It's been months since Bessie and I last met or had a chat, both of us engraved in our daily hustles; Bessie at school and working on her pupilage whereas I was busy settling down on a transition process back at my place of work coupled with settling down in a new town. So it was not shocking for Bessie to keep me pending when I called for a coffee chat since I was in town and has missed her stubbornness.
So, this evening, I am driving in town with a couple of friends, and I place a call to Bessie, hey Madam Wakili, are we having coffee tomorrow? to which she replies, "don't tell me you are town, Pete? Yes, am in town Bessie, coffee tomorrow? I will have to check my schedule and let you know Pete, but for how long are you in town? When did you come, what brings you? that is Bessie for a very inquisitive lady, who loves details.
We briefly catch up and she promises to let me know when we would be having our coffee the following day. The rest of the night is left for us boys to hook up with a few other friends for a fish munching night.
On the next day, I had a very busy schedule attending a couple of meetings and visiting a couple of friends, all this while I was praying for late evening dinner call from Bessie so as I would get more time to finish up on my commitments. "Pete, how's your afternoon, are you free? Let's do it at 3pm, deal? Yes, we have a deal. Within me, I knew 3pm was too soon and I was battling with the commitment I had made because when you make a commitment, you build hope. When you keep it, you build trust.
Long story short, the boychild never made it 3, nor 4 and that is not even the point, because run late into one of my errands and only found myself in a long traffic jam, three calls from Bessie, were enough to make me feel guilty of making a lady wait. The beauty of this whole situation? I came to learn one admirable virtue of Bessie, she was very patient, no drama or negativity, she patiently waits till my arrival.
Over there, outside the law courts stood a very beautiful lady in specs, she had not seen me yet, so I go around her and whisper "excuse me, madam?" Pete, it's you, so I look deep into her eyes, after a long hug, I could not help but notice how much I had missed this lady. Together with my friends, we drive to a joint in town, my friends excuse themselves, we remain just the two of us, since its running later we decide we needed to have a meal.
Now, the beauty of being with the right person, you don’t have to work so hard to be happy. It just happens and tonight it happened, Bessie placed our orders and we are busy catching up, and she is busy telling me the challenges she was undergoing at her law school, to which I reply, "hey don't you ever worry about HARD times, because some of the most BEAUTIFUL things come from MISTAKES, we fall rise, fall rise again and become stronger than we were before the fall.
Pete, law school is totally crazy and draining and sometimes I ask myself whether I was too ambitious when I decided to go to law school. To which I tell her, Bessie, look, even at law school, you need to surround yourself with people that push you to do and be better. Simply bringing out the absolute best in each other. All you need is just higher goals and higher motivation and remember if GOD is making you wait before you clear from school, be prepared to receive more than what you asked for.
Our dinner is served, I am having chicken wings, she is doing some burgher apparently she had also ordered some milkshake for herself and some ....for me. "Thank you Lord for your provision, let it be a blessing to us Amen" she finished praying as we all munched slowly.
So, tell me, Pete, how have you been, last time we had a chat, you were very down and hadn't really settled in your new town of work and you were really down. I had recently been transferred to a new town and I was really finding it so hard to settle down let alone enjoy my work. I remember her sending a chat, that I must say came at the right time, cause I really wanted someone to talk to.
Hey Pete, how are you? How are you liking your new roles? Bessie, life has been so difficult this ends, I don't like this place at all, no friends, new responsibilities, no one to talk to, in fact, I may soon get a nervous breakdown. "Don't say that Pete, remember the Lord has your back, don't give up. He is about to turn your situation around, remember if he did not want you there in the first place, he would not have allowed you to be there, just hold on and let's pray over it." Thanks, Bessie.
Tonight we were going over the same conversation and she here telling me, you know If you’re starting to feel like you deserve more or you want better for yourself then you’re awakening and realizing your true potential? You also know that you can no longer just settle and avoid what’s possible for you? You’re upgrading on all levels. Welcome change and be patient with yourself, in due season, God will make it all perfect for your good.
And when I told her that I was finding it had to make new friends and that I missed my former crew, she says "God doesn't give you the people you want, he gives you the people you need in order to step into the next chapter of your life's story, besides, staying in the same environment, with same people is never healthy for your growth, remember life's not about people who act true to your face. It's about people who remain true behind your back, and so if they that you left behind stay in touch and speak good of you, then know ye that they are good friends"
Time was passing by, I was here enjoying every piece of my meal, having a wonderful moment with Bessie, who all along was doing the mature talk, with little phone interruptions. All this while, in my mind, is this powerful statement, "don’t let “loyalty” keep you in situations that God has pulled you away from. Stop tripping over things that are behind you" so I encourage myself knowing that wherever I am, at whatever moment God planned it and its all for my good.
Long chats, we finish our meal and drinks, and my phone goes off, and know we are in a quagmire, my buddies with the car, had excused us and we agreed once we were through with dinner we would call them. The only option left was to change sim cards so we could contact them, we did an exchange, after a long struggle with toothpicks, blame it on slim card. And to imagine that after all the struggle, the contacts were stored in my phone and not sim card was not only discouraging but laughable. Great, news though, I don't know how she did it but Bessie held my phone faith and switched it one, immediately she finished reading my pal's contact, the phone goes off. No worries we had contacted them and they were on the way.
The waiter who had been at our service brought back our change, to which Bessie slowly picked, handed some over to me the rest were inserted the receipt holder, as we stand to walk out she announced, Pete, we are tipping, he served us well. I must confess, I was so much surprised at how Bessie, was growing into this responsible lady with a generous heart.
As we walk towards our car at the ground floor of the restaurant where our pals were waiting, I tell her, "You know one day you are going to be a very important lady in the corporate world, and so you must go through fire to be strengthened and hardened? True, though, at times, I feel like giving up, no Bessie, always remember you are perfectly designed to prosper. The subtle life beaming in you. The breath you so effortlessly take. The small details make you magnificent. It’s all about remembering, rejoicing, and celebrating life even when we might not fully understand everything. You are still alive to live and that is very important.
We take back seats, as we drive off to her place, I help but wonder, how beautiful this lady had grown, everything was turning out perfectly well for her. She then looks at me and says, Pete, I got a tattoo, but please don't judge me, Bessie knows very well, I don't love tattoos and never appreciate them. To which I respond, "so long as you are comfortable, I have got no business with them" I know you are disappointed, and in your heart you are condemning me, Pete, "No, you see Bessie, if it was within my powers, I won't have had you have them, but its well" a loud silence followed, as our car drove slowly.
Can I have a look at them? No, Pete, let me send you the pics later, I knew the conversation was slowly creating some uneasiness between us, she had also noticed, it, and it was only better, we discussed something else.
By now we were at her place late night, and she says thank you, Pete, for everything, before she stepped out of the car, to which I say be simple as always Bessie. You don't need to be pretty. You just need to be you. Goodnight Pete, she waved as we drove off.
Boss, that is a good woman you have over there, hold onto her, Bro when are we visiting the in-laws, my pals were already being boys. How do you know she is a good woman? In this city, it is very rare you get a lady who can wait for you for over three hours without throwing tantrums, she did, and that for me is my first tick for heron the checkbox. She respected you all through and you two blended well, for me that is a tick on my checkbox, the other buddy retorted. I just smiled and ask the guys to let the wheels of time and life take its course. Yeah, bro, let life happen they reply in unison.
Great piece Peter may God grant you more wisdom as you continue teaching us more about life
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your feedback, may you be blessed always. Have a great December!
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