Hannah's Promise

Hi blog family and Happy New Month🎉

Today's post is a short fiction set in recent Nigeria. It's a new style, but I hope you like it.

📷: Pinterest

As my mother prepared the chicken she bought for dinner, I brought a pot. She had purchased what Nigerians call a live chicken because it was still alive when it was purchased compared to the frozen ones, which are usually, well, frozen. When I brought the chicken to her, she looked at the skinny corpse in surprise, quite annoyed at its size. "Why is this chicken so small? I will call this woman and tell her I'm not buying from her again." But, of course, she would still return to the same woman next time — Nigerian mothers. At that moment, I can't remember whether she went on to say other things regarding the dead animal or its seller.

It was barely a week after the Naira had crashed from 600 to 700 to a dollar, and as I saw this lifeless skinny chicken, it was like gazing into the soul of Nigeria, helpless and under continuous scrutiny. "Maybe, it's the economy," I commented. "Times are hard. Maybe they didn't even have food to feed the chicken." I don't even know if my mother heard the comment. I was never an animal rights advocate, but I felt sad for the poor animal. Even when it was going to be eaten, it was still critiqued. Like Nigeria, plundered by corrupt officials, overlooked by overwhelmed citizens, and assaulted by terrorists, the pieces of chicken awaited their fate. Yet like a victim of rape, it was blamed for its predicament.

My mom handed me the feet. "No one eats the feet, so we might as well throw them away." More sad feelings. Maybe it was because I prayed about having gratitude and compassion this morning, I wondered. My mind shifted to all the families who would be grateful to have even those feet we didn't eat. How lucky I was and how bad I felt.

Though my mum had just given out half the food in our fridge the day before, I couldn't help but think of the many who still didn't have. Usually, I would be angry at the government, but this time, I could only feel what I described as the precursor to tears. As I held the pale white feet of the chicken, I made my way to the bin but couldn't throw it out. So instead, I left it on the kitchen sink and continued with dinner preparations.

I retired to my room till evening. Later, I remembered the feet I left on the sink top. They were probably thrown away now. As I put away dishes and cleared up for the night, I checked, and there they were. Meditating on Nigeria's situation again, the story of Hannah came to mind. After years of crying to the Lord about her childlessness, she only seemed to get his attention when she promised to give back her son.

"Lord, Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

1 Samuel 1:11

God, what can Nigerians offer you to get us out of this miserable place? Is there anything we can offer? Have we been asking wrong, praying only out of selfish desires and prideful hearts to conquer our enemies instead of a servant's heart? Do you want us to offer our sons and daughters? Our resources? Our wealth? Our first fruits? Our worship?

All of you. I want all of you.

On the surface, it looked like God just wanted a prophet. True. But he also wanted to change Hannah's heart. From one of rivalry to one of humility. He wanted her to come to him without envy in her heart.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

Matthew 5:23-24

Hannah eventually gave birth to five children.

"God is God-centered!" My Pastor's voice rang in my head.

"There is a difference between God helping you out of mercy and God helping you because you play a role in his plan; the second one is very dangerous for your enemies. Ask the Israelites. They were far from perfect, yet God always rescued them with a mighty hand, not because they were special but because they were crucial to his plan of salvation. This is another level of divine protection."

I picked up the feet. No one had commented about them being on the counter.

So I took them into the study and held them again.

Hi blog fam, I hope you enjoyed this piece. If you did, don't forget to share.

Today's post felt like two in one, but they came together, so they go together.

There's no tidy ending or conclusions because I want you to be able to meditate on them independently. Find your conclusion.

Until next time.

Love and peace,

Kami.

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