*ASHLEY THE VILLAIN*

Call me Ashley, the villain. I do anything for pleasure. Anything, including taking a knife down your throat. Best way to be my friend? Stay the hell out of my business.

I am not the same girl you knew ten years ago. That pure  twelve year old girl with milky innocence and bright eyes; that girl with a perfect shape, beautiful and incredibly endearing. I lost all those features when Richard robbed me of my childhood.

You want to know Richard, right? He was a private guy, the type you could not figure out at first meeting. He had brown skin and charming looks. Also, his dark eyes made me weak at the knees. He had the heart of a lion and a confident disposition to match. He was tall, slim, and muscular, with an almost perfectly oval face. Exactly how I love them!

Everyone was drawn to him. He could have an ocean of friends but he found warmth and joy being around me. He was the exact replica of the character I had fallen in love with in my favorite novel. I felt really honoured he wanted nobody but me. Yes, I was just twelve but I was the kind that knew bigger things than her age - a very intelligent young girl.

I am the only child of the popular Mr. and Mrs. Doughlas, owners of the Doughlas Group; one of the trusted media companies in Africa. Richard worked with my dad as the head of the Nigerian branch.

I only got to see my dad about three times a month. My mum is an A-list actress, always on set, touring the world and always assuming I was fine.

I was then stuck with Richard who was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the driver took me to school and the nanny made my food. Richard visited me every night to ensure I was fine. He handed me thoughtful gifts and goodbye kisses before driving to his house. It was our little dirty secret.

At fifteen, I had aborted four pregnancies for Richard. And, my womb was removed at the fifth attempt. Not only that, he introduced me to hard drugs and the assasination of one of my father's competitors. He said, "one of the ways to feel powerful is to delete anyone trying to take your place."

At nineteen, I gained admission into one of the prestigious Nigerian universities and relocated to the campus hostel. I dumped Richard because he could no longer satisfy my newly- found obsession.

I was bored and needed something more adventurous. So, I opted for lesbianism. I had the money and could entice any lady I wanted. Richard wouldn't let me go easily and he kept raining fire and brimstone. Before he could attempt to kill me, I ended his miserable life in his apartment. A clean job no one ever found out. He was declared missing.

Everything about me screamed, "danger". But if you looked closely behind my eyes in a quiet moment, you'd notice something else. I was terrified and needed someone to save me from myself.

One night, I lay down on my luxurious bed, feeling tired of it all. I had all the pleasures at my beck and call but I still felt like something was missing. “I'd commit suicide,” I thought to myself. Then I remembered that dying would  bring me face to face with God and that scared me.

At that moment, a thought dropped in my mind: “What if you ask God for help?  Another part of me said, “There's no way God can ever give attention to a beast like you.” But, the former voice seemed more sincere. So, I said, “God, if you exist, I need you to help me now.”

Suddenly, I saw a bright light penetrate through my roof and all I could feel was immense love radiating through me. For no reason, I found myself weeping uncontrollably. And, for the first time, I felt safe and protected.

To my surprise, I was still awake on my bed but I could also see myself going out of my room, walking to my father's media company. I stood at the middle of the exotic compound and a big screen started playing before me.

I watched how the movies, songs and other contents the company promoted locally and internationally, corrupted the morals of many and made them a timing bomb.

Then I heard a voice say to me, “I want you to channel your fierceness towards evading the media industry. Make my kingdom reign in this Industry.” Then I said, “God, I am the worst person to do this.”

And He said to me, “Before I formed you, I knew you. Have you heard about Paul? He was the chief persecutor of my church but that never changed my purpose for him. I am no respecter of persons and I call things which be not as though they are. I have not come for the righteous but to call sinners unto repentance. Do not be afraid and be of good courage. But, before then, meet with the sister's coordinator in your campus fellowship. Her name is Deborah. She'll help you grow into the woman I've designed you to be.”

“I went back to my room and my spirit returned back to my body. I wondered, what just happened?

Tonight, I sit here broken realizing that God is indeed interested in any man and every man is part of his eternal agenda. Now, I feel peace and unexplainable joy within my heart, knowing that my life is about to change forever.”

(The end)

You could be worse than Ashley or know someone who is.

God's purpose is not hindered by your past. He turned a murderer (Moses) into a deliverer (Exodus 3) and a coward (Gideon) into a mighty leader (Judges 6-, He also turned a prostitute (the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the
well of Jacob) into a preacher (John 4:1-42).

Imagine what He could make of you. You are not too old or too young to start walking in your purpose. Nothing you have done can cancel your purpose. The world is awaiting your exploit.

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Doctor! Doctor!! Doctor!!! Please, save my daughter. She took some poisonous substance and after some time, she stopped breathing. Eniola's mum rushed into the hospital, dragging an unexpectant doctor by her jacket. With tearful eyes, she implored her to come to the rescue of her dying daughter who was lying unconscious in a car parked at the hospital gate.

