Sunday, August 02, 2009

Guilty as Charged!

I left home a long time ago, in the real sense of it. Once i graduated from Uni, i stayed a few months at home and that was it, I moved away to make my own life. I chose not to stay with any relatives in the new city i moved to. God was good to me, I met some nice people but my decision brought some consequences (which are not the purpose of this post).

I think I'm quite independent, I don't know...anyway so I went home only once in a while. At a point, I made sure I went like every quarter. I tried to be there for my family but I'm not sure I was present enough. I don't know once again..lol

I got married and the visits became less frequent, did i say it wasn't so frequent before? My husband always asked me when I would visit my folks and didn't even mind if i left him home alone. It's just me, I hate travelling by road or more like siting in one place for a long time.

Last year, I wasn't home at all though I saw both my parents on a number of occasions and they were at my house. I kept saying I'd go until we had to move and the journey of 3 hours by road became 7 hours. It was longer. From the beginning of the year, I'd been saying I would go home but I kept pushing it. I've been avoiding a confrontation with my parents over a certain issue and I know going to their camp would bring me face to face with it. My husband would say when your parents are alive is the only time you love and be there for them. Bein an orphan, he knows how important it is to be there for one's parents.

Last week, my mum mentioned that my dad had malaria, so i called him. He sounded chirpy on the phone and I didn't think it was a big deal. I promptly forgot about it and didnt call them for a few days. Then, my mum called and asked why I didn't even bother to call my dad back to find out how he was doing. I apologised and said I forgot cos he sounded very well on the phone. She said it got worse, then she gave him the phone and he mentioned something about fainting. I was like no, what happened, he said not to worry, he was fine.

I couldn't sleep well that night. I deliberated on making the long journey and hubby encouraged me to do it. I packed a change of cloth in my handbag and made the trip. I called my mum, it was meant to be a surprise for my dad but my sister ruined it by telling him.

I met him recuperating. He was prescribed Piriton but the nurse wrote for him a wrong dosage which is definitely too much at his age. He was home alone and thought my mum got back from work so he went to open the gate and slumped. Dear Lord, i am eternally grateful for saving him. The floor is concrete. He could have hit his head. He passed out for a few minutes and by himself, he woke up and made it to back into the house. He then fell at the dining again; another thing that could have been disastrous because the floor is just tiles.

Mum met him half awake and felt his pulse. He said it doesn't take long to die. My mum said she rejected it and told him to get his act together because she didn't make such a covenant with God when she was leaving the house. He was going nowhere. She gave hm Lucozade and made him a meal and kept talking to him till she was sure he was fully recovered.

How do I thank God enough? I pray for my family all the time and I know this is a dividend of prayer. Please cover your family in prayers all the time, it's very important. Above all, I've decided, I can't be so far from my folks anymore, I would visit at least once in a quarter...I call them all the time, no problem with that. Hubby and I are also thinking of sending them both for full body exams and suggesting they get a maid. Mum is chief DIY but she's getting older. The woman needs to know she's no spring chicken anymore.

I can't believe how guilty I felt and I just thank God nothing happened to him. We still had the conversation I was avoiding but it didn't kill me. I'm so glad I made the trip although I spent about 14 hours or a bit less on the road in less than 48 hours. Like i told them, it's not how long I stay that counts, it's the thought and the fact that I was there and they saw me. I thank God.

31 comments:

Giagerry said...

whooooaaaaaa!
loook hu is first..
hahahaha..omg..
its GEEEEEEEE!
lol

Giagerry said...

i thank God with u o..
nd good to hear that daddy is fine.

Anonymous said...

Thank God for your father's life! I'm glad you were able to visit your parents and I pray that you will be able to honour your personal commitment to visit once per quarter.

Also, I think the physical exam and maid ideas are great ones! Make sure you nag them about both items ok?

I'm also glad the talk you had with them wasn't so bad.

And finally, I will remember to pray for my family.

xo

Yankeenaijababe said...

I learnt a lot from this short post, cherish your family everyday, distance shouldn't be a barrier. Thanks for sharing and happy your father is feeling well. This post was touching.

chayomao said...

It usually takes a certain incident to reaffirm the importance of our loved ones in our lives.
i Thank God for your dad's life.
*i did a post similar sometime so i know the feeling*

May we never forget their importance in our lives.

