In Your Grace

‘The next and last performance is by one of our very own. Please welcome on stage..Raaaandom..’ announced the MC. ‘what?’, ‘who is random?’, ‘what is going on?’…those where some of the murmured comments from the crowd as people where stirred back to life. The show had been going on for 2 hours and though some acts had been pretty good, the last three or so had been boring.

At the MC’s announcement, Remi’s attention was caught, same as most of the attendees. ‘Yea, yea..I know you are all wondering who random is.’ The MC continued. ‘If you all remember, some of you got numbers and put down your name for a draw when you walked into this show. Well this is it. A number is going to be drawn now and if your name and number is called, you’ll have to come up here and perform whatever it is you like.’ ‘oh no…’ the murmuring continued and Remi just looked on with a quickening heart beat. ‘Ah..luckily them no de ever pick my name for this kain thing..even though e no go bad if them pick me for all this their Glo million dollar winners things’..Remi thought to herself while the draw was being done.

‘The lucky number is 15 and that is for our very own, beautiful and talented sister, Remi Douglas. Everyone please encourage and welcome her to the stage.’ The MC announced. ‘What????..God no, this cannot be happening..Please God, Please God..let that not be my name they just called.’ Her eyes were almost bulging out of its sockets as she shook her head in denial…’God please, God Please..I can’t do this!’ Everyone had started staring at her and clapping and her friends where nudging and encouraging her to get on stage. ‘Come on guys, you know I don’t know how to sing and you know I am very shy when it comes to addressing people.’ She told her friends. ‘Just do it girl.’ said Joy. ‘take it as an opportunity to overcome your fears…as na Christian gathering be this, nobody will judge you.’ ‘You must be mad. Me go on stage?’ Remi replied..’Please Lord, this is not happening to me..’..she thought again to herself as she covered her face with her hands.

‘Sing ‘in your grace’ Remi.’ ‘What did you say?’ she turned to Joy, ‘nothing..look everyone is looking at you o, better get on stage..no just disgrace me for here.’ Joy replied. “Sing ‘in your grace’ Remi.” And then she realized it was a voice from inside her telling her to do it. She stood up remotely and started walking to the stage..’but God I can’t sing?’ she thought. “Sing ‘in your grace’.” With wobbly legs, Remi got on stage and took the mic in shaking hands, tapped the head three times producing a shrilling sound. She flinched and shut her eyes. For 60seconds, she just stood there staring into the crowd with squinting eyes and then started with very obvious shaking voice. ‘Typically, I would never be found addressing a crowd of more than 3 people not to talk of getting on stage to perform. I had considered just walking out of this room damning the consequences but something inside of me asked that I come up here to do a particular song.’ She paused and sought out the faces of her friends. She saw their encouraging smiles and that gave her small motivation to continue. ‘I’m not a singer, so pardon me if I go off key or note or whatever you singers call it. I’d be singing ‘In your grace’ by 1NC and I hope this song ministers to somebody as it continues to minister to me.’ She shut her eyes, took a deep breath and started…..

As she put the microphone away from her face and placed it in the stand, the crowd erupted in loud applause giving her a standing ovation, with whistles being blown from all corners. She stood there shell shocked by the response and wondered if some sort of prank was being played on her. She saw her friends run to her and grab her in a fierce hug all screaming ‘you were awesome!’ She looked at Joy and found that she had tears in her eyes. ‘What?’ Remi asked. Joy just shook her head and hugged her. After some seconds, she murmured into Remi’s ear..’You were amazing Remi’ She pushed her slightly away and continued, ‘immediately you started singing, a glow just came over you and your voice…my God, so you can sing like this ehn? Remi could not believe what they were saying. People just kept walking upto her, congratulating her and thanking her for such a brilliant song. Some saying how the song had awakened something that had being lying dormant inside them. She just smiled back and was just glad it was over and asked to go home.

A week later when she watched the video of the show and saw her performance, she realized what people had been telling her that day. She saw a different person singing on stage with angelic voice like those described of Seraphs. It hit her then, that God had truly used her to bless the life of people that night and her joy knew no bounds.