A Tribute to my dad
Rev.
Moses Chukwuemeka Nkemka
Looking at your lifeless body,
hoping you would wake up and call my name in a slow manner like you usually do
whenever you wake up from sleep “Daaanieeellll”. I waited and waited, prayed
and prayed yet you didn’t move an inch.
I touched your body which was already
getting cold and I wondered within me, “Could this be true or is it a dream”? I
suddenly became restless and paced up and down, hoping that something
miraculous would ensue; but unfortunately nothing happened.
Not until I saw your lifeless body being
conveyed back to our State; your birth place, that it dawned on me that it is not
a drama, but a reality staring at me on the face.
Looking back through the years, I
remember your hard core discipline, scolding, flogging and strong words but I
also remember your sacrifices, your selflessness, your humility, your love for God and your children, your
total conviction and dependency on God, no matter what.
Going through memory lane, I
remember vividly that whenever you want to wake us up for morning prayers, my
name is always the first to be mentioned; “Daanniieelll” and even if I am in a
faraway dreamland, I will wake up fast, because I have already familiarized the
sound of your voice and as soon as I hear it, I respond right away
“saaaaaaaaaa”.
Sometimes, we wake up 4:30am for
morning devotion and you spend over 2 hours preaching, especially if you have
something very important to talk about and of course whenever a serious issue
arises, we all know that our morning devotion will be very long the next day. As
a result, we brace up for it.
Whenever I stayed beyond the
curfew, my phone starts ringing and it’s you calling me with your baritone
voice in ibo language “Daannieeellll ele
ebinor, ngwa lota nulor osisor”, meaning “Daniel where are you, return home immediately”.
You didn’t give your children any
special preference to other people; you treated everyone the same. As a matter
of fact, you sometimes chose to satisfy others at our expense which was quite
painful but it also showed your level of sacrifice, doggedness and devoutness.
Even when you were sometimes
affronted by the same people you cared so much about, ill-treated by the same
people you sacrificed yourself for, demoted by the people you are serving under,
aggravated and pushed against your will, you still showed a gentle spirit and
chose to bear the discomfort without complain. I salute your gentility.
All through our years of moving with you from place to another, we have learnt the principle of relationship and value for people, which is why wherever we went to, we always create this friendly rapport with everyone around us and we have so far enjoyed a good relationship with people even up till now.
Sometimes you chose to go hungry so
that we will eat, you chose to starve, so that you can pay our school fees even
when things were tough and rough; our welfare was your primary concern.
During the time when you had a
major life-threatening health issue, you survived it; even the doctors attested
to the fact that your survival was a miracle. Your vigor, tenacity, mulishness
against all odds and the strength of God brought you thus far.
Unfortunately, when we you had
recovered and had become better, and we, thinking would now enjoy your company
better now, whenever we come visiting, had our hopes dashed as you were taken
away from us without prior notice.
Am very certain you will be looking
at us from heaven, smiling and saying to yourself, “if only these people know that I am very okay where I am they won’t be
crying”.
But Dad, you won’t blame us,
because we are simply mortals with emotions and feelings and we miss you so badly.
However, it is pertinent to say
that you have fought a good fight of faith, you have finished your race and you
have ended your purpose and assignment on planet earth and we can say with all
sense of certainty and alacrity that you really ended well. Thank you for all
your love and sacrifice
We know we might not see you for
quite a while, until the very day that has been designed by God for us to meet
again but till then, I say “good bye Dad” Adieu!
@IamDanielKemka
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