A Beggarly Romance Tale

Yetunde’s father was disgusted as he sized the man talking to his daughter in the market. He could not believe his eyes. Were they deceiving him? Why were they telling him that his third daughter was eating chicken with a man and blushing as they talked?

The eyes were even now adding the extra information that the man she was talking to was a beggar. He made a mental note to see his optician the next day. He must be overdue for new lenses.

Mr Balogun was not a fool. He looked closer. He had lived on this Earth for fifty-eight years. He knew this game he was witnessing very well. He had played it himself in his younger days.

Of course, what his eyes were seeing was not ordinary, anger welled up inside him. This was certainly not the scene of the-privileged-helping-out-the-homeless.

He parked his car to survey the situation more closely. His daughter was not getting out of this one. What was wrong with Yetunde and dating homeless men!

Iya Caro, his neighbour had reported this kind of news to him before and he had talked to Yetunde about it. She had seemed remorseful then until now. Had she been deceiving him all along? No, this was not the same beggar of that day.

The beggar was laughing heartily. Mr Balogun cringed. The beggar had three missing teeth and plaques all over the rest. He must have never brushed a day in his whole life. Mr Balogun eyed his clothes. He would not even use them to clean his car even if he was paid in dollars.

As he watched, the beggar leaned in to kiss his daughter. She did not refuse his advance but was leaning over. Caught in the horror flick his eyes were showing him, he did not know when he shouted, “Yetunde!”

His baby girl jerked aside recognising the voice of her father but as she straightened to seek him in the little crowd of Abbott street, all she saw was his back as he entered his car and zoomed off.

Thirty minutes later, Mr Balogun is sitting across two people. He had expected Yetunde to run home crying and pleading but the foolish child had returned with the beggar too. Her initial words were still echoing in his head, “Dad, this is the man I want to marry. I love him very much and he loves me too.”

Mr Balogun’s gaze rested on his daughter but Yetunde refused to meet his eyes. He noted the stubborn set of her jaws. He knew pouring hot water on this man like he did the last one won’t work again. He dragged his mind back to what the ugly fool sitting in front of him was saying…

“Daddy…”

“I’m not your father in Jesus name,” he snapped baring his teeth.

The boy did not make the mistake again.

“Mr Balogun, it’s true what she said. I love Yetunde so much. She’s all I think about since the day I met her. I have what it takes to care for….”

Mr Balogun couldn’t take any more rubbish spewing from the boy’s mouth or maybe it was the stench so he cut in.

“How long have you been begging on the streets?”

He saw the man’s shoulder rise in pride, “Thirty years sir”. I was born there. My mother used to beg at Ikeja but when she born me, we moved to this side”.

He placed his hand over Yetunde’s on her lap and continued, “Don’t worry sir, I know all the tactics to this job. The clothes I wear alone always gather enough sympathy for more alms.”

“I see, uhm, ever gone to school?” Mr Balogun shook his head, “That’s a silly question. Forget.”

“Sir, I know you may not like me yet but I can take care of your daughter.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“Thank you sir for that question. I knew as a good father you would ask this and I have thought it over carefully. Sir, begging is my life and my profession. I don’t plan to stop doing it. I have seen that your daughter is very educated so I will give her some time maybe two or three years to continue in your company before she joins me in begging on the streets. It’s going to be our family business. I also have expansion plans. Our children will also be beggars but not in the same field, I mean street, we will diversify…”

Mr Balogun didn’t know when he stood up swiftly. “Ha! Haba, Yetunde! Haba! This is what you brought to me?” He could not stop his voice from breaking at the last word. “After all my investment in you? Haba, Yetunde!”

Yetunde put her arm around her lover and set her jaw in a stubborn line…

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How do you expect this story to end?

Hilarious isn’t it? Ok, let’s be real. Does this love story look like it has a happily ever after hidden somewhere in it?

How long do you think before Yetunde begins regretting her “lovely” decision? What would you do if you were Yetunde’s father?

I don’t know about you but I do know what I’d do. I’d lock her up then beat the guy to a pulp.

Who is a Beggarly Man to God?

He is the man that has refused to surrender to His authority. He is not born again. A beggar is any person who has declined to call Jesus, Lord and stays in his beggarly birth state (Romans 6:16).

Yahweh is a respecter of no person. He doesn’t care about physical appearance, position, wealth, beauty, intellect or whatever of anybody. It’s the identity with his son, Jesus that opens the door to his interaction with us and bestows on us our God status (Gal 4:7).

And in this kingdom, gods marry gods. Yes, we deal in arranged marriages. In Ruth 3:1, Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, I must find a husband for you so that you will have a home of your own” (GNB).

She brought the topic before Ruth did herself. It shows how mindful God is concerning even this aspect of our lives.

Don’t be a Yetunde

Children of God, allow your Father to choose a partner for you.

No matter the strain or pressure to get married, never forget how precious you are to God. Maybe you do know this but just HOW special do you think you are? No! Don’t consider hooking yourself to an unbeliever, you’ll look just like Yetunde did to you.

Did you see the plans the beggar had for his future family? That’s just how it is in the spirit realm too.

God loves all men but when it comes to the topic of marriage, he will never pair his children with anyone less worthy of them. God’s children are his treasures (Psalm 127:4-5), his world. He watches over them every minute (Psalm 1:6). Note that treasures are handled specially.

While the metal spoon is used to serve anybody, the gold spoons are kept for special occasions. Do you notice how many times the word special appears in this post? That’s how serious, this matter is.

If you as a human want the best for your child, how much more your heavenly father? Or do you think God doesn’t like good things? Perhaps HE won’t be able to recognize a good thing when He sees it?

Are you a Yetunde, who for any reason known only to you have become impatient enough to be considering a marital relationship with an unbeliever?

This person might look perfect and awesome on the outside yet, God’s will has not changed neither will it. Hear the voice of your heavenly father today: “Why? Haba….! Haba nau…!”