Short Story: Two Sisters by Nkesi Kasi

 Mama stood at the door with her market bag. Lily and Daisy each had their separate rooms side by side down the hall. And right now, both rooms were messy. Clothes on the floor. Toys everywhere. Beds unmade. Crumbs under the pillows.

“Girls,” Mama said firmly, “I need both of you to clean your separate rooms before I get back. Properly. Not halfway. 

I’ll check when I return.” Daisy jumped up the minute Mama left. “Let’s go, Lily! Mama said now.” She ran to her room and started picking up, making her bed, sweeping every corner. Within an hour, her room was neat and beautiful. 

Lily sighed and rolled over. “We have plenty of time. I’ll do mine when I hear Mama coming.” So she kept playing in her own room. The mess just got bigger. Then... click-clack ...Mama’s sandals on the gate. Lily panicked! She ran, shoving things under the bed, kicking clothes into the wardrobe. She was still panting and sweeping when Mama opened the door.

Mama walked into Daisy’s room first. It was clean, the bed was made, and it smelled fresh. Then she walked into Lily’s separate room. Half the toys were sticking out from under the bed. The floor was still dusty. 

Mama smiled and handed Daisy a new storybook and hair band. “Daisy, I’m proud of you. You obeyed right away. You didn’t wait until you saw me. That’s the kind of obedience that pleases God.” 

Lily burst into tears and ran outside. She found Grandpa under the mango tree. “Grandpa, it’s not fair! I cleaned too!” she sobbed. Grandpa pulled her onto his lap. 

“Hmm. Let me tell you two stories, little one.” “First, I tell you about the Ten Virgins.” “Jesus told about 10 girls waiting for the bridegroom. All 10 had lamps, but only 5 were wise — they carried extra oil because no one was sure when the bridegroom will arrive. 5 were foolish — they waited till the last minute. When the bridegroom came at midnight, the foolish ones’ lamps went out. The door was shut. Matthew 25:1-13 Lily, you were like the foolish virgins. You had a lamp — you knew what to do — but you had no ‘oil’ of obedience ready. You waited till you heard footsteps.” 

“Second, I would tell you about a King called Saul.”* “God told Saul to obey Him completely, but Saul waited, then did only half. God wasn't happy with him and didn't commend him. He said ‘I obeyed,’ but God said ‘To obey is better than sacrifice.’ 1 Samuel 15:22 Half-cleaning is like half-obeying. God wants our ‘yes’ right away.” Grandpa wiped Lily’s tears.

“Obedience, my girl, is doing it immediately, doing it fully, and doing it even when Mama isn’t watching. That’s how we keep oil in our lamp.” Lily nodded. 

The next morning when Mama said, “Please wash the plates,” Lily was already at the sink. “Right away, Mama!”

From that day, both sisters kept their "rooms" — and their hearts — ready. 

The End.

The Lesson: Obedience is doing what you’re told, right away, fully, and whether anyone is watching. John 14:23 “If a man loves me, he will keep my words.”