In sharing her experience with me, a young lady wrote, ‘’I remember a conversation that I had with an elderly man sometime back. I complained that it is becoming increasingly challenging for a young lady to get what she wants in this environment with legs closed.
“Someone would always demand a ‘’thank you’’ in kind-even when you are being offered what you merited. The man gave me a long look and told me that it all boils down to how strong my convictions and values are but most importantly how sincere my resolve to live above board is. I took those words home. But it didn’t take long before time came for me to prove my resolve. No, the temptation didn’t come from ‘the world.’ It came from the church!
“A relation took me to our bishop (a man in his 60s) and introduced me to him as his daughter, so that he can mobilise his contacts towards my job hunting. I warmed up to the man. And started calling him ‘’daddy’’ all over the place and running his errands too. When I saw a job opening somewhere, I pushed for him to use his influence to put in a word for me. The organisation has links to the church. He promised to do so. But I also noticed something in his demeanour towards me.
“Today he would say ‘’come and hug me’’ when I entered his office. The next day, he would attempt rubbing my buttocks or pressing his chest against mine. He gave me weekly stipends for my upkeep, though. At a time, I even begged him to introduce me to a husband material from the church. Maybe marriage will make life easy for me. But he said to me, ‘I have to see what that place (my vagina) looks like first.’ After having sex with me, the bishop would say ’God bless you, my dear.’
I was dying within me but I was new in town, no job, and really struggling to feed. When the new-year (2022) came, I made a resolve that all that ‘playing with my body’ has to stop. If God doesn’t see it fit to assist me, despite my academic excellence, so be it. So, I began to make myself unavailable to the bishop. I started going to places to submit my CV. Other times, I would go help out at somebody’s office-just to beat idleness. Three months later, I received a call from an organization offering me immediate employment. You won’t believe that the job (graphics design) that I did to ‘pass time’ earned me a recommendation and immediate employment. I have since started working and enjoying the experience. But the bitter taste of my experience with the ‘man of God’ has yet to leave my mouth.’’
From Oby
Dear young ladies,
Absolute faith in God still works like magic. If you are trusting God, please don’t compromise your values. Just work hard and leave the rest to Him. Always prepare as if your employment letter/invitation to interview will arrive at ANYTIME.
Making efforts to hone your skill helps even if you have to work for free. It will be like a dream when your efforts begin to pay off.
The problem with our young ladies is walking in the clouds in an era that demands your feet be firmly on the ground. Don’t see anybody as being beneath you. There’s nobody that you can’t learn from.
If that prayer is not answered yet, it’s either God has a better option for you or it’s not yet His timing. Do not place your hope in anybody more than you have faith in God!
Credit: Chukwuneta Oby