No Balance Remain

Rain dey beat the zinc that evening
When I close my tailor shop
One man knock, bring wedding fabric
Say, “Abeg, no spoil this cloth”
Na the same man wey announce me
When my matter fill the street
I collect the cloth, write measurement
But shame no let me lift my face
After e go, I lock the door
Leave one small bulb to shine
Open Bible near my scissors
But old matter crowd my mind

I remember every Sunday
Wey I sit beside the door
If pastor mention “holy people”
I go look down at the floor
I dey help arrange the plastic chairs
I dey sweep when people leave
Still, whenever prayer time reach
I no sure say God want hear me
So that night I call my teacher
“Sir, this thing still dey confuse
Jesus don forgive my sins
But I fit stand before God too?”

No balance remain
For the right to call You Father
Jesus don settle my standing
I fit come before You now
No be work wey I go finish
No be cloth wey I go sew
Na Christ be my righteousness
Baba, na so Your Word talk

He say, “Read that place for Corinthians
Second letter, chapter five
Find verse twenty-one, read slowly”
I put finger for the line
Christ wey no know sin took our sin
So in Him we fit become
The righteousness of God
I read am till the meaning dawn
I look the unpaid bills around me
Still get rent and cloth to sew
But this one wey concern my standing
Jesus finish am long ago

I think say if I work reach, maybe God go let me near
Every mistake add another condition to my prayer
I turn service to audition, every Sunday na exam
But righteousness na gift; no be salary for my hand
I go pay who I dey owe, I go mend wetin I spoil
But I no fit buy acceptance with my sweat or with my toil
Chineke, I hear You; make this truth enter my chest
When I come to You in Jesus, I no come as unwanted guest

I put my phone for table
Kneel beside the sewing wheel
For once I no rehearse my suffering
Before I tell You how I feel
“Father, help my brother’s marriage
Help that woman wey dey grieve”
I spend time praying for another
Without begging You to hear me

No balance remain
For the right to call You Father
Jesus don settle my standing
I fit come before You now
I go serve because You love me
I go learn the way You live
Na Christ be my righteousness
Ẹ ṣé, Baba, I believe

Morning come, I raise the shutter
Wedding fabric still dey there
I thread my needle by the window
And begin my day with prayer