Chapter 4 GRACE

When Pabo found out his friend come to live with Mr. Angelus he was extremely happy. But then he noticed a change in his friend's attitude. He no longer showed interest in playing ball. Each time he went to his class to call him he's either reading or solving mathematics. He didn't give up on him as he kept pestering him. Sometimes Grace would succumb and other times he would flee from him and go somewhere else to continue his study. Pabo noticed a strong bond between Mr. Angelus and his friend and how greatly he had influenced him even before he started staying with him.

He knew if he continued like this he would lose his friend so he decided to talk Grace out of Mr. Angelus doctrine and advice but was disappointed at his response so he let him be.

After class the next day, Grace took permission from Angelus to go see his parents and Inform them of his new name. His request was granted and he left immediately.

Mr. Opus didn't like the idea of a stranger changing the name of his only son without his permission. Courtesy demands that Mr. Angelus should have informed him before changing his name. " in just two days you spent with that teacher and he's changed your name. Who knows what he would do in the next six months time?" He queried.

Sensing his father's anger, Grace tried to explain to him but he brushed him off. "Tell your teacher to come see me!" he snapped. At this point he stood up and walked past everyone seated outside to enter the room. Mrs. Opus knew her husband was upset; this was not the right time to talk to him so she let it be. She turned to Grace and encouraged him not to lose heart as she would talk to her husband at the right time. She understood everything he said; it's never a bad idea for a change of name but keeping him in the dark was what got him angry. She took a close look at him and complemented his new looks

Saying, he's changed alot just in two days; new clothes with a pair a black sandals to match and a clean haircut. All these would not have been possible if he was with them. He's looking more cheerful now, she prayed her husband understood the teacher's intentions and not take drastic decision out of anger.

She placed her hand on his shoulder and drew him to herself and wished him well. Before leaving he gave his sisters some wraps of sweets he bought on his way with the money his guardian gave him. He bided them goodbye and left.

Mr. Angelus visited there days later. I. This meeting with the Okaros, the issue was brought up and he properly explained his genuine intentions to them Which Opus accepted. He now understood he was only trying to help improve the life of his son. He never understood the name in that manner even though he knew the meaning. He thanked him for his support and training he gave to Grace. He believed Opuboy would be better than them under the tutelage of the teacher.

As he stood up to leave, Mr. Angelus brought out some money from his pocket and gave Opus to support his family. Humbled by this generosity from someone he thought he had bad intentions towards him, he stretched his two hands to the teacher to thank him and extended his love to his son who couldn't come along.

A few weeks later, while they were at home one Saturday evening, Mr. Angelus called Grace to continue his teaching on the path to greatness. Before he started, Grace had taken permission to go invite his friend Pabo to come get erudition just as him, but was disappointed when Pabo turned him down by saying it's only a waste of time listening to that old man. Not minding him, Grace left and quickly returned to Mr.Angelus without argument.

He gave a convincing excuse why Pabo couldn't come and took a seat as he stared at him intently so as not to miss any point. After complimenting him for his hard work, Mr. Angelus started with the story of his life. "My father died when I was about your age." Grace wandered why he was talking about his father instead of his usual teachings on greatness but didn't say anything. " Before he died," he continued, " I had planned to go study engineering. My plans died with my father or so I thought. Though his death affected me immensely but didn't stop me from pursuing my dream. I studied very hard hoping to get a miracle and somehow God did it. My principal at that time told me about a Commonwealth scholarship being offered to students."

He wiped his face with napkin in his hand and swiped his right hand over his left ear to smack off an insect. Grace listened with rapt attention as Angelus continued. " The qualifying exams were held in Lagos. He gave me the money to go to Lagos for the exams; eventually, I got the scholarship which enabled me to study engineering at the University of London."

Mr. Angelus paused for a while, smiled wryly and continued. You cannot understand why I chose to come back to kuroama to teach in the missionary school. That is not important. What is important now is acquiring the knowledge of being great in life. The lesson in my story was my determination to achieving my goal. When your heart is set on achieving anything, with determination and focus, the sky is your limit."

After his story, he continued on his teachings. " There are steps to greatness having understood the first by changing your name; the next is to commit to God your desires. No man can stay successful without God."

Narrating the story of the life of Jacob in the Bible, he explained how he wrestled with an angel in his dream despite receiving blessings from his father, Isaac, the son of Abraham. He pointed out the need for him to have God in his life to sustain that blessing. The wrestling was likened to prayer, he explained.

How do I pray? Grace asked. " Prayer is communicating with God, and for you to have a smooth communication with God you must first have a personal relationship with Him." The teacher responded. Grace pondered over what he just heard for a while and said his father never talked to him about God. The little he knew about God was from his mother who always prayed with them and taught them songs of praise.

" What should he do ?" Grace asked. Mr. Angelus went ahead and explained the elementary knowledge of God and how he gave his only son Jesus to redeem mankind back to himself. AfterAfter excessive teaching on who God is, he led him to Christ and made him confess the sinner's prayer which he did. He taught him how to pray and study God's word.

" To succeed one needs favour from God and that is where prayer comes in; and also in his word will you find wisdom, intelligence and creativity."

He urged him to put into practice all he has learnt today. Grace promised to do everything he asked of him. He thanked him and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Since after Grace started living with Mr. Angelus, everyone at school treated him as his son; his life was completely transformed such that he could now correctly speak simple English language Even though his dictions weren't perfect yet. He occasionally went to see his family and each time his father saw him he knew Mr. Angelus had done great work on his son. He now looked smart in clean clothes and everyone wanted to make friends with him.

Every day Grace returned from school, he would have lunch, finish his house chores and study the Bible for at least an hour before going ahead to do his school work. With time he became the best student not just in his class but the entire school. Someone who used to be average was now the best student not just in his class but the entire school. Someone who used to be average was now the best among students. It baffled student as they sometimes gossiped him. Some said it's because he's the teacher's son that is why he passed his exams with merit, while others gave him the credit.

Anytime they went for break or any social function in school Grace would be seen at the corner of the classroom studying. He knew his attitude had completely changed for better. He owed this to his teacher who showed him the right path and believed God was still bat work in him.

When Grace entered his final class, Mr.Angelus sat him down one fateful Saturday afternoon to continue his teaching on achieving greatness. He liked his teachings a lot as it motivated and increased his faith on pursing his goal. As they sat facing each other in the very clear light of the afternoon sun, Mr. Angelus sipped a glass of water and cleared his throat before speaking.

" Now that your name Is changed and you've built a relationship with God, the next step to greatness would be renewing your mind. Start thinking big, dream of where you are headed; the more you see your self great the more you become one. Reading God's word broadens your mind to think big, helps you think wisely and take right decisions."

He cleared his throat and continued, "Not just reading God's word but obeying and putting into practice what you read. Obedience to his word gives us access to his blessings, but that doesn't apply to a lazy man. We must work hard and thrive to be great with focus on where we are headed."

The teacher again cleared his throat and looked intently into Grace's eyes and said, " Get a skill, start small and grow big. Let your hand find something to do that you are passionate about. But having a skill without character takes you where education wouldn't. And lastly, be generous; learn to give and also be prudent."

After he'd finished talking, Grace thanked him and promised to put into practice every thing he had taught him. Mr. Angelus stood up, blessed him and walked inside to take a nap.