Love Never Fails

When you go to church you meet Jesus. And when you pray, he might answer you immediately. And because he’s God and has a great sense of humor, he may even give you a wife, only that she’s will be too young to get married. So you wait.

That’s happened to my best friend, my brother, one morning, 2007, he went to church, expectant. He met Jesus, and a girl. They were sharing a pew with this beautiful young girl. A form two at the time, he was in form four. Legally, they were in the same age group, he was 17, and she was 14. When she was looking up to Jesus overwhelmed in His presence, he was looking at her. In church, you do not check out people, that’s lusting, you just look. Thank God for His creation then close your eyes and chase the devil in your mind and the lust in your eyes. And if you’re catholic, you do the sign of the cross and believe you are forgiven.

He knew he needed to make a move. If he didn’t do it that year, any attempts to befriend her later would be rebuffed. If he did after he cleared school, he’d be considered a pervert. So they started talking, as friends. And for the next few years they would talk. He would still see her during term days because the smaller sister was in the same High School. See how God works? Even when we don’t see Him in our reality, He is still working on over-drive, behind the scenes. At the time, she considered him her mentor.  He was mentor- zoned from the word go. In fact, she would introduce him as a childhood friend. Haha.

Every time she would introduce him as such, he would cringe. Cringe because she was now becoming an attractive young woman, and he was developing feelings. But he had to contain them (his feelings) because he’s a law abiding citizen. He’s the type that will never get the wrong side of the law. Only the law can get the wrong side of him. He’s as straight as they come. So he waited, he waited like a hungry lion. As he waited, he put a cork to his feelings.

When she cleared school, he took her to get an ID. Nothing was stopping him this time. Haha. Ok, I am lying, he didn’t take her, but his reaction meant the same as taking her. She was now legal, both in God’s eyes, and in the long arm of the law. He was determined. So they started dating immediately. He had nothing to offer her but his love- It was all he had, that, and some baggy black jeans, an oversized Sean John t-shirt, and original timberland boots- pure nascent love. 

The first few months were all rosy. He was happy. She was happy. But after a few months, she couldn’t be tethered anymore, she needed her freedom, real freedom. So she broke up with him. That left him broken. I am sure he cried and felt let down by God, and maybe by the world: “To God, but I met her in you House, it was meant to be and to the world, I thought good things happen to those who wait?”

For one year, it was back to the 80s again, Cold War. The girl wanted to hang out, but as friends.The boy child was hurting. What is with women and wanting men who like them as friends? Like, you know he likes you, he says it or acts like it, but you want him to be just your friend. You get mad when he treats another woman, but you’ll tell him endless stories of how other men are trash. 

One day we were just taking in some evening breeze. Back in the day when a Kasarani was Kasarani. Days before it became a concrete jungle. Days before the Sudanese discovered the place. Days when Thika road was a four lane road. Days when we’d see Githurai from home. Days when clay-works had an ever burning brick furnace. Days before clay-works could be considered an estate, it was a village; with maize plantations, no electricity and we used to get water from a well. Those days,you’d watch sun set and play football under the stars. We were young, ambitious and carefree-ish. Nowadays, you watch shadows. Shadows of buildings or Sudanese. 

That evening, He told me, “Wahinya, huyu msichana sijui anataka aje, she already knows I like her.” Playing Dr Love, I told him, “dude you need to grow a pair and tell her exactly what you are telling me.” He followed my advice (see, I give the best relationship advise- but since Kinyozi hajinyoi utosi, aluta continua) and in December 29th 2011, they had the talk. They made up, maybe even kissed in the dark, and this time it was for good.

They started dating, and now, a stone throw away from their seventh-year anniversary, they are getting married. It hasn’t been all rosy, but God has been Merciful, it has been a journey for them, they have stayed faithful, beaten all odds, and now they are Victorious.

Today’s post, though short- as love stories should be. Anything long, and the juice is lost- is dedicated to them;

For staying true to each other,

For choosing each other over and over again even when they may have had options,

For being examples that nascent love can be nurtured and matured,

For teaching a generation that true love is possible,

And for choosing to honour God and your parents.

Tomorrow as you walk down the aisle to be joined forever, God willing, I will be there cheering you on. To celebrate you. To celebrate with you.

But before then, here’s to a wonderful life together, many children, much happiness and staying true to each other.

Congratulations Mercy and Vic.

Love you both.