dad needs a wife. Eversince your mom passed on , the old man has been lonely .I could set him up with one of these single ladies in church. I am very good at match making .Do you know I'm the one who brought together the couple that recently got married in church.Had it not been for me,that girl would still be single by now.So I'm good at what I do.umm let me see,someone has come to my mind right now,a perfect fit for your dad,a very good lady, widowed, loving..."No ,no! thanks Marjorie" interrupted Chenai"I don’t think that will be necessary ,but thank you so much for offering such a kind gesture."
Marjorie was a little disappointed when the younger lady turned down her offer . "Oh ok if you say so.Anyway," she went on smiling broadly again."How has been your love life? I'm sure you met some handsome guys abroad .I can see you are glowing, I'm sure you you have lots of burning stories ,but no one to tell since it's only you and your father in that house of yours,shame poor child.So tell me I’m all ears"She said winking her eye again"Nothing interesting happened Marjorie ,It was just school ,school and more school,I wouldn’t want to bore you with the details" Chenai replied. "So you didn’t meet any man, abroad, could it be you might still be in love with Lucky , your high school sweet heart .The two of you made such a cute couple.He was your soulmate."
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"My soulmate?" exclaimed Chenai."I didn't know I had a one!"That was just some high school fling there are no such feelings between us,infact,he is like a brother to me." "Maybe you should reconsider and give the guy another chance" suggested Marjorie.Chenai replied irritably "'Im afraid there are no chances of that happening ,not now not ever."
Marjorie sensing irritability in the young lady's voice decided to drop the subject. " Alright my dear" said Majorie,* that skinny big headed boy was never your class anyway." (Clears her throat again.). "So You were studying designing at some fancy big school overseas,who are you going to be designing fancy clothes for in this poverty stricken squatter camp. I think your father wasted all that money sending you to an expensive college . I mean what are you going to do with all the fancy skills you acquired ,you should have simply become a nurse ,or a teacher." Chenai looked more and more irritated by Marjorie. By the way where did your father get so much money to send you to a school abroad?" That was the last straw Chenai couldn't stand the nosy lady anymore "You know very well that my father is a hard worker,and as for me finding a job ,the Lord will provide.I really have to go now Marjorie .I have to prepare lunch for my dad ,it was nice catching up with you." Marjorie who was still enjoying the conversation replied "You see now why I said the old man should marry ,now look we have to cut short our beautiful chat.We should meet up and …"Chenai didn’t give the gossiper another second of her time, she walked away whilst Marjorie was still blabbering.
As she was literally running away from the talkative Marjorie,Chenai saw Lucky and Wiseman walking towards her.There was Lucky ,with his charming smile.One of the reasons why Chenai had fallen for him ,way back in high scool.The guy had not changed much,if anything he had gotten more handsome." Your beauty never fades, infact you have grown more beautiful Chenai" said Lucky . "I can see you are still the charmer .You don't look bad yourself. How have you been?I had missed both of you so much." replied Chenai as she hugged the two young men. Wiseman hugged Chenai and said"Our little Chenai ,all grown up." "Oh hello Wiseman ,You have no idea how happy I am to see you."smiled Chenai
She was genuinely happy to see Wiseman,who had been a long serving employee at her father's garage for years.He had practically become like family.To Chenai Wiseman was more like the big brother she never had. "How have you been guys ?" asked Chenai. " We are doing just great and how have you been my dear?" answered Lucky. "I am good ,thanks for asking. I'm so happy to see the two of you ,especially seeing you in church. Since when do the two of you attend church services ,wonders shall never cease!"Laughed Chenai.Lucky was quick to reply ,"Well honestly speaking Chenai We came here to meet you ,I heard you were back and I knew you wouldn’t miss church so I asked my friend Wiseman to accompany me here ,just to have a glimpse of your beautiful face".Chenai laughed so hard. "You guys must be crazy".
" Come on Chenai ,just lend my friend an ear.He needs to talk to you.He wanted to be the first to talk to you after church,but unfortunately that shameless gossiper beat him to it. We saw her grilling you with all sorts of questions and we couldn’t wait for her to release you so that Lucky could have a word with you"said Wiseman who was known for his short temper.
Chenai laughed , although what the two guys were saying was not appealing to her,she was just glad to see them after a long time. "Oh is that so,well I would say you guys are equally shameless ,coming to church just to see a girl."replied the jovial young lady . "Come on Chenai ,you know how I have always felt about you. I'm just hoping being away has helped you to realize that the two of us are meant to be together. Your absence has made me realize how much I love you, you know what they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. " replied Lucky. " That's so sweet Lucky,but at the moment ,love is the last thing on my priority list.I just want to focus on my career nothing more ,nothing less " answered the young lady ." Well, anyway, what matters is you are back ,I will keep my fingers crossed ,who knows ,one day I might just be lucky ,like my name.I'm now working at your father's garage by the way .So hopefully we will be seeing more of each other " said Lucky who was excited about his new job."Oh ,congratulations hey! I'm just glad my father's garage had given hope to many unemployed youths in the squatter camp" replied an equally excited Chenai. "You see , we had good news to tell but that irritating woman kept on talking to you.One of these days I'm m going to cut out that restless tongue of hers and feed it to the dogs"said Wiseman who was quiet all along. "You still have that bad temper . It's high time you rid yourself of it , Wiseman,one day it will land you in serious problems." Said Chenai who was not too pleased with what her father's right hand man had just said."I will try to cool down my sister "replied Wiseman .He had some sort of respect for Chenai though she was younger than him ,she was one of the few people whom he actually listened to ."Well guys,it was wonderful seeing you,I have to go now" Chenai said. "Alright ,do greet the old man for us"uttered Lucky who had grown so fond of Chenai's father after he had given him a job.Both Lucky and Wiseman were now working at the old man's garage.
Chenai parted ways with the two guys and headed home in a happy mood.She was glad to be in the environment she grew up in.The squatter camp had been her home since she was born.It was an ugly informal settlement but to her it was home. Of course it was nothing like the fancy lifestyle she had been exposed to for the past year overseas but she was glad to be back and seeing the people she grew up calling family .The young lady went home singing happily all the way home.