Tigeress said...

This is a testimony and I thank God for his mercies.

Ms. 'dufa said...

I thank God for your dad. I thank God that you've decided to visit more often and I pray you really do.Yeah, they really need a maid.

Really touching, because sometimes we get caught in a lot of things around us and miss out on important things like family. I've taken something out of this. Lesson Learnt!

bob-ij said...

OMG! I am so happy for and grateful to God for saving your dad. I was so scared when I was reading that. It's true we need to pray for our family. Thank God.
x!

Sassy Trends said...

Thank God your dad is fyne hun, aw you dey?
enjoy your week
xx

downtheaisle said...

woah, thank God, he's recovered now. that was some testimony there, babe.

im gud, and I was called for an interview, dat means i passed d test abi? lol

LG said...

God is good..........

jhazmyn said...

I'm so glad you made that trip, i wonder sometimes why its so difficult for some of us to take that trip back home especially when we know it would be so much appreciated by them, I'm totally working on that too, cos i think I'd want my kids to pop in and visit once in a while when I'm old and graying (or not too old and graying).

I'm real glad pops is better now

doll (retired blogger) said...

Thank God yo went and thank God for saving your dad.. Pls make it a point of duty to see your parents….cuz really it is females that do all that….

Olufunke said...

Thank God for the testimony;
You met your dad and he is doing fine.

Thanks for this reminder, family is important, and we should love and show we care now that we are all alive and have the opportunity to.
I'm sure your folks were glad you were around, I pray you would always be able to make it to see them more often and mum would agree to have some help around the house.

Shouts of thanksgiving would continually resound in our homes and lives!

Enkay said...

Thank God for saving your dad!

Sometimes the things we dread aren't quite as bad as they seem once we confront them.

Original Mgbeke said...

Whoaaaa. Thank God that your dad is alive and well. My sister this one should be the headliner on the thankful tuesday/grateful wednesday post. Thank God for real!
I trust that you will visit more often now...

Repressed One said...

Oh wow!! Thank God your Dad is doing well and nothing too bad happen. This life is fleeting oh...thanks for sharing. Thank God cos i know he will bring him to full recovery.

CHAYIL said...

OMG...I got so scared reading and was hoping that this will end well. I am really glad it did and that your dad is recovering. Family is truly important and we should never forget them in our prayers. God is able. Have a blessed week.

Anonymous said...

thank God ur dad is fine...this post really speaks to me cos not only do I not visit, I hardly even call...thank God for my hubby who is really into keeping in touch with family...but for him, I wonder...family is indeed key...

NoLimit said...

Scary stuff mehn!!!
I'm glad God came through for you and good to know your dad is doing alright now...I hope all is well with you dearie...
"With long life will He satisfy us and show us His salvation"...Amen

Rita said...

And they really cherish those thoughts...when we visit them...Thank God for journey mercies.

LusciousRon said...

Thank God o! You scared me for a minbute there. It is the thought that really counts.

Anonymous said...

thank God..im always scared that something will happen to my family..God forbid.

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

I thank God for your father's life.

Lolia said...

Thank God your Daddy is okay.
I'm always scared that something will happen to my parents but our God is a faithful God and I know He hears our prayers and everything happens for a reason. Perhaps that needed to happen to wake you up a little. I'm really glad you made the trip and that he's well. And I think your husband is very sweet and understanding, thank God for him as well
xxx

aloted said...

we thank God o..for sparing your dad's live. The devil is a liar!

Also thank God for journey mercies for you.

I also feel guilty when i don't call home. we need to celebrate our family and friends when they are ALIVE and not afterwards...

May God help us all

Chiamaka said...

Thank God for your father's live. It is good you always remember to pray for them, cuz even when you cannot be with them, your prayers go ahead of you to work for you.

take care

olusimeon said...

thank God he'z fine now..
thanks for the advice...

Unknown said...

I really do thank GOd for saving daddy's life
this is a testimony and may the lord make it permanent according to mumsy's wish.

Be sure to keep to your promise this time and visit them often

Buttercup said...

Awww thank God..thank God. It always takes serious happenings to jolt us back to our senses..

Geebee said...

Thank God Dad is okay now. Shouts of joy shall never cease from the abode of the righteous and I'm glad it's our portion. Please keep in touch as frequent as possible.