LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING

I have often wondered what life would have been like if God wasn’t so loving and instantly punished us for everything wrong we did.

I also wonder what my life would have been like if my mother didn’t love me.

Let me tell you a short story.

I had good parents. My dad didn’t say much beyond, “Go and read your book,” and some pieces of advice from time to time. I can only remember him flogging me once, perhaps when my vices had become too much.

I was sure of a few things, though: when I did really bad things, my dad blamed my mum for them (Mothers should fix conduct I guess) and told her to do something about it. In my early years in primary school, I was a fantastic student, never letting the 1st to 3rd prize slip away from our house. I can’t tell what happened when I got into secondary school in the boarding house, but I was not doing well academically, though perhaps morally to some extent.

That flogging I mentioned from my dad happened when my Junior WAEC result was released. Oh, my loving dad beat me like I was his mate.

Not long after, my mum wrote me a letter I cannot forget to date. The most resonating content in that letter was: “There are a lot of things your dad has said to me because of your behaviour at school. I know who I raised, and you are a brilliant child. I have cried and cried until every teardrop in my eyes was gone, and now I just see black stuff coming out. I have pasted it on the page of this letter to let you know that my tears are all gone. You can do me a favour and fix your performance at school because I will always love you.”

I am not sure about the number of times I read that letter, but I had it with me and probably lost it when I got to university. But you know what? I never came first in my secondary school, but I always did better than the previous term. And in university, I was called only one thing: BRILLIANT.

I am sure of a few things, though. My mum’s prayer was there, my parents’ love was strong, and I know love changes everything.

Many people around me complain about their children. I am not trying to call you out and will never betray confidence, but if you have children not behaving in patterns you expect, please TELL GOD THE NEGATIVE IN PRAYER AND TELL YOUR CHILD THE POSITIVE. There is a way you will dwell so much punishing them for the things they do not do well and you will lose them forever.

I hope we listen.

Shalom.