Moving story of 49-yr-old pastor’s wife
Having a child, at any point in the life of a couple, is usually a celebration. For the Babalolas, however, who had waited 14 years for the miracle, it was an event too much for words. RITA OKONOBOH reports the couple’s journey of waiting.
LIFTING her voice to the high heavens, she rendered praises in various languages, her face beaming with smiles. Moments later, she cleared her voice to testify to God’s goodness in her life. However, after fourteen years of waiting on the Lord for a child, as Reverend Mrs Esther Babalola started to speak about her experience, she burst into tears, her voice choking with emotion. Her husband then led her to sit down.
The atmosphere at Union Baptist Church, Ekotedo, Ibadan, Oyo State, was livened with celebration during the week as Reverend and Reverend (Mrs) J.A. Babalola, celebrated the naming of their baby girl, born fourteen years into the marriage.
The couple who spoke in an interactive session with Sunday Tribune were too ecstatic and couldn’t keep the joy out of their words. Speaking on the treatment she had undergone during the period of waiting, Reverend Mrs Babalola stated that “I have never been pregnant until now. I don’t think there is any treatment a waiting couple would need that we didn’t take and above all, we were certified to be medically fit.”
On the reaction when the news came that they were expecting, the excited mother who just turned 49 stated that “The excitement was so much that I started to cry. My husband was not with me so I quickly sent a message to him. He was at the bank and I think he ended up filling about four tellers before he completed his transaction. He then rushed to meet me at the clinic with a crate of soft drinks to celebrate but I told him to hold on.”
For Reverend Babalola, “It was an unbelievable experience. I was very excited. On getting to the clinic to confirm it, we joined hands to praise God for making it possible.”
The experience of waiting
“Pastors are also human beings and blood flows through our veins. During the time of challenges, the burden in me was so much for my wife because she had faith and God counted on that faith to work out this miracle. She has been so strong in the Lord. It is after this miracle that many people wondered if this was really true. People did not advise us to break up because we too wouldn’t counsel couples to do that,” the happy father stated.
For the mother, “The experience was a bit painful but nobody, not even family members, mounted pressure on us to give up. Our testimony is that God’s grace kept us and we were not troubled in any way. Each time I counselled young ladies, I told them that I was still trusting God.”
Conception, another tense wait and delivery
“It is amazing that we’re naming the baby on the same day as my birthday. It is just God. I wished to but the doctor had earlier said that it wouldn’t be possible to have the baby around my birthday. However, God changed things. We were at a Bible study but she was scheduled for a scan so she went for the scan. However, when we got to the hospital, surprisingly, the doctor said the baby must be delivered within the next two hours. It was just God’s doing. And when they finally showed the baby to me, I saw that she was beautiful. I was overjoyed,” the mother stated.
For Reverend Babalola, “The doctor wanted me to be in the labour room but I preferred to stay in the ward praying. Within few minutes, it was over. When they placed the baby in my arms, the joy of the Lord came over me and I told her, ‘So, you’re the one we have been waiting for. Glory be to God.’”
‘He has changed my status from pity to celebration’
Continuing, the smiling new mother noted that “I don’t know how to express what I feel. What will I give to God for this that He has done for me. He has changed my name and status from nowhere to somewhere. He has changed my status from one of pity to celebration. Over the past few days that we have been preparing, when I see the sacrifice the church, friends, relatives and well wishers have given during our period of waiting, I know that this is God in action. Any little challenge, people are bound to offer the ungodly as the alternative. However, because of the grace of God upon me, I was not under pressure to do anything like that. Serving and believing that someday, somehow, the story will change is the best approach. God has given me the grace to taste motherhood and I give glory to God and will remain faithful to Him.”
‘God is up to something’
In his exhortation, the chairman, Ibadan Baptist Conference, Reverend E.A. Falade congratulated the Nigerian Baptist Convention for “the great thing God has done in this time,” noting that “many more are on the way.” Further speaking on the grace of endurance which focused on his message titled, “God is up to something,” Reverend Falade affirmed that “Having to wait for 14 years is a special grace,” just as he declared that greater things shall follow.
Basing his message on the Bible passage, 1Samuel 9: 1-20, he stated that “some things that happen in our lives are a pointer to the fact that God is up to something. Buhari’s emergence as the president-elect, beyond all speculations; Ajimobi’s second term election, all point to the fact that God must be up to something in Nigeria.
“In the process of your suffering, God will elevate you. Things don’t just happen. Watch out for spectacular things and be wise. Watch out for spectacular people around you. Watch out for the spectacular word of God.”
Baby Babalola’s many names
The President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Dr S.O. Ayokunle, coordinated the naming of the baby. He prayed specially for the child as well as her parents, noting that her coming will continue the manifestation of God’s work in their lives. Baby Babalola’s names include Damaris, Oluwaseun, Oluwaseyi, Osatohammwhen, Oluwabamise, Oluwadarasimi, Iyanuoluwa, Omonike, Abike.
There was special prayer session for those who were waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, coordinated by the president of Ibadan Baptist Conference, Reverend Dr S.A. Adekunle, and other ministers of God present.
Mother adds a year, launches book
Baby Babalola’s naming ceremony was a indeed a day of multiple celebrations as Reverend Mrs Babalola celebrated the joy of adding another year and launched a book based on her experience, titled The Pains and Gains of Waiting. The book which chronicles the stages and meanings of what it takes to wait, also features the testimonies of couples who have gone through the challenges of waiting. According to Revd Mrs Babalola, “The moment we enter God’s waiting room, we are not expected to simply sit and expect something to happen in turn as one might do in the doctor’s waiting room, at the ATM stands or at a popular bus stop for something to happen. Instead, we should spend quality time praying and believing God to meet our needs.
“In other words, we should be confident and full of expectation while we wait for God’s promise to be made manifest in our lives.”
‘God in the bad times is God of the good times’
The new mother advised waiting couples to continue to wait as God is ever faithful. “There is no need to doubt God. The coming of this baby motivated me to write a small book. It pays to wait. It may seem costly to wait but the reward can be overwhelming. God’s promises never fail.”
For the father, “God has never forgotten anybody. When people trust in the Lord, he will reward their labour of waiting and they will be blessed at the end. Waiting may not just be for children. It could be for other life challenges and I would advise that in the period of waiting, people should not argue with God. God in the bad times is still the God of the good times. He will not change and will not fail. If you wait on Him, He will fulfill his promises concerning His people and the society will be better for it.”
The event was one of all smiles as it gathered people from all walks of life, including an impressive number of women, young and old, who were very happy to be living witnesses to the rare testimony.
Source:Tribune
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