Rachel moved to the city of Port Harcourt with her parents after the death of her younger brother who had died of cancer. She was enrolled in the best schools where she finished her primary and secondary education successfully. She lived happily with her parents as she was now the only child.
One day, Rachel was involved in an accident and needed a blood transfusion. Her dad kept praying and having hope that God would send a helper to donate blood for his sunflower as he fondly called her. After a thorough search and medical screening, Precious, her old school mate who had come to the hospital to visit her aunt was able to donate blood to Rachael who finally came out of coma and was discharged from the hospital the second week.
Rachel felt indebted to Precious and started hanging out with her. Precious had her own group of friends and had values that were in direct opposition to how Rachael had been raised. The lifestyle of Precious and her friends gradually began to reflect on Rachael’s character and subsequent attitude. Rachael stopped attending the mid-week service and quit her choir practice just so Precious could be pleased. She started following her to parties and all sorts of shady places. One day Rachael accompanied Precious and her group to a club where some rough boys verbally and sexually harassed her……. Annoyed and with a feeling of betrayal from her ‘friend’, Rachael got up and quickly zoomed out of the club.
Rachael’s walk back home had her replaying the events of the evening, wondering how she had wandered so far away from everything she had ever held so true and pure!!! The guys at Church would NEVER have tried such to any of the girls!!!! Thoughts of how she had disappointed God, her family and church folks rolled through her mind.
It was time to “go back home”. She had to choose the necessary and important things in life; her relationship with God or her ‘friends’?……..
Rachael stepped into the sitting room to meet her dad and mum preparing for devotion and joined them. It hurt her to see the shock but pleased expression on their faces. She knew she had made the right decision. It was Jesus or nothing!!!
She shared with her parents her experience and they all thanked God for sparing her. They both encouraged her to let go and have Jesus take the wheel while they sang the song ‘WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS’ to end the night’s devotion time.
Precious looked forward to the next service at Church to share the good news with her real friends.
