Soaring Above the Storms of Desolation- Part II

“If you see a tiny bird dancing by the roadside, then someone in the nearby bush is beating the drum to which it is dancing”—African proverb.

The entire village was agog with news about Ura. In many instances, the details were distorted, spiced, and garnished to suit the teller’s motifs. Some demonized Ura as the terrible witch who ate her unborn children. Others passed on the story as a fable from Fairyland.

In the process, word reached Nwanne, who was growing in her passion and ability to help those facing challenges with infertility. Having overcome infertility years ago, she understood the depths of Ura’s pain. Nwanne approached Ura with empathy and support, offering her the guidance she needed to navigate the complex emotions surrounding her situation. She shared her journey and how Ugonna had played a crucial role in reshaping her perspective. She introduced Ura to Ugonna, the older, wise woman in the small nearby town.

Having experienced the great impact of guiding others, Ugonna began working closely with Ura. Together, they explored the emotional toll of infertility, addressing the societal pressures and self-doubt that had plagued Ura for so long. Ugonna helped her redefine her sense of self-worth beyond societal expectations. She helped her develop a greater appreciation of her significance as a person. While this was going on, some villagers assumed that Ugonna was one of those healers Ura was relying on to overcome her infertility.

Through her relationship with Ugonna, Ura discovered hidden talents and passions she never knew she had, including reading, and engaged the village teacher to teach her to read. She learned to channel her energy into meaningful pursuits that took her mind away from her troubles and gave her a purpose beyond the yearning for children. Over time, her confidence grew as she learned to read, and her transformation became more glaring.

On the fateful morning that Ura decided to expand her hut, she had read from her English text the following words: “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth! You’re ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women.” God says so! “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope and drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.”

The words were inspiring. Ura was so drawn to them that she could not resist their allure and message. She contemplated on them until she had this uncanny feeling that they were personally addressed to her, although she was unsure what to do with them. In a moment of insight, the words “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!” took on new meaning, the additional rooms symbolizing her hopes and expectations. This, in turn, built her trust in the words she read. Her once-barren heart blossomed with hope, joy, a newfound optimism, and appreciation for the beauty of her journey. That was an “aha moment” for Ura, who decided to expand her little hut.

Ura’s transformation grew by the day. The whispers of judgment turned into murmurs of admiration. Others who had faced similar challenges began seeking her out, inspired by her resilience and the positive changes in her life.

Ura saw an opportunity to impact other women and young girls by teaching them to read, which was her newfound passion. Mothers from her village and nearby villages sent their young daughters to Ura to be prepared and mentored for life. In a matter of time, all the adjoining rooms to Ura’s tiny hut were occupied by young girls. Ura brimmed with pride and exuded the joy of motherhood as she lavished her maternal affection and love on her girls. Ura became the mother of more children than any woman could give birth to.  Indeed, a drummer in the nearby bush was beating the tunes to which Ura was dancing.

Note: this story is based on Isaiah 54:1-3 (the Message). Ura’s infertility is a metaphor for the myriad of challenges one may face in life. The story points you to the transformative power of coaching. Ugonna was a coach. Ura’s journey illustrates that your expectations may come true in ways you never imagined but also shows how to break the chains of societal expectations and be a beacon of hope for others through adversity.  

Okike Offia is a Life and Leadership Coach who applies Biblical principles to leadership and leadership development.