SOMETHING SURREAL.🌒(2- in -1)

Bella woke up with a smile on her face. She had just had the most wonderful conversation with Rose ever. Her sister had told her she misses her and loves her and also that she's proud of how Bella is retracing her steps back to God. Rose had also told her that everything would be fine now but Bella didn't know how it could be finer.

 Her parents had started to come back to how they used to be before everything happened and Bella had begun to engage in activities she used to engage in before and she even found school more accomodating but the most wonderful thing was that her best friend, the Holy Spirit was fully back and Bella felt Him everywhere.

It was Saturday and her parent had told her to prepare for a family picnic tomorrow. It's been so. long since they went on one and it made her ache for both her sister who is in Heaven now and her Brother who seems to have completely cut her off from his life after fully blaming her for their sister's death. 

Bella misses Tyler so deeply she often had her fingers lingering on his contact number but never actually dials it because she had no idea what she would say and she wasn't even sure if Tyler had her blocked or not. Several times, she always thought of writing him a letter anonymously as a distant family relative and having it delivered to Tyler's school but had never gotten around to doing it.

Paulina had told her that no matter what Tyler had said, he still considers and loves her as his sister but Bella didn't dare hope to believe it. No one was there when that phone conversation had ensued. No one knew what was said. No one heard the resentment Tyler had spoken to her with has he told her Rose should be here instead of her. No one knew except her and Tyler. Bella never planned on telling anyone and she plans to keep it that way no matter what.

Bella stretched and reached for her Bible on the table beside her bed. After her quiet time, Bella got ready to shower. She kept mulling over the conversation she had with her sister in her dream. It had felt like Rose was very much alive in the park where the conversation in the dream had taken place. 

What was more was how Rose felt so sure of herself when she had told Bella that "from now on, everything would be fine".

Bella felt very much like picking up her phone to call her brother and share her dream with him, perhaps it could maybe help him to get back to himself.

Bella had just finished dressing up and was getting ready for her outing with her friends, Paulina and Summer. The trio had planned to visit the new orphanage that just opened in the next town and Paulina's father was driving them there. Bella picked up her two plastic bags filled with what she was going to give to the children in the orphanage. She called out to her parents that she was leaving for the orphanage and her mum told her to take care while her dad reminded her to take some snacks along in case she got hungry.

 Bella darted back into her room to pick up her phone which she would have forgotten on the table. Organizing herself, Bella picked up the two plastic bags again, cross-checked to see she had everything she needed then headed downstairs to pick some snacks taking enough to feed the rest also, and then opened the door. 

Welcome, Home Brother!!!

Bella stood frozen in shock staring at what was in front of her or rather who was in front of her feeling like she hadn't woken up from the dream with Rose after all and this was the continuation of the dream. However, the sound of her plastic bags falling from her hands brought her back to reality. She looked down at the now fallen plastic bags and up to the face of the person that seem to be standing in front of her. The fact that she often prayed for, wished for, cried for, and most of all, the fact that she misses so much.

Tyler had his hand up ready to ring the doorbell. Bella didn't know what to do so she did the only thing that came to mind and called for her mom.

"MOMMYYYY" Bella shouted her eyes still fixed on Tyler.

"Bella" Tyler said his voice a whisper

Bella felt goosebumps rise on her body. Her brother had just called her no and whispered her name. It wasn't much but it felt like everything to Bella. Behind her, Bella heard her mom's footsteps as she came down the stairs to meet them.

"Whaaattt?!!!! Ty..ler?” Mrs. Wilson said stopping to take in what was in front of her.

" Mummy," Tyler said and ran up to embrace his mum. 

Bella still stood where she was her hand on the doorknob still. Soon enough her Dad also came downstairs and was surprised just as much as the rest had been. After Tyler and Mr. Wilson had embraced. Bella slowly walked toward her brother not meeting his eyes and said her greetings.

"Hello, Tyler" Bella greeted her body visibly tensed up for whatever answer Tyler would give.

Bella saw her parents exchange questioning glances but what she hadn't expected was what happened next. Tyler's eyes grew moist with tears as he picked her up and embraced her tightly.

" Bella. My baby sister. I have missed you. I'm so glad you're doing great. Wow, I've missed you so much" Tyler said tears now streaming down his face. 

Bella felt the tension slowly leave her body as she embraced her brother back as tightly as she could breathing in the smell of him. She had missed him just as much and so much more. After they pulled away, Tyler held her hand and asked if they could talk later. Bella nodded yes and headed upstairs to text Paulina and Summer to tell them she wouldn't be able to make it today because something came up. She received a reply from Summer who told her not to worry and to take her time. 

