“So you’re not sure who to blame?” I asked Mama Jade.

Mama Jade: I blame myself for being so naïve. Zachary thinks I should not blame anyone. I think that’s a wrong view.

“I think you should share the blame. Somehow, everyone had a part to play in the whole incident.”

Mama Jade: In reality, the greater blame is daddy’s! So if auntie-A hadn’t mentioned it, he would have taken the secret to his grave?

“Their generation was taught to hide the truth. I don’t think he meant to hurt anyone.

Mama Jade: Yet this is why I lost my brothers, had miscarriages and even lost my first womb! Who knows, maybe that’s why my mother died!

“Have you forgiven him?”

Mama Jade: I have forgiven, but I cannot bring myself to look up to him as I used to. He has lost the devotion and honor I used to have for him. Imagine, my own father, a murderer!

“Have you had a DSm?”

Mama Jade: DS what?

“DSm – Divine Shrink moment.”

Mama Jade: Yes I’ve spoken to the Lord.

“I mean venting before the Lord, making God your Shrink.”

Mama Jade: I want to clear my head before I go to God to help me continue with my life.”

“ Mama Jade," I replied tenderly, "Please listen to me. God is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1), He wants us to pour out our heart before Him (Psalm 62:8). The first person you should complain to is God."

Mama Jade: I know I should wait on the Lord…

“I’m not asking you to wait on the Lord. I’m asking you to vent. Tell Him how you feel, who you’re angry with, what you want Him to do to everyone that hurt you, why you want vindication, why you are sad, why you are angry, leave nothing back, tell Him like it is.”

Mama Jade: Okay. I’ll do that.

“We’ll talk later tonight.”

I prayed a quick prayer and hung up the phone. The conversation above had occurred earlier this morning. The sweet aroma in the restaurant distracted my thoughts. No, I wasn’t going to break my diet. No eating after 9.00pm, aroma or not. I entered mama Jade’s office and she was all smiles, I was glad. 

“I take it the Balm of Gilead has done what He alone can do best.

Mama Jade: Yes He has. I’m healed, I’m restored and I will be whole. I have cast my burden on the Lord for He alone cares for me.

“We give Him praise. He is our King and Maker, our constant Healer, our Divine Father, and gracious Redeemer.”

I listened as Mama Jade shared how, within the last 48 hours, she had discovered that her father had participated in the abortion of babies.

Mama Jade: Remember what Jẹyọ said last year about our family having sin and death and she wanted us to have deliverance? Well, it all made sense now. When I called you this morning, I was so hurt. I never knew daddy had killed innocent life before? Auntie-A just touched on it briefly while she was rejoicing with me over my marriage and pregnancy.

“I think I stated that Jẹyọ may have a point.”

Mama Jade: Jẹyọ did have a point. I asked her to give me her spiritual ailment discovery tool and when I finished answering the questions, I was amazed at the results. I went over and administered it to daddy and that’s when he confirmed what auntie-A told me. Do you believe in spiritual genetics?

“It depends on the definition.” I responded. “Many people use similar words with different meanings. I believe that all humans have inherited sin. That to me is spiritual genetics. I have heard of other definitions.”

Mama Jade: What I mean is the transfer of spiritual sins from parents to children.

“Yes and no.”

Mama Jade: Debbie, explain.

“Let me use the computer as an example. When a new word processing document is created, there is a default font. If one does not like the default font, one can change it. I see generational curses, iniquity, spiritual genetics as the default font. If one believes in the recreating power of the risen Christ, then the new faith, released through words and lifestyle, changes the font. Yes, we inherit sinful nature which manifests in the work of the flesh (transgression and iniquity), but in Christ we inherit righteousness which manifests as the work of the spirit (sanctification and holiness).”

Mama Jade: Good illustration. We’re basically saying the same thing. I can safely say that I have used the creating power of Christ to change the death pattern my parents transferred to me.

“I will relate to that.”

Mama Jade: I believe I shared in the guilt of my parents when they aborted children. Now if I had known of these sins earlier on, maybe I would not have gone through the miscarriages and divorces I went through.

“I agree with you. If one is unaware of some things, Satan may use it to cause unnecessary distractions. However, I believe that even if one is unaware, if one is growing steadily in the word, the Spirit of God will preserve His own.”

Mama Jade: By the way, Akikẹ sends her regards.

“Who is Akikẹ?”

Mama Jade: My niece that you met last year.

“Nice! I’ve forgotten about her. How is she doing? How’s her husband?”

Mama Jade: She’s doing very well. Her husband passed away last month.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Mama Jade: She was well prepared though. Your little advice helped. She didn’t divorce him.

“So Auntie-A is her mother.”

Mama Jade: Yes she is. Auntie-A is mama Yorubaland. She has lived in every Yoruba State. My brothers and I call her Iya Yooba.

“How many dialects does she speak?”

Mama Jade: I do not know o. All I know is she can speak ijinlẹ (deep) Yoruba. She prayed one prayer for me that got me thinking. I know she was rejoicing with me that I was pregnant and would soon deliver but some of the contents of her prayer were way off spiritually. I was praying softly in the spirit while she was praying.

“I know what you mean. I guard who I pray with and who prays with me.”

Mama Jade: I didn’t agree with most of the prayer. She was asking God to make the eyes of my enemies blind, to …

The phone rang and mama Jade picked up.

