Categories: Obedience

In the valley of the shadow of death

Have you ever imagined finding yourself in a valley where you behold the shadow of death? Well, probably not. Death really has no shadow, right? Okay, imagine walking through a jungle and you see a shadow of a lion. For most people, all what they imagine next, is becoming the dinner for the lion in the next minute, even though you haven’t seen the real lion yet. This point when your death is all what you see is called “A walk through the valley of the shadow of death”. I’ll share my experience in it.

In May 1996, just three months after celebrating my third birthday, it was enough for me to start experiencing a tragedy that I wouldn’t forget easily. One Friday, my eldest sister, Ruth had a dream. In her dream, she saw me burnt and my chances of staying alive was small, because I looked terrible in what she saw in her dream. She shared the dream with my parents, but from their reactions, I think it wasn’t that scary. They had no idea this dream would be fulfilled in their own eyes.

The next day was a Sunday. My Dad had invited the church folks to pray at our home instead of the church that was far away. He had intentions of sharing a meal with the fellow Christians after the service. I don’t remember if the meal was served after the service, because something bad happened.

When I saw my childhood friend, we decided to leave the house wherein people were praying. We went to the kitchen side, where his mom was helping to prepare meals. It was a large pan of milk on fire, maybe about 40 litters, or something close. By the time the milk was just about to start boiling, I sent the lad to call his mother to oversee see the process. I saw the foam coming and the milk was about to start flowing over, but she had not yet come. I picked up a staring stick to help with the situation, but I felt I should sit first. The chair I was trying to sit on lost balance, and boom! I found myself in the pan of boiling milk. The next thing I remember was the boy’s mom lifting me outta the pan.

At this point, I could feel like they had put fire on my body. All parts of me were hot. I felt my life would come to an end. My mom saw me, and I could see a loss only in her eyes. My Dad saw me, and he went quarreling with God, asking questions that I’m afraid he didn’t get the answers to. No one who saw me could give me any positive energy.

As time went on, my Dad composed himself and gathered strength. It was time to try and fail. The best shot was a medical center that’s about 15 to 20Km. But before he could conclude, Ruth the dreamer was reportedly ill. My Dad and Mom who were struggling with finances needed to organize money to help save both of us. I had difficulty with everything. Whenever any piece of cloth would touch me, it’d stick to the wounds. If I’m not covered, my wounds would become a feast for the flies. Life was no good for me.

When we were both taken to the hospital, the whole family got some hope. I kept encouraging my parents and telling them I’d be well, but they couldn’t see it. They could respond to my statement with a pitiful look. It looked to me like they were saying, “You have no idea what you are saying”.

One week of staying in the hospital, it was time for the situation to get crazy. My lovely sister was pronounced dead. My parents didn’t know who to mourn for, my already dead sister, or me who is also heading to my last breath.

A few days later, I was stabilised. Small hope was seen in me. I had a chance of life again. Some traditionalists said my sister’s life was taken for the ransom of my own. I don’t know what that means, but I know God saved me.

I know God saved me because He wanted to. Yes, my childhood beauty could be compromised, but I know He didn’t allow me to have my last breath for a reason.

When people see me today, they think I shouldn’t smile. They ask me where I get the “beautiful” smile from. I answer them with even a bigger one because it’s all I have after the near death experience. It’s all I can use to motivate someone who doesn’t believe that God sees all the pain that we have. It’s all I have to show that life is not just about looking like others, but being the best we can be. It’s all I have that God can be glorified with.

I’ve been there, God got me out. Even if I were to die, I still knew I was with God even in those dark moments, He never left me. If I live or die, He is with me. And in all that, I learned one thing, it’s better to be in the dark moment with God, than to be alone in the shiny moment.