Hadassah was busy preparing dinner when she heard her husband's car drive into the compound. She smiled to herself as she lifted the pot of Jollof rice off the gas cooker. He was home right in time for dinner, seeing that he loved his food fresh and hot.

She dished the food and headed to the dining, by that time her husband was seated on a couch in the living room. She placed the food on the table and went back to the kitchen to get water. Her return still met her husband sitting in the same spot not noticing her presence one bit. She walked up to him, as she got closer she could see a worried look on his face. Something was heavy in his heart and it was so obvious.

"Daddy Ephraim?" She called but didn't get a response.

"Honey. Joseph", she tapped his shoulder snapping him out of his thoughts.

" Sweetheart", he said as he forced a smile. She sat beside him and rubbed his shoulders. She knew how much he loved that, and that would make him tell her what was eating him up.

"Oko mi. My husband, what is wrong", She asked, Joseph, exhaled as she could see through his eyes. He was definitely bothered about something. " You've been home for close to 15 minutes now. And you've sighted here for over ten minutes. But you didn't call me or come to meet me in the kitchen, that's so unlike you. Tell me, Joseph. What is eating you up?", She asked in a calm voice, rubbing his shoulders.

"Sweetheart", he started as he sat up. " I can not help but have a strong feeling that there's something wrong in the Adewale's home". He said.

"Really. What made you so sure. Abi, is it not the D. O's family you are talking about. What could be so wrong that they can't fix with prayers". Hadassah reacted. Aderinsola was her role model, she had a happy home just because she had listened to most of her sermons. She admired her a lot, and couldn't help but tell all and sundry about how God uses the woman. And Pastor Dele, her husband's old friend. He was a man full of fire and zeal for God, he was a man filled with different gifts of the Spirit. What could possibly be wrong with their home?

" I don't know Darling. I don't know, but I was praying earlier today I felt it strong in my spirit to pray for them. I called him and I talked to him, but he was only crying over the phone. He had said he had gone too far away from the faith to come back. I'm worried sweetheart" he explained.

"Ah. That's serious. What do you think we can do?", Hadassah asked, obviously worried and concerned about the situation.

" We will be praying for them. Dele didn't sound any good at all. Please Darling can we organize fasting and prayer so we can pray for this family?"

"I'm in honey. They've been a great impact in my life, we ought to pray for them"

"Thank you, darling. We'll start tomorrow. In the meanwhile, how about we call Ephraim. And ask him to keep an eye on Jemima?" Joseph suggested.

"Yes darling, I totally agree with you", Hadassah said. " For now, let's go have dinner okay. It is well".
With that, they both went to dining. Consuming the delicacy with a smile plastered on their faces.

    ~~~

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3".

The third time. It was the third time in the week, that, that verse had been used in the morning devotion. Toni watched as nurse Temidayo read the Bible, it was as if the words in the Bible made her happy because she couldn't understand why she was smiling.

It's been a month living with nurse Temidayo, and everything about her had to marvel at Toni. She was always happy, smiling, and calm. Toni wished she could have a life like that. She wished she could truly be happy and peaceful as this woman was. The morning devotions came with an atmosphere she had come to love, she always found herself craving for more.

" He has loved us with an everlasting love Toni", Nurse Temidayo said as she started to explain the verse. Toni listened with rapt attention as she started speaking.

Toni had grown up in the church, but she had always thought that the love of God was for only special people. People who had beautiful lives that would probably entice God. Because if there was any love like that, she had never and could never experience it. She was not the type any l e would ever love, the ones that loved her had l
Died a long time ago.

" There are many times when it seems we can not be loved. When it seems we can never experience the true love of God. Times when we just don't understand. But the lord tells us he loves us, he reassures us even when it seems it is not manifesting".

" We are created to be an expression of his love. We are created to be loved. We are love beings. Because we are created by God. God who is love.

Created to be loved?

Those words were not the type she heard in church,  not like she ever listened in church. Could God have meant to create her just to love her? Just to express his love? Maybe she was not in the category of people who were created to be loved. She just couldn't be there.

" And his love is for all. He offers the same offer for everyone. God loves you and he says no matter how far you have gone immersed in sin, he will always love you. No matter if your life is a mess God still cares for you. He wants to hold you in his arms and just love you. No height, no depth no power can ever separate you from the love of God",   her words seemed like balm easing Toni's wounds.

She couldn't hold the tears anymore, she wanted to be loved. She wanted to experience this love that never gives up. The love she'd learned about in three days. She wanted to experience the overwhelming love of God, she wanted to touch love experience love, she wanted that love.

Her heart felt like it would explode as she knew she was ready. She had just been told God loves her too. As she continued crying, nurse Temidayo read the Message Bible version of that same verse.

This is the way God put it:
"They found grace out in the desert,
these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
met God out looking for them!"
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again,
dear virgin Israel.

She teared up as she listened to what was being read. She was Israel and she had found grace in the sight of God. All this while she had been looking for a place to rest, a place where her worries could be put on hold. But God was looking for her and had not only gave her a place to rest, he had to give her love.

I'll never quit loving you. Expect love and more love. I'll start over with you and build you up again

She could swear that she heard a voice saying this, loud in her spirit. Her decision was made, she was accepting that love. She opened her eyes to see Nurse Temidayo who was already singing in the spirit.

"Please pray for me".