Bella smiled. 

It's almost like the child knew what was happening. Heading downstairs, Bella grabbed some of the snacks she had taken earlier and headed to meet her brother who was waiting for her in their garden. She reached him in no time and stopped to briefly take in the sight of him.

 He was home. Her brother was home. Bella had no idea how the conversation was going to go but one thing she knew for sure was that everything would be fine. Not because Rose had told her that in her dream but Bella could just feel it. Bella finally reached her brother and took the seat next to him.

"Nothing has changed," Tyler said looking around.

Bella handed him some snacks and the drinks she brought along. Opening her drinks, Bella breathed deeply and replied, 

"Well, welcome home brother"

With Love,

Grazie.

STAY WOKE!👀

I don't know if you know this, but I believe it is my job to inform you that if you are a Christian? You are the "Wokest" set of people out there.

Don't believe me?

Ask Jesus, he began this woke thing, when he rested for Three days and squared off with death.

He told death, and I think I heard the conversation in my spirit, body, and soul. (because Jesus is Woke like that, he speaks, and your whole being stays alert to listen)

So where was I?

Okay, He told death.

"Why do you have me in a boxing ring?"

Death was being all sassy said

"cause imma beat you till you can't stand no more."

uh-huh (should we tell him)

So Jesus took a sit in death's boxing ring, which had death howling in laughter 

The Narcissist! 

He thinks his intimidating presence caused Jesus to have shaky knees that he had to sit.

Of course, the devil the corrupt referee said "game over" Death won.

I mean ..."Jesus, what were you thinking? No one goes to the boxing ring to have a sit."

The crowds were cheering, and I was so confused. Why give up so easily. Death was prancing about in his victory, while Jesus sat. It felt like 3 hours to me, but could have been 3 minutes or 3 seconds, 

But when Jesus got up ...

know what happened????

The whole crowd fell to their knees, Death lay face flat on the ground and .....I cannot believe my eyes!!!! but the boxing ring is unraveling fast like it was apologizing for boxing in the Master of the universe. 

Standing, Alert, strong, and very much alive. No one needed to declare him the winner. He speaks for himself.

Anyway. The Woke thing is a title for those who have beaten and conquered death.

I believe the crowd was chanting "Woke Jesus" at the end of the match, but hey, could have been the beating of my heart.

Love,

MaryA.

TIME TO GO HOME! (1) 🏡

Tyler Wilson breathed in the cool refreshing air of the evening as he walked along with the college surroundings. The school has been amazing, he is now one of the popular people in college. He partied almost every night and had whatsoever he asked for without struggling to get it. 

He was doing great in his studies as well and he has started to get a lot of opportunities that will make him set for life. His coach had told him just yesterday that some renowned international soccer coaches were going to start to come to his games to watch him and if he can live up to their expectations then he would be drafted into their team.

As he walked along the sidewalk. His eyes caught a newspaper left on a stool someone seems to have left not quite long. Tyler picked up the newspaper and opened it taking his seat on the stool. It was an entertainment newspaper. The front page was filled with interesting A+ list celebrities' latest news mostly scandals about them.

 Tyler flipped through the pages and came to a stop where the headline of a new page read 

"Tragedy struck as famous rapper Rob Dowey dies at age 23 from overdose💔.

Tyler read the headline again. He knew the rapper as he was a huge fan of his and he had some of his songs on his phone playlist. Feeling sad about the rapper's death, Tyler closed the magazine and prayed that Rob Dowey rested in peace as memories of his dead sister that he had a hard time suppressing threatened to rise again. Pushing it to the back of his mind, he made his way to his dormitory.

Later that night as Tyler lay on his bed about to sleep, the door opened and his roommate Edward who like him was on the soccer team entered looking very sad. Tyler sat up in his bed and asked him if he was alright.

" Hey man, is everything OK with you? You look so sad." Tyler asked worriedly

" No, I'm not alright at all" Edward replied and Tyler saw that his roomie was struggling to hold his tears back.

" What's going on?" Tyler asked probing further

"My three years old cousins just passed away," Edward said tears now freely streaming down his face.

"We were already told when he was given birth that due to some complications he had when he was still in his mother's stomach, he won't be able to live long and we all had been expecting his death since then but by the time he clocked three, I guess all of us relaxed thinking he would continue to live on even after the age of three but then he is gone now" Edward continued as thick tears continued to fall from his eyes.

