IRENE AND I
Irene is my daughter, our second child. Family members have warned me not to call her 'our last born' any longer. They want us to have more- maybe just one more. Anyway, we have Daniel and Irene today and I tell you; God gave us the topmost among the best; Children that know God and make us happy round the clock. Daniel is four Irene is two. Today I will talk about Irene.
The name came by revelation as that of Daniel. Only this time, the revelation came to my wife and not me. I had wanted her to be called 'Hadassah' the Hebrew name for Esther the Queen. When my wife told me how the name Irene came I knew we should make that stick.
Irene is Greek for Peace. We had a number of confirmations about that time. My mum had told us she received Peace as her name in a dream. This is Africa where everyone in the family has a name for the child. My wife had just secured a job in Salem (after she left her very promising job in KPMG because of marriage). Salem is Hebrew for Peace. Words from many pulpit also confirmed her name to us. Prominent was a teaching by Joseph prince on Psalm 91 where he specifically mention 'Irene'. Hadassah had to allign with Irene. Okay, Hadassah represents her assignment, Irene her essence. Amen.
Why did I bore you with all that? Maybe just to say children come from somewhere deeper than the scrotum. They come from eternity and you must have a glimpse into God's heart to see them before they show up. I had been and I am still engulfed by the glory that brought Daniel, but Irene came with amazing uniqueness. Let me just go straight to the point of this piece.
I began to notice a strong affinity between my daughter and I. First I noticed her broad, heartfelt smile whenever she sees me. Then I noticed she would leap with excitement at her hearing of my voice. I also noticed it was 'daddy' she first began to call before she said 'mummy'. Okay let me say this; her first recognizable phrase was 'Halleluyah'.
So I began to carry her more and pay more attention. I realised just how beautiful she is. Did I see a dimple? There is a glitter in her eyes when she smiles. It seems she took the best from her mum and I. No doubt, she would grow up into a very beautiful girl. And intelligent too.
I noticed Irene loves book. Unlike what is common to toddlers, I can not remember her ever tearing a page. And she lives in a house where books are everywhere. Two shelves overflowing with books and then the dailies. Irene would take a book and open each page meticulously. She would pay attention. Then one day I saw her hold a pen. Oh, she held it so well. Things I remember teaching Daniel, I wonder who teaches Irene. That's my girl. I'm talking about my girl. My girl.
Then this morning, there is this feeling I also got when I carried her in my arms. A feeling of repentance. One day, this little girl of mine will become big. All the depths of beauty only me can see now would be there for all to admire. One day, some guy would want to get her to like him. Oh dear, it is too early to think like this! But then, it is not too early to pray about it.
Just before I prayed, I remembered a few of my own encounters with other men's daughters. Some of the ways I handled them came rushing at me. Well, do not judge me, I never abuse women. Just take note that every memory I had where I treated a girl less than I would want my girl treated made me sober. I looked at Irene as she pointed something to me; "Daddy, look!" (In the voice of a 2 year old), tears welled up in my eyes and prayers in my heart...
'My God will bless you and keep you (I emphasied the 'keep', you know).
My God will keep you from all wickedness, from abuse, from rape, from every subtle manipulations...
My heavenly Father will keep you for the king...
In Jesus' name.'
I dropped her on her chair as I stepped out to go to work. Her mum and Daniel still in bed, Irene was alone watching Barney...
Again I thought of days neither I nor the mum and not even her big protective brother will be near...
As I shut the door, I rested in my prayers... Knowing I can trust God to keep what I commit into His hands.
Amen.
- Adeolu Olumodeji
Irene is my daughter, our second child. Family members have warned me not to call her 'our last born' any longer. They want us to have more- maybe just one more. Anyway, we have Daniel and Irene today and I tell you; God gave us the topmost among the best; Children that know God and make us happy round the clock. Daniel is four Irene is two. Today I will talk about Irene.
The name came by revelation as that of Daniel. Only this time, the revelation came to my wife and not me. I had wanted her to be called 'Hadassah' the Hebrew name for Esther the Queen. When my wife told me how the name Irene came I knew we should make that stick.
Irene is Greek for Peace. We had a number of confirmations about that time. My mum had told us she received Peace as her name in a dream. This is Africa where everyone in the family has a name for the child. My wife had just secured a job in Salem (after she left her very promising job in KPMG because of marriage). Salem is Hebrew for Peace. Words from many pulpit also confirmed her name to us. Prominent was a teaching by Joseph prince on Psalm 91 where he specifically mention 'Irene'. Hadassah had to allign with Irene. Okay, Hadassah represents her assignment, Irene her essence. Amen.
Why did I bore you with all that? Maybe just to say children come from somewhere deeper than the scrotum. They come from eternity and you must have a glimpse into God's heart to see them before they show up. I had been and I am still engulfed by the glory that brought Daniel, but Irene came with amazing uniqueness. Let me just go straight to the point of this piece.
I began to notice a strong affinity between my daughter and I. First I noticed her broad, heartfelt smile whenever she sees me. Then I noticed she would leap with excitement at her hearing of my voice. I also noticed it was 'daddy' she first began to call before she said 'mummy'. Okay let me say this; her first recognizable phrase was 'Halleluyah'.
So I began to carry her more and pay more attention. I realised just how beautiful she is. Did I see a dimple? There is a glitter in her eyes when she smiles. It seems she took the best from her mum and I. No doubt, she would grow up into a very beautiful girl. And intelligent too.
I noticed Irene loves book. Unlike what is common to toddlers, I can not remember her ever tearing a page. And she lives in a house where books are everywhere. Two shelves overflowing with books and then the dailies. Irene would take a book and open each page meticulously. She would pay attention. Then one day I saw her hold a pen. Oh, she held it so well. Things I remember teaching Daniel, I wonder who teaches Irene. That's my girl. I'm talking about my girl. My girl.
Then this morning, there is this feeling I also got when I carried her in my arms. A feeling of repentance. One day, this little girl of mine will become big. All the depths of beauty only me can see now would be there for all to admire. One day, some guy would want to get her to like him. Oh dear, it is too early to think like this! But then, it is not too early to pray about it.
Just before I prayed, I remembered a few of my own encounters with other men's daughters. Some of the ways I handled them came rushing at me. Well, do not judge me, I never abuse women. Just take note that every memory I had where I treated a girl less than I would want my girl treated made me sober. I looked at Irene as she pointed something to me; "Daddy, look!" (In the voice of a 2 year old), tears welled up in my eyes and prayers in my heart...
'My God will bless you and keep you (I emphasied the 'keep', you know).
My God will keep you from all wickedness, from abuse, from rape, from every subtle manipulations...
My heavenly Father will keep you for the king...
In Jesus' name.'
I dropped her on her chair as I stepped out to go to work. Her mum and Daniel still in bed, Irene was alone watching Barney...
Again I thought of days neither I nor the mum and not even her big protective brother will be near...
As I shut the door, I rested in my prayers... Knowing I can trust God to keep what I commit into His hands.
Amen.
- Adeolu Olumodeji
Very powerful and inspiring. May we all be good father's to our children and even the unborn ones. Prayer answereth all things. It's not too early to start praying for the future of our kids.
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