Mama Jade: Someone is asking for you. A lady named Adekọlajọ saw your car outside and requested to see you.

I excused myself and stepped into the dining section of the restaurant. I was elated to see Adekọlajọ. We talked briefly, hugged and said our goodbyes.

When I returned I met a sober mama Jade. I inquired as to what happened when I was gone and she told me papa Ajayi had called.

Mama Jade: I feel drained again. I was all rosy before that phone call.

“Let’s pray.” I stated. We held hands and prayed together.

Mama Jade: Thanks Derbrah. Who’s Adekọlajọ? She appears to be a lovely lady.

“We met a fortnight ago at Wole’s church.”

Mama Jade: O, that Yoruba only service? I remember that. I just delivered the food and left. I was so busy that day, otherwise I would have participated.

“They enjoyed the meal, we all enjoyed the meal.” I replied. “As for the program, it was really lovely. If one does not read Yoruba, one would forget the skill. I actually had to read one of the verses allotted to me twice before I got it right.”

Mama Jade: Yoruba language is easy if all the language rules are followed. I still want to hold the classes, but I’m just too busy right now.

“My dream is an online Yoruba class.”

Mama Jade: That would be nice.

“Ẹse” (thank you).

Mama Jade: Derbrah, people are too complicated. I still don’t know my own father, life is something else!

“You know my friend Wole had a similar experience. One of his ex-girlfriends met with him and confessed that she had gotten pregnant while they were dating and she had aborted the baby. He didn’t know until a few days ago. This happened more than ten years ago!”

Mama Jade: Why are humans so evil?

Before I could respond, she continued,

Mama Jade: Why does God allow people to practice wickedness even though He is opposed to it? Why…no, I’m doing it again… I’m allowing the wrong choices of somebody else influence my rejoicing in the Lord. I know why, that’s not the issue. Satan, I bind you in Jesus name concerning my mind. I have a sound mind, the joy of my Lord is my strength and I am at peace.

I smiled in agreement.

Mama Jade: Forgive me Derb. What did pastor Wole do?

“Now that he’s over the initial shock, he wants to hold a memorial service in honor of his child that he never knew.”

Mama Jade: Did he ask the lady why he wasn’t informed about the pregnancy?

“Yes. She told him she was scared he would abandon her and the baby so she prayed to God to forgive her and had an abortion.”

Mama Jade: We humans and our presumption! So she was able to exercise faith in God to forgive an abortion but unable to exercise faith in God to take care of a child alone. Ten years later she’s still looking for inner peace.

“Why did pa Ajayi refrain from telling you?”

There was a knock on the door. It was Adeoye saying good night. When he left mama Jade answered;

“Daddy thought it was his cross to bear. He and mummy and another woman he knew before mummy sent five innocent lives to their early grave because of their selfishness and recklessness.”

We prayed for pa Ajayi and for the other woman if she was still alive.”

Mama Jade: Adeoye told me he’s stopped smoking, thanks to you.

“Thanks to God and his willingness.”

Mama Jade: I am so glad I hired him. He does wonders with drinks. Our sales have gone up 25% since he’s joined us.

“I told him he’s my kitchen hero. Even my sons like his drinks.”

Mama Jade: Why is there so much evil in the world? Then she continued, “I know some of the answers it’s just the shock of having murderers in my bloodline that I’m still dealing with.”

“Ask God directly.” I encouraged. Have as many DSm.s as you like. Talk to Him. He will respond to you.”

Mama Jade laughed and stated; “Do you know what I first thought of when you said DSm this morning?” I shook my head

Mama Jade: I was thinking of those psychological books. Thanks for coming Derbrah.

“The pleasure’s mine.” I responded, giving her a hug as I got up to leave. “Remember, your babies growing in your womb are the priority in your life now, not your siblings who went to heaven before you.”

Mama Jade: That’s Zachary. She checked her computer screen. “He wants me to stop work as from this weekend.”

“I think that is a good idea.”

Mama Jade: I think I should hold a memorial service for my five brothers or sisters. What do you think?

Continued in part 2.

Derbrah writes courtesy of Agape for All Ministries. Author retains copyright.

Jadesọla’s restaurant is a drama ministry of the Yoruba Christian Women (YCW), an international faith-based non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Similarity of names and stories are coincidental. Feel free to copy for non-commercial use. Commercial use requires permission. For more information on YCW write Jesutoyin Ajikẹ-King (toyinking@yahoo.com).

Robot  # 1 | 30.10.2008 07:26

“So you’re not sure who to blame?” I asked Mama Jade. Mama Jade: I blame myself for being so naïve. Zachary thinks I should not blame anyone. I think that’s a wrong view. “I think you should share the blame. Somehow, everyone had a part to play in the whole incident.” Mama Jade: In reality, the greater blame is daddy’s! So if auntie-A hadn’t mentioned it, he would have taken the secret to his grave? “Their generation was taught to hide the truth. I don’t think he meant to hurt anyone. Mama Jade: Yet this is why I lost my brothers, had miscarriages and even lost my first womb! Who knows, maybe that’s why my mother died! “Have you forgiven him?” Mama Jade: I have forgiven, but I cannot bring myself to look up to him as I used to. He has lost the devotion and honor I used to have for him. Imagine, my own father, a murderer! “Hav...Read the full article.