“How many times did I call you?” I am sure this particular question invokes the picture of a western Nigeria film where a serious conversation is supposed to ensue. If you have observed these films, you will realize the names are called three times before asking the above question. Well, my own question is; “why three? Why not two, four or even six?” I am sure you guys will be wondering where I am going with all this; I am sure the picture below has already caught your attention.
Yep! That’s my wedding picture three years ago in Salvation Army Church in Benin!; there has definitely been a lot of transformation since then. Last Wednesday was my 3-years anniversary and I could not hold my thoughts from wandering to seven years ago when I first set eyes on my best friend in University of Uyo; it happened on my first day as a Youth Corper serving in the capacity of Assistant Lecturer. I knew instantly that she was going to be my wife though it took some time for her to agree to be my friend.
God has been with us since then and all glory belongs to the Lord All Mighty, We are presently in the process of being financially free but I know the beginning was not as easy as it is now. We practically decided to go on this journey when we did not even know what the future will hold; we have taken risks together; we have failed in some endeavors and succeeded in others; we are mastering the craft of living successful lives.
One particular event I can’t seem to shake off my present memory was the news I got a day before my wedding day; all our material belongings were being thrown out of my apartment in Victoria Island by military officials. Can you imagine the psychological trauma? I can’t even beginning to tell you that we were not even financially okay to be getting married but we took the risk and despite this, those military guys were kicking me off the only apartment I had, and I was not even in Lagos.
It is not an experience I would love to paint for you with words but a single eight letter word will describe it; H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E!!! The share military brutality and heartless innuendos was experienced by my newly wedded wife and for the first time in my adult life, my heart was truly broken with uncontrolled tears pouring freely; to see tears instead of honey-moon joys in my wife’s face. But the Holy Spirit has taught me well that peace is not the absence of war but an inside assurance that all persecutions are temporary.
The Holy Spirit was definitely right; a week after the ugly episode and living in my parent’s house, I moved back to VI to a better apartment with lesser rent to pay. Though, we did not have the opportunity to go for our planned honey moon, we had the opportunity of seeing the effect of the power of three persons in a relationship; the Holy Spirit, my wife and I. This situation has been our anchor whenever we go through some of life’s difficulties which is inevitable especially when you are climbing the ladder of success (whatever that means to you).
The power of three can never be over emphasized; three is the symbol of unity; body, soul and the spirit; God’s attributes are three; omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience; God is three in one; Spirit, Father and Son. Three represents a divine completion of anything in one’s life. I was very glad when God made us three in our family by introducing Oluwadamilola; my baby girl and a future acclaimed talent. Check her out!
Let me give you an insight to what my relationship with my wife is like; strong friendship. It is not my own attestation but what people who live with us say. My wife’s sister was complaining to her mom; “Whenever I spend holidays with them, the two of them (my wife and I) are always “gisting” with each other that they hardly have time for anybody else. I woke up at 4.00 am in the morning and I heard them still talking; I was shocked!”
A business friend of my wife says this almost all the time; “those two are 5 and 6; they agree on everything so don’t bother trying to lure her.” My own mother puts it this way; “forget about Mercy (my wife’s name), whatever her husband asks her to do, that’s what she does, she always disobeys me to obey her husband”. This is what a business friend of mine said trying to make jest of me; “Dipo would not make that decision unless he asks his wife, we have to wait the next day before he gets approval from his wife”.
There are definitely so many other ones but these are the ones I can remember at the moment. The relationship is natural to me but people are the ones that make me feel there is something so special about my relationship with my wife. We quarrel sometimes but we sort it out almost immediately; in the seven years that we have been together, we have never quarreled or held grudges for more than 12 hours in a day; I am truly blessed to have this relationship.
Now the secret to these kinds of relationship is in the power of three. The third person in the relationship is what holds us together. We both have our shortcomings, likes and dislikes but the Holy Spirit keeps us together. The Holy Spirit makes the power three relationships perfectly divine. What relationship are you in; is it your relationship with your job or your business? Placing the Holy Spirit as the third party in any relationship is a proven success model that I am forever grateful to have.
Getting the Holy Spirit in your life is free but there are some price to pay to make his manifested presence evident. I believe engaging in spiritual activities will definitely make the difference; for example, my wife and I have a have a habit of praying and fasting together almost every Sunday for the past 7 years. It depends on what suits your family but note that less of human government and more of spiritual government is the panacea to relationship problems.
For my three year wedding anniversary, I am giving out two tickets FREE of charge to my readers who love listening to JAZZ. All you need to do is contact me with your addy and phone number and the ticket would be sent to you (you must be amongst the first two, to get it). The ticket is valued @ N2500.00 only.
Performing Artists: Mike Aremu, Yinka Davies, Bright Gain, Tosin Alao, Beautiful Nubia, Sehinde, Seun Olota, Eda-Ota, Bez Udakula, Ola Sam, Ayanfe, Nene, Oriri, Seun Beckley, Like Mind Trio, Ame & the Agogo band, Daniel Bankole, Pure and Simple, Passion Band and more
Date: 21st and 22nd December
Venue: Studio 868, Plot 868, Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Time: 3.00 pm
Have a lovely Holiday!
