WOULD YOU JUST ASK?

Segun stepped out of his bedroom. It was almost 11 am. He wasn't one to wake up so late but his trip from Ibadan to Jos wore him out. He was still tired and sleepy but he didn't want his cousin's family to think he was a lazy sloth which was his grandmother's way of referring to lazy people.

As he apprched the living room, he could hear his cousin's son crying. His cousin, Jide sat on the chair facing the TV. Jide was obviously ignoring his son who wanted his father's attention.

"Ayo, what's the matter?" Segun asked the boy who turned away from him. He pulled the boy to himself "Come on, talk to me" he beckoned to Ayo "what's the matter?" He asked the boy who was still crying although he knew the reason.

"Is it me?" He asked. Ayo nodded to say no

"Is it Aunt Eunice?" He got the same response from Ayo.

"Is it Grandma?" He got the same response

"Is it Grandpa?" Same response

"Is it your mummy?" Same response

"Is it your Daddy?" Ayo nodded affirmatively

"What did he do?" Segun asked Ayo who pointed at his dad.

"Remove your hand from your mouth and talk." Ayo's grandmother said as she walked past him.

He pointed at his dad. 

"You have to talk." Segun said to him

Ayo turned to Segun's ears and whispered "My daddy didn't give me drink"

"Did you ask him?" Segun asked

"He wouldn't give me" 

"Did you ask him?" Ayo asked once again

Ayo nodded to say no. 

"If you didn't then you can't be sure that he wouldn't give you. You need to go and ask him. Okay?"

"Okay" Ayo replied and Segun nudged him gently towards his dad.

"Daddy"

"Yes"

"Can I have your drink"

"Bring your cup"

Within a flash of light, Ayo ran to the kitchen and ran back with his cup. His dad filled the cup and gave it to him.

"Thank you daddy" Ayo said and sipped his drink. He paused to give his uncle a smile.

"See your chubby cheeks" Segun said and smiled back at him. 

"That's how many of us are with God. We wouldn't ask but we feel we wouldn't be heard so we carry puppy faces in sadness" Ayo's Grandmother said

"Very true" said Segun

"It is 'ask and you'll be given'. If you don't ask you can't receive what you want." she continued. "If you don't ask then you don't need or you're probably assistant-God-in-the-making because you instruct God on what to do."

Segun spent the rest of his day thinking about what his aunt, Ayo's Grandmother said. 

We still need to make our requests known without making assumptions.

It was deep.

And profound.

Photo credits

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