Submitted By: Nkiru Njoku

My child lie sick...him slowly dying
I run to Doctor, he say not to worry.
It only a fever, with time it surely pass,
It happen to children his age all the time...
But fear grip my heart and tell me, 'him lying!'

So I run to Reverend and cry hot tears,
'My son him dying and Doctor say it fever!
Tell me Reverend, what I do now for my son?'
Reverend say, 'nothing...just believe he be okay,
Our God have healing powers, you've nothing to fear.'

Then I dry my tears and go on home...
To my quiet, empty house - but now I believe.
Not because Reverend say so; much more than that.
Because The Big Book say so and now I remember.
And so I believe my son be okay...Him make him whole.

Knock, knock on my door...go on, break it down!
Early morn and you wan give me migraine!
Who that be, I ask myself...then I'm scared.
No way, it not be Doctor with bad news...is it?
Not when I believe, Him not let me down, not now?

As I walk to the door, my heart it grow cold,
My body it shiver, my tongue; it turn sour.
'This can't be no fever, Oh Lord, not me too?'
But I go on and at last I reach the door...
And who stand there but Doctor - a sight to behold.

'Madam, we try, we do our very best...'
'Tell me no more!' I scream as I fall,
You say it surely pass, Reverend say, 'believe'.
And believe I did...believe me, I did!
The Book say that my part and Him do the rest...

Ah! My life, my lonely, lonely life,
My husband - him go a few years ago,
And all that I have -my son, him go too.
Tell me what I must live for if not my death?
I not bother 'bout life no more...let me just die!

'My child, my child...its I your Heavenly Father,
I see what happen, I not blind at all...
My daughter, I hear your cry, of course I not deaf,
I sit hear in Heaven and watch the whole earth,
So when these things happen, believe I know better.'

'Your husband; your love, him up here with Me,
It better'n the sickness that wan ruin your lives.
How you like I leave him there and you die of strain?
I not human My child, but I know about pain.
And that why it better him up here with Me.'

'As for your son, my child; him up here also.
And I know you wonder why I let that happen...
I know what I'm doing, I'm the all-knowing God,
The evil one him try to rule your dear son's life,
But I step in fast and save his almost lost soul.'

'So wipe your tears, lift that head and look up to me,
I still be the God that you know all your life.
I keep you from when you be just a li'l child.
Though your husband die and your young son too,
All this not change me, not one little bit!'

All this I hear one night as I'm trying to sleep,
At first I think my mind run away at last!
But I find its my God, my Pappy up there.
Him love me so much; Him bother to assure me...
I smile with pleasure as slowly i drift...

And this time I not worry about nothing,
Because I believe.

©Nkiru Njoku, October 2002