Iya Ibeji Series -The Gucci Bag...

Several years ago I went to a shop to buy a fairly used handbag. 

I made my choice and noticed it was Gucci but that wasn't the reason I picked it, I loved the designs and as a matter of fact I didn't like the Gucci inscription on it because I didn't think it was original.

So the seller came and praised my "great" taste then this conversation ensured.

SELLER: Madam your money na 12k.
IYA BEJI : 12K? For 1 or for 4
SELLER: Ha madam na Gucci bag you pick o, original one
IYA BEJI: See madam if na because of the Gucci wey them write make you find how you go take remove am, I'm not big on designers. I wan buy this bag because e fine forget the logo.

The seller continued talking about how the bag was limited in production, plus plenty other talk I was interested in so I didn't really pay attention. I told her to leave story that the highest I could go was 4500.

She shook her head pitifully like I cheated her and collected the money, me no really understand her drama. She said madam use this bag well na celebrities dey use am o. 

Madam I hear.

Few days later in church a sister walked up to me and started admiring my bag. Then she started saying same stuff the seller was trying to tell me about it been limited and expensive and all that. I became interested and asked her to tell me more , see how I was smiling because it felt like I had hit a jackpot.

The sister asked where I bought it and I said on the island (OK I lied in Church) I didn't tell her it was fairly used not after all the praising I couldn't fall hand na. Liver no let her ask me for the price (Thank God for that, as that would have resulted to another lie)

So after that conversation with the sister, I started treating the bag with maximum respect as the master piece that it was. I even changed it's hanging place. 

The next Sunday not several Sundays o, the very next Sunday, I dressed up carry my Gucci bag as the celebrity that I had become.

I saw sister from afar and we nodded to each other, several times during service I caught her starring at the bag. And just when the service was about to end I heard it clearly "SOW THIS BAG TO SISTER. Immediately I replied get behind me Satan.
But who was I kidding I knew it was from God I became sad, service ended for me.

I got home and I started talking to God. "Lord if you had asked me to give her this bag last week it wouldn't have been a problem its just 4500. I have sowed money/things much more than that. I just got to love this bag and from what they say I can't get it again, its limited. You know I can't afford the new one.

Father its not like I'm materialistic you know I'm not. Its just that I have fallen in love with this bag, please don't take it away from me. Or at least let enjoy it small".

It was a struggle for me, I kept resisting. During the midweek service I didn't carry the bag so I won't be complied to give it. But walking home from church that Wednesday evening I started talking to myself. Should anything be too hard for me to give God. Wait Iya beji you are not giving God you are giving sister. But God asked me to give her. The same God that gives you life?

I continued talking to myself and by Sunday I was ready to let go of the bag. Got to church on Sunday and sister wasn't around, a thought came "abi the bag is not meant for sister? " I said the devil is a liar. I refuse to second guess. Na so I call sister like say I wan do follow up. I asked why she wasn't in church and when she would be in church she said Wednesday.

To cut this story short I gave her the bag on Wednesday and she refused to collect it. The voice came again "You have done Gods part and if she refuse to collect it God knows you have tried. I replied the voice get behind me Satan. I told her God wanted her to have the bag and i felt she will value it more than me.
She said ma "I didn't tell you about the bag so you will give me".

I said I know but God wants you to have it and we dont want to stand in Gods way do we? 

She accepted the bag and then hugged me long and hard and i just felt this peace that comes from doing the right thing.
Next Sunday sister carried the bag to church and it was her turn to catch me starring at the bag.

I wish I could end this story by saying someone blessed me with another designer bag, no that didn't happened. But I never regretted giving her the bag. She carried that bag with pride for many years and until I got married and left that church branch for another that bag still looked fine.