KAIROS

Nurse: Mrs. Sophia Akadike! Mrs. Sophia! No. 24!

Sophia: I'm here; sorry, I went to ease myself.

Nurse: Enter the second room to your left.

Sophia: Okay, thank you. [as she walks with her protruding belly to see the doctor]

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God's ways are not our ways, and certainly, He doesn't use our watch. Who would believe that Sophia, confirmed barren by many doctors across the country, would become pregnant after 12 years of waiting? Who wouldn't praise this God? She had suffered a series of depression in recent years, an experience she wouldn't wish on her enemies.

Now that she's pregnant, the whole world should stand still for her.

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Doc: How are you doing, ma?

Sophia: I'm fine, sir. Going through my final days with the bump [smiling]

Doc: [looks at the file again and clears his throat] Hmm... I regret to tell you that your baby is malnourished and seems to be dying. It's even hard to pick a heart sound. I'm surprised you're already eight months gone.

Sophia: Doc, please, I don't understand. I've labored to carry this baby for eight months, and my husband cannot wait to hold his child after 12 years. My mother-in-law is waiting, and even my enemies are waiting.

Doc: Madam, I'm not negating your efforts, but you're not following the terms of pregnancy. If you don't adjust, all your suffering will be in vain.

Sophia: How do you mean, sir? My Bible says I'll deliver like the Hebrew women.

Doc: [laughs] God didn't say you'll die in this pregnancy, but listen - as a pregnant woman, your body changes. You must adjust temporarily for your child's sake.

Sophia: [looks at herself and back at the doctor]

Doc: You're wearing eight-inch high heels at eight months pregnancy. What if you fall? Your dress is so tight; how do you cope with ventilation for yourself and your baby?

Sophia: But I shouldn't look less than myself just because I'm pregnant. This is how I've always been.

Doc: [shakes his head] That aside, your report shows you still consume lots of ice cubes, you still don't exercise as counseled earlier and you don't take fruits or vegetables... At eight months???

Sophia: But I don't like those things. I prefer shawarma to fruits. Why should I force hot water down my throat when God has blessed me with a freezer at home?

Doc: [interrupts] God gave you a freezer but you should tell that now is a time to shut the freezer and focus on having your baby. Meanwhile, this is just your third visit to the ante-natal clinic; you should be here every month especially as a first time mom.

Sophia: But I have a busy schedule. How do I explain this to you? You don't seem to understand sir. I can't cancel appointments that will give me money to come to the hospital just to be looked at....

Doc: Mrs. Sophia, there's always an excuse to not do what you should. I'm not sure you understood pregnancy's implications. Maybe that's why God didn't give you a child sooner. Now, you've proven Him right.

Sophia [sobbing]...

Doc: You see, there are "certain times" and "certain times" require "certain consecrations." Anyone unwilling to abide will lose out, just like you're about to lose this pregnancy.

Sophia: Doc, please don't talk like that [crying profusely].

Doc: I'm sure you read the Bible. Have you read the book of Revelation?

(Sophia nods but the doctor continues almost immediately)

Doc: In Rev.1:10, John said he was "in the spirit on the Lord's day" and then he saw the visions of God. Imagine he gave excuses why he shouldn't be in the spirit on such a day.

The Lord's day will come, but it is what we do on those days that give us a voice in a generation.

You're free to give excuses on your "chronos" times but pregnancy is a "Kairos". If you cannot give yourself to the demands of this pregnancy you will not only deny yourself a harvest, you'll also deny the next generation a seed.

Sophia: Doctor, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see it this way. I didn't realize pregnancy would add constraints to my life. Moreso, I didn't feel like I should allow pregnancy throw me into any sort of discomfort at all 

Doc: It's only for nine months. You've waited twelve years for this moment. Why treat this moment as if it doesn't matter? If it only takes nine months of discomfort to prove to the world that you're not a barren woman, shouldn't you subscribe to the terms and bear it?

Sophia: I've realized my mistakes sir. I was blinded by my foolishness but please I'm ready to do anything for this baby to live. I'm begging you sir. Just anything.

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As she entered the car with her husband and mother-in-law, smiling at her baby.

She heard the doctor's voice, "If you're not willing to adjust temporarily to the season's requirements, then you're not ready to birth your baby."

"Thank you, Jesus, for a second chance. Thank you for keeping her despite my carelessness," she muttered under her breath as the car zoomed off.

THE END