Never Leave Me

I remember when my wife broke the news of her conception to me; it was like I had won the lottery. So much joy swelled from my inside, I couldn't contain it. My countenance changed instantly; every kid I saw at the mall or on TV suddenly began to look adorable and cute. I couldn't wait to get my fatherly hands on mine.

We discovered that we were expecting quadruplets and we were excited by the news. I publicly acknowledged God's multiple blessings in our lives. "Kids are the heritage of the Lord", I told anyone that cared to listen.

It was all lime and tequila up until the quadruplets arrived, all boys. The first few days after their birth were full of excitement, then reality set in. The provisions shelf would go empty a few days after being fully stocked, there was need to buy everything in fours, my wife suddenly needed a maid, the generator had to be on overnight so the babies could sleep.

This was beginning to get to me, financially and in other regards. Sometimes I bemoaned the situation. Our blessing suddenly became our predicament in my eyes. Finding me staring blankly and sighing thereafter was a common occurrence. I sold my plot of land at Mowe (my only asset) to raise the much needed funds, thus implying that we were going to be tenants till I could afford to develop another plot.

Everything happened so fast, I couldn't even fathom what was going on. Shortly after, I lost my job. I concluded that the kids were not a bundle of joy but a bouquet of misfortune. Then I blamed my wife for having a bad head, an "oloriburuku" as my kinsmen would say. God's issue was on another level, if he truly existed he must have been an evil person.

I was very bitter. Two days later, my body was dangling from a rope tied to the fan in my bedroom. I thought peace from the wicked world and my unfortunate kids would come thereafter. I was wrong!

Looking down from the land of the dead, I saw my unemployed wife live every day in sorrow with 4 infants in a rented apartment. The only assets I left behind were our belongings and my 2005 model Toyota; all liabilities. No real friends to even comfort her; that didn't look like peace to me.

One quick look at my wife's thoughts and I regretted leaving her. She thought I was a coward, that I was selfish and insensitive. Yet she prayed for my soul to find peace. I was really silly to have treated my wife and kids that way. "Too late!” the ministering spirit assigned to me cried.

It is too late for me but not for you.

Never leave your loved ones alone especially in trying times, be sensitive enough to know that whatever decision you make goes beyond you; the lives of others may be made or marred by a choice you choose to choose.