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| Photo courtesy Keukenhof Gardens and Tulip Fields. |
Once upon a time, there was a bud called Fiona that was set to bloom and stand out of all the flowers that have ever grown in the forest. But something happened which was going to change the destiny of this beautiful tulip forever. Still, in the germination process, a fly came to lay on it and left a dump on it. She kindly asked the fly to clean her up but the surly fly flew leaving her with the most malodorous smell and disgusting look ever. She could have patiently waited for the gracious clouds to open up the floodgates and allowed some rains to wash her up but with so much exasperation and inconsideration she cursed the fly and right there thunder struck the fly and the fly died.
In the fairy flora and fauna world, any being that curses another by thunder and death would live to become vile, ugly and detestable. The being would then take over the behaviour of the one that committed the bad deed. This law was made not to make other beings vulnerable and some superior, it was made so more beings could learn about forgiveness, love and its relationship with beauty. When a being decides to forgive, it means the being respects the judgement of mother nature and trusts HER to do what is right, however, when a being decides to curse or hold forgiveness or both, the intelligence and wisdom of Mother Nature are regarded as useless. SHE, therefore, blesses every being who decides to forgive with beauty and favour but those who do not, she leaves them to thrive on their own.
When this new act was passed into law, some called HER selfish and insensitive. Their argument was that, some beings do despicable things, hurt others in excruciating ways that they can not even think of retaliating so how then is SHE expecting them who of lower divinity to forgive such inhumanity. Then SHE replied them saying, " If I, MOTHER NATURE whom you all sin against all the time in different ways, is able to look at you with love with my eyes... If I, whom you say the most demeaning things about... if I, whom you address, when I'm not around you, with so much disgust and disdain... If I whom you claim to love but always go against my wishes and plans for you ... does not even look at you with a speck of hatred in my eyes, then what good are you to hate or curse a brother or a sister bud or butterfly? What if I also decide to act like you all? What if I take all my privileges back and go back to how we use to be before the Prince of the FLORA AND FAUNA came to pay you a visit? Can you imagine your fate? I didn't think so!"
But our little Fiona here was new to all this. But it's so surprising how a bud of a few years old is able to curse and hold back forgiveness at a very young age. Well, after she cursed the fly she was also automatically cursed and the beauty and blossom she was to enjoy were taken from her, replaced by the enmity and lackadaisical attitude of the one she cursed. Oops, this was not mentioned earlier. MOTHER NATURE quickly passed on the remedy on how to free oneself from the curse of taking up the behaviour of the cursed. One can be quickly freed from the retaliation curse by looking up and asking HER for forgiveness. The being would then be freed and the glorious destiny restored with blessings.
Fiona still in anger refused to pay heed to any of the bits of advice given her and decided to live life on her own forgetting in FLORA AND FAUNA no one by their own strength. The brightest man who people most often confuse for Mercury is to shine bright so Flora can make food for Fauna. Rain and Wind were also special forces assigned to help them look ravishing for balls and banquets. Pride stood in and she grew into thorns instead of the beautiful flower she was meant to be.
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Everyone can argue Fiona had every right to curse the bug. That notwithstanding, the was a law and ignorance of the law is no excuse. Even as we grow we have every right to let go of pain for our own good. When you forgive someone, you're doing yourself better. It also means trusting God's judgement and leaving Him to make the best decision for you. Sometimes when someone tells me, " I hate this person", I ask, so would you be happy to see him die? Can you take a dagger and stab him yourself?
The truth is that we are as bad as the people who do bad things to us; none is righteous not even one. There's no difference between a child abductor and a petty thief. The fact that the sin or the motive behind the action is of less gravity does not mean there are different types of sin. A rapist and a person who cheats in an examination are birds of a feather. But the best part of this all is that God in all His glory has given us the power to return to Him even after we have committed all our abominable atrocities.
Just as Fiona lost her glory because of unforgiveness, we also tend to lose our rights as children of God when we stand to curse those who wrong us. Over the years I decided not to reply anyone who shouts or insults me in public because I see myself too prim and proper for that. Jesus Christ never stood anywhere to exchange words with anyone so why should I? If I do that it meaIs I want to demean myself to your calibre and Princes don't do that.
This has got nothing to do with pride but self-respect and dignity. I refuse to hold things against someone who does something wrong to me not because the Bible says so but because I free myself from any feeling of guilt or taking over the shame of that person.
Allow me to share this experience with you. Not so long ago, I received a letter with the writer showing so much disdain and hatred for me in it. The writer used all sorts of words to defame me in it. He cursed the day he met me and that I was an ingrate from the pit of hell.
Well, he calling me an ingrate from the pit of hell actually got me a little depressed because hell is nothing I would like to be associated with but he did. He made lots of sordid statements I can not even pen down here, however, I refused to reply even though I was emotionally drained after reading all those words. I began to refuse help from people just not to be called an ingrate a second time. Then I met this person on Monday on my way to work. I really wanted to walk by without saying a word but just to make him know that I don't hate him I decided to say hi and touched his shoulder.
I walked by without looking back or waiting for a response, but I realised he stood there for some time wondering why I did that even after reading all the hurtful things he said about me.
Now let me confess to the reason why I really did that. I wanted him to be clear that I had no problems with me, nonetheless, I wanst expecting him to come talking to me again.
So you see, the action was right but the motive behind the action was so not right in the sight of God. This person sent me texts later that day asking why I did what I did earlier. And I explained telling him that, I have no problem with him; it is he who has a problem with me.
In a nutshell, I prayed that night and forgave him righteously this time around. I realised I've been freed and I was at peace with myself.
So you see, forgiving someone is like taking antibodies, they aid your system and make you look more beautiful. It is always better to make people know they have wronged you and that you are displeased about that, rather than leaving with a smiling face and curse them behind. Only God knows, they might have actually not meant any harm, maybe your mood could not just accommodate that joke at that time.
Refusing to confront the person with your displeasure leads to unforgiveness and unforgiveness leads to hatred and hatred leads to bitterness and bitterness to sadism, ugly lifestyle and evil and evil leads to hell. Kings and Queens do not exchange words with people in public. They are civilised, couth and well-mannered and that is how they become great. This is not to say do not vent. You can but just think about how to vent in a way that would not make you seem like the uncouth one. Don't forget! You need your dignity to be intact as a king.
Thank you for reading this piece with me Nana Antwi. Drop your comments below by signing into your Google account. Please don't forget to follow my blog and suggest this post to bitter people. I love you all and thanks for making a date with me. Have a blessed week.
An Original Story by Nana Antwi Owusu-Ansah.
Volgograd -Russia.