Calm down, Madam, we'll take care of it. Doctor Tayo said, beckoning on the nurses to wheel Eniola into the hospital.
After much effort to resuscitate her, Eniola woke up, looking rather confused and angry. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice, praying from afar. It was her mothers. She screamed, Mummy!

Excitedly, her mother ran into the ward where Eniola was being treated. Spotting her mum, Eniola started shouting. Mum, why did you do this to me? Why didn't you allow me die? Her mum stood in awe, lacking  the right words to say. Eniola continued, Mum, God owes me an explanation and I have to see him now.

I am thirty-two, single and frustrated. No man is willing to take me down the aisle. I was the best lady of my last single friend who got married recently. My younger siblings are all married with kids. I was even the one that prayed for them all to find their spouses. But my own prayers seem to fall on deaf ears. Despite all these, I stayed faithful to God and decided to wait on him in prayer and fasting for seven days. Mum, how could God watch me get raped by five hefty men? Why? Why? Why? I want it to end right now.

Doctor Tayo, who had been watching the drama, allowed Eniola vent out all the anger in her. Then she sat beside her, held her right hand and said to her, All things work together for good to them that love God and  are called according to his purpose. Although you feel terrible right now, everything will make sense soon and you'll be grateful for this experience. Her words made no sense to Eniola who wouldn't stop crying.

After some days, Eniola was discharged and she returned home with her mother. Doctor Tayo monitored her very closely  and did not fail to let her know that suicide is a straight-to-hell mission. After few months, Eniola recovered and went back to her normal life.

Each time Doctor Tayo had a case of rape or suicide, she called Eniola to come around to talk to the patients. Somehow, it was as though her words were healing balms that pulled them out of their ordeals.

Overtime, she became recognized for this act and was always invited to speak at conferences and rehabilitation centres for depressed and rape victims.

On a fateful day, Doctor Tayo called Eniola's attention to the fact that God may be calling her to become a Therapist. "This just confirms what God has been telling me". Eniola said, excitedly. She resigned from her teaching job, and started a rehabilitation centre for the raped and the depressed.

In no distant time, her fame spread like wild fire. She garnered local and international awards for helping people heal.

On one occasion, an eighteen year old girl named Desire was brought to her for a counselling session. Desire was raped as a child and all attempts to get her back to her normal state had been to no avail. Desire's elder brother, Tomi watched one of Eniola's interviews on TV on a particular afternoon. Amazed at the wonderful things she was doing, he decided to bring his sister to her.

What set Eniola apart was that she had built an intercessory lifestyle. So, she was always on her knees, praying for all her patients. She believed in the power of the Holy spirit to transform lives. Hence, Desire's life changed radically few months after meeting Eniola.

Somehow, Tomi and Eniola grew to become good friends within the six months period. Eniola turned out to be the perfect kind of woman Tomi had always prayed to spend forever with. Hence, he saw his sister's sessions as the opportunity to get to know Eniola more. The more he knew her, the deeper he fell in love with her.

Tomi was also thirty-two. A refined young man with an interesting personality. Although he managed one of the biggest conglomerates in the country, he loved God deeply and upheld Godly standards in his operations.

Meanwhile, Eniola had also been crushing on him secretly. She had a feeling Tomi felt the same way. So, she prayed about him and had  peace as a proof of God's approval.

Since Desire had become well mentally and psychologically, Tomi knew he had no valid reason to visit the centre again.  So, on a cloudy Saturday evening, he went with his sister to the rehabilitation centre to thank Eniola for her invaluable contribution to humanity. After showering encomium on Eniola, he brought out an engagement ring, knelt before her and popped the long awaited question...Eniola, will you marry me?

Eniola felt like her heart was about to  exit her body but she struggled within herself to remain calm. She said 'yes' and that got the attention of everyone at the centre, including Desire. The feeling of ecstasy saturated the atmosphere.

They got married after three months and their union was blessed with  a set of twins and one girl. Besides their biological children, they had several children from the rehabilitation centre that calls Eniola Mummy. Now, people call her the mother of many generations.

(The end)

This is not a true life story. It is to remind you of how God works.

In truth, you are "who" you are because of "why" you are. Sometimes, the pains in our lives makes it seem like God is far or unfair to us. But that's not true. He is still around and always at work.

Watch that area of your life that seems difficult to crack. Could it be that your victory in that area is connected to the deliverance of others? Could it be that God is trying to pass a message across to you? In the pressing and crushing, God is always making a new wine out of us.

When you conquer a pain, authority is given to you to bring others out of it. So, rather than causing your luck, why not keep trusting God, have an open mind and you'll find yourself passing through that phase victoriously.

Remember, no season lasts forever.

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