" I'm so sorry," Tyler said. Edward had been one of the few who had stuck by Tyler when he had been overwhelmed with grief after the death of his sister, Rose. The two had gotten close then and they saw each other as not just roomies but best friends and brothers.

" Thanks, man. I'm taking the first flight out back home tomorrow so I'll probably be gone before you wake up tomorrow." Edward said as he began to pack his things into a traveling bag.

A few hours later after Edward had finished packing, Tyler reached for the light switch and turned it off.

"Goodnight man." Tyler greeted Edward

"Goodnight" Edward replied

And then after a few minutes had passed, Tyler heard Edward say

"You know you should go too, man. Go home. You know you want to."

Tyler rolled over on his bed looking up. Sure, he often had thoughts of going home and even though he dreaded going back there because he doesn't think he can bear the absence of his sister Rose from there, he also missed his little sister Bella so much as well as his parent. Edward was right, he so badly wanted to go home and the news he read earlier of Rob Dowey passing away came back to him along with that of Edwards's dead cousin. He needed to go home. He doesn't even know how any of his family was faring because he had been plagued by guilt but enough is enough. He couldn't stand it anymore. He wants to know the well-being of his family and most importantly he wants to see them.

" Yeah man, you're right. I want to go home. I miss my family so much...I am going home" Tyler said with a smile and slept off.

With Love,

Grazie.

COMFORTLESS PURPOSE!!!😟

K

Subconsciously, we know this truth about God and our plans. And yet, does it change anything about us?

In today's devotional, for me. I read about how God pushes us out of our comfort zone in other to fulfill our purposes on earth. 

Come to think about it. Have you ever met any man who fulfilled a purpose from his comfort zone??

Not David nor Esther, Not Elijah nor Deborah, Not Jeremiah nor Mary.

Are you getting the trend here Yet?

Wasn't David basically on the run all his life? Look at Paul who is said to be the greatest apostle, How easy did he have it?

You really cannot fulfill that purpose if you are always in your room, in the same vicinity you've been in all your life. The same vicinity that has yet to nurture that purpose, and yet you just think.....Oh, I'll just have to pray more. 

I'm scoffing at you. You are still saying that in the most comfortable of ways. Get uncomfortable, or the devil will get comfortable with you.

It's that easy to choose, but difficult to follow through, but hey!

His grace is sufficient for you.

Love,

MaryA.

INSIDE MRS. WILSONS LIFE.

Mrs Wilson sighed turning off the television. All these sad news shown on the television did nothing for her except gives her a little creep. She was bored and her husband has gone on one of his volunteering service although it had reduced compared to how often he went before. It doesn't really matter tho because most of the times when he was home they were always at odds which left them barely speaking to eachother but what was she to do, their son Tyler has refused to come back home and Bella although has started improving still had a long way to go and Mrs Wilson felt she had no support whatsoever from her husband .

To distract herself a little, she had begun to put in a lot more into church activities but it still wasn't enough. She misses what her family use to be before everything happened. She misses the lovely conversations she always had with her husband, the dates they often went on when the children had gone for sleepovers, the picnic they all had together as a family every Sunday, the way they always held hands and prayed and the love they all had for one another that always shone brightly which made some families covet what they had.

Mrs Wilson never thought things could be the way they were right now. If she could be granted just one wish then she would wish things went back to how they were before Rose's death. She would give anything to have it all back but since that couldn't be done then she would fight for her family, fight for what they had and fight to restore it all back to how best it could be without Rose.

Standing up, Mrs Wilson made her way to the little shelf in the living room. Opening a locker, she pulled up a couple of photo albums and made her way back to the sitter the same one where the family use to sit on and gather around to go through the pictures together going down memory lane and making fun of eachother. Those fun times always ended with a great dinner being served and then prayer of thanks to God for making their family so wonderful and God made then choruses of "I love yous" were made before they all went to bed.

Mrs Wilson continued to go through the pictures and didn't stop even though tears were now rolling down thickly from her eyes. She closed her eyes tightly letting the memories flood her. Had this been the way Job felt when he had lost all his family too? Opening her eyes she picked up a tissue and blew her nose her eyes catching a picture of Rose on her valedictory service giving the valedictoria speech. She had a huge proud smile on her face looking ready to take on anything thrown her way.

"My baby, m..m..y bbab..b..yy" Mrs wilson cried

"My little girl" she wept clutching her chest.

Mrs Wilson curled up on the sofa clutching Rose picture on her chest and let memories of her and her daughter flood her as tears kept streaming down her face through her closed eyes until sleep overcame her.

With Love,

Grazie.