The Miracle

Four

We were kicked out of the house. Mum had dillydallied in coming up with a decision of whether to convert or leave. She kept praying for God to change Grandma's mind. But I knew there was no way that could happen as long as Aunt Amina was in that house. While I was heading to the kitchen, close to Grandma's room, to get myself water to drink, I heard Aunt Amina say, "Uwa, we can't give her more time. I heard her praying to her Jesus for you to have a change of mind. Let's act now before that happens."

My eyes widened and I moved closer to the room to listen in on the entire conversation.

"Kia, na yi takaici a cikin ku, Amina." Grandma said in Hausa, "I'm disappointed honestly. So you really think I can change my mind because of her useless prayer? Haba! My mind is made up already. You, just don't worry yourself. I'm waiting until tomorrow, Friday. If she doesn't follow us to the mosque for prayer, then she leaves my house."

I immediately went to inform Mum about this and suggested to her that we converted, not necessarily because I thought Islam was a better off religion (I mean, the two religions had a common belief in a deity, and at that point, I was agnostic), or that being Christians hadn't amounted us to any good. My reason was coming from a place of fear. Fear of where we'd live if we were sent out. I didn't want us to become vagabonds. But Mum, being the devout Christian she was and one who would readily defend her faith anytime any day, didn't want to understand this. She sat me down and harangued me with the biblical story I hated the most - the one of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and how they had refused to bow before another god aside from the one they believed was the true God, even if it was going to cost them their lives. And their God had come to their aid in the shadows of death.

But God didn't stop your Christian parents from sending you away from home! He didn't save your four-year-old son from being consumed by fire! He didn't save your husband from dying of depression! And we prayed, Mum, we prayed! What makes you think he'd save us now? I wanted to scream out to her, but I knew Mum was as stubborn a Christian as they come. Besides, I didn't want to have chubbier cheeks than I already had from the hot slap Mum would have landed on me, should I have done that.

Once Mum was done with her sermon, she told me to go on my knees and pray for Grandma to change her mind.

I grumbled, "Mummy, all the times we've been praying, has God been answering us?"

Mum shot me a surprised look for a moment. After which she sighed and said calmly, "Miracle, I understand that you're still upset about your dad's death, but God knows best. He knows why things happen the way they do. You just don't give up on him because of the ugly circumstance you find yourself in now, okay? He is still good and he answers prayers. Now close your eyes and pray, believing he'd answer us this time."

"Mummy, that's what you said the other time o, pray and believe. I did that. Didn't Dad still die? I even prayed for God to save Sunday from the fire, but he didn't. I think we're just wasting our time, Mum. What if God doesn't care? Or what if he doesn't even exist?"

"Will you shut up your mouth!" Mum chided, with a frown on her face. "Who's feeding your mind with such nonsense? A small boy like you, you're already beginning to doubt the existence of God. You've suddenly forgotten all that I've taught you, eh? Now listen to me clearly, there's a God who loves and cares for us, for you. He's the reason you're alive today, Miracle. I gave birth to you dead. But I prayed, and God brought you to life. Have you forgotten that?"

I was silent for a short while. Then I broke down in tears. "But he shouldn't have..." I sniffed, "He shouldn't have taken Sunday and Dad away from us."