"Lord, please use me for your glory tonight. Bless your people mightily tonight. Let there be a harvest of souls," Michael prayed as he paced around his bedroom.
A senior pastor had invited him to minister at their church's youth weekend, and he was praying in preparation for the youth vigil he was attending that night.
As he continued to pray, a knock sounded on his bedroom door. He quickly rounded up his prayers and went to respond to his mother, who he knew was at the door.
"Pharmacist Pastor Michael, come let's talk in the parlor," she said when he opened the door.
Michael groaned inwardly, knowing what she wanted to talk about. From the moment she arrived from Lagos the previous day, saying she had come to Warri for a wedding, he knew she wouldn't leave without 'talking' to him. He knew exactly what it was she wanted to talk about.
"Sit down," she said, gesturing to the couch next to hers as she sat down.
"Mummy, it's my house. You don't have to offer me a seat," he said dryly as he sat down.
"I never said it was my house, Tega. I have my own house. After the wedding, I will leave your house and go back to my husband's house," she responded with a scowl, using his native name as she always did when she was displeased.
Michael chuckled. "I was just saying…"
"I did not call you here so that you would talk about another thing," she said, cutting him off. "Tega, when are you getting married?" she asked, going straight to the point.
Michael exhaled, "Mummy, why do you keep doing this now? How many times are we going to have this discussion this year? Every time we talk on the phone, you ask me. Whenever you see me, you ask me. Allow me to breathe na!"
"Did I hold your nose? Am I holding your nose to stop you from breathing? Look at my hands o!" She said, holding up both hands dramatically.
"I've told you several times that I will get married when the time is right…"
"The time is right now! The time is right. What are you waiting for? When will the time ever be right?"
"Why are you even putting all this pressure on me? It's not like I'm so old. I'm just thirty years old…"
"Your father was twenty-six when he got married to me. He was twenty-seven when I gave birth to you, and he was thirty when I gave birth to your sister…"
"That was in those days. Besides, I didn't say I won't get married. When God brings my wife, I will get married."
"The Bible said he that FINDS a wife. It did not say he that God finds a wife for. God is no longer in the business of finding wives for people since Adam and Eve—"
Michael cut in before she could finish, "Mummy, I know the Bible. I'm a pastor—"
"And so what?! Please let me hear word! Am I not a Pastor's wife myself? Do you know how many years I've been in ministry? You think you know the Bible more than me because you are a pastor now?" She asked, and Michael let out a resigned sigh.
Before he could speak again, he heard the Holy Spirit speak to him.
'Tonight, you will meet her.'
His heart skipped a beat. Meet who? His wife?
"Michael, get married. If you won't find a wife for yourself, I can find one for you. It's biblical, after all. Abraham got a wife for Isaac," she said, and Michael focused on her once again.
"So much good that did to him. Wasn't it the same wife that connived with her favorite son to deceive him in his old age," Michael said dryly.
"The wife was only working in line with the will of God. Even the Bible said Jacob I love—"
"Mummy, I've heard you. If you want me to get married, I will. If you want me to find a wife, I will search for one. Can I go back inside? I need to go and get ready for my ministration tonight," he pleaded, wanting to go back to his bedroom to pray about what he had just heard.
"Hmm! Okay o. I know why I'm telling you this thing. These young girls like to seduce men of God. They seduce married pastors talk more of a handsome single man of God like you. I just want you to get married so that you can settle into your ministry very well and give me grandchildren," she said, and Michael nodded.
"Yes, I've heard you. You're right. Whatever you say is correct. I will get married, so don't worry," he said as he rose.
"Okay. I want to go and see your cousin. I would have followed you to the vigil tonight to watch you minister, but I have to attend the wedding tomorrow, so I can't. I will pray for you sha. Another reason why you need a wife. To pray for you while you minister…"
"Mummy, I've heard. Thank you," Michael said quickly and hurried away before she could say anything else.
The moment he walked into his bedroom, he locked the door and went on his knees, "Lord, please speak to me."
The more he prayed, the more convinced he became in his spirit that he was meeting his wife tonight.
Immediately after he concluded his prayers, he decided to settle for a different outfit. If he was meeting his wife tonight, he needed to dress to impress.
He didn't want her to think she was getting married to a pastor without fashion sense. Not that his previous choice of clothes was bad. He just wanted to wear something better-looking.
A couple of hours later, he got ready for the vigil and headed for the church where it was to be held. It was quite far from his house, so he left early, wanting to get there in time to see the lady whom God had prepared for him.
By the time he arrived at the church, the vigil had yet to start, but most of the workers were already there.
'I know she must be a worker here,' he thought with a broad smile as he got out of his car.
Perhaps she will be the first lady to greet him like Rachel met Jacob at the well. That was the same way Abraham's servant had met Rebecca, and even Moses had met his wife.
Unfortunately, there was no well around, Michael thought and then chuckled at his thoughts.
Would she be a chorister? An usher? Or perhaps she was a guest minister, too? He mused as he walked into the church.
The moment he walked through the door, his gaze drifted across the place, moving from one lady to the other.
The moment some of them recognized him, they hurried over to welcome him.
Lord which of them is my wife? He asked inwardly as he greeted them.
And then he heard the voice again. 'Patience, Michael. She's not here yet'
Michael sighed inwardly as they led him to the pastor's office. Was she going to be late to church?
He couldn't wait to meet her. He couldn't wait to see the bone of his bone. The flesh of his flesh.