LESSONS LEARNT FROM BEING KIND (a short story)

LESSONS LEARNT FROM BEING KIND

A wise man once set off on a long journey through a dangerous forest to a distant land. He had to meet an old friend for an urgent favor. The journey will last for about a week on foot and he was on foot. On his way, he met a couple of people traveling the woods. He was later on joined by another lone traveler going to a village close to where he was heading. This man has a different understanding to life all together. He doesn't believe in a lot of things. In short, he doesn't believe that being 'kind' is a virtue worth dying for. He believes that people who believe in things like love, kindness just like the first traveler, live in fools' paradise. According to him, the world and life for that matter are not fair and are not to be trusted. So he therefore believes that being generous does not really pay as initially thought. The first traveler on the other hand believes in love, kindness and more...

Halfway through their journey, they were running out of provisions and so started their rationing plan. As they continued their walk through the quiet woods, they came across a big tree with a restful environment. Feeling tired as they were, they decided to rest over so that they can continue their trip when they regain enough energy later. While resting, another lone traveler stopped by too. After short pleasantries, the third traveler voiced his grievance, 'I am really hungry. Please can I get something eatable from you my cultured friends?' As if it were something bad to ask, the second traveler asked him sharply, 'haven't you prepared for the trip before setting off? But before the third traveler answers, the first traveler have already offered him water to drink to quech his thirst. After drinking the water, he then turned to the second traveler and said in calm voice, 'I was robbed off my belongs before I covered halfway of my journey'. The first traveler gave part of his remaining provisions to the third traveler who went another way later on.

When the two travelers covered about 80% of the entire distance, the first traveler runned out of provisions. His fellow started criticizing him for having given part of his limited provisions to someone he barely knows snd might never meet again. But he told his fellow, 'I did not give my food to the stranger because I hope he will pay me back some time to come. I did so because it gives me a sense of peace and purposeful achievement as a human'. On the fifth day,they came across a river which they must cross in order to continue. They must pay a fare in the form of belongings before they can cross over. Meanwhile, they both do not have enough possession to cover the cost charged by the service providers. The river is the only thing preventing them from reaching their destination. Just when all hopes seems gone; when they were just about deciding to return to their source region, something interesting happened.

There was another traveler who was about to cross the same river. He noticed how disturbed the disappointed travelers were. So he offered to pay their fare after hearing their sad story. When they crossed over to the other side of the river, he offered to pay for them to use chariot so they can reach their destination with much ease since they are out of provisions. He further offered them 3 pieces of gold each to use to get what they might need at their destination. The second traveler was marveled at the degree of kindness shown by the fourth traveler. He decided to ask the kind man for the motive behind his good deeds, and he replied with a soft and genteel voice saying... 'my parents taught me to share what I have with others and I will never lack. But I don't really do it for that any more than I do for the peace and fulfillment it brings to my soul'. They thanked the kind traveler and continued their traveling but this time, using a chariot pulled by two horses.

They arrived after four hours ride, at then end of a journey which would have lasted for about 10 to 12 hours on foot. On their arrival, the second traveler called the first and told him that he have learnt a lot from the act of kindness and is beginning to understand what a great bearing it has on love; the center of life. He told him about how his life will change from that day on. He also mentioned how kind he is going to try to be generous for the rest of his life. And he also said he will make it a point to spread the gospel of kindness hoping to have the same gratifying effect on many human families as much as he can reach with his messages.

Moral Lesson:

Givers never lack.

Givers are happier people.

Kindness is a virtue worth dying for.

Kindness is the symbol of love.

Love is the center of life.

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@dzidefodepoet

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POVERTY IS NOT A DISHONOR (a short story)

POVERTY IS NOT A DISHONOR

There are three good friends called Lazy, Folly and Extravagance respectively. They live on a beautiful land with natural endowments like fertile soil and forest, minerals and intellectual ideas. But because of their own conditioning, they do not seem happy with their current state of affairs. These three modest friends who invariably considered themselves as poor people, once engaged in a long debate about 'poverty'. They all disagreed on the subject as each one of them hold a separate belief about what exactly poverty means. 

Many people believe, that the thin line of distinction between poor people and rich people is decision and action. One of them believes, 'not all fingers are equal, so not all men can be sa me in terms of wealth possession. So it's okay to be poor'. He concludes. His name is Lazy. Another believes that, 'success comes to those who are patient enough to wait for the right turn of events. So thus, it's okay to not be wealthy at the moment because time will surely tell'. His name is Folly. The last one believes that 'when money comes, it must be spent to make way for even more to be made daily. So it's not a bad thing to spend what you have while you still can'. He is called Extravagance.

As the argument continued, another friend of theirs, showed up. He is called Poverty! After hearing the basis of their locked argument, he said... 'I don't think it's wrong to not be fortunate enough to have what others have sometimes. What I however do understand is that, so many factors are responsible for why some people are poor while others are rich. But then, if you don't mind, I have a friend called Affluence, I bet his answer will blow your mind if we go to see him'. They agreed to his smart suggestion and went all the way to see Affluence who lives in the Silicon Hills.

At Silicon Hills, they were marveled at the sight of the site they visiting. They were looking in reality, what they have been dreaming of, all their lives. When they finally met Affluence, he introduced himself to them... 'My name is Affluence, but many people call me Riches. I am practically, the dramatic desire of most people alive and dead. Yes, I am probably the most chased entity in the history of men. You are welcome to my humble abode. Please what can I offer you? After the treat, the four visitors were convinced their questions will really be answered. But to their surprise, Affluence also referred them to Wisdom, Harkwork and Commitment who finally answered their question.

According to Affluence, 'being rich or poor can only stem from one’s own actions and inactions. But I believe Wisdom, Hardwork and Commitment have the right answer you seek my brothers'. Luckily enough, those three fellows also live in the Silicon Hills, right where Affluence lives. The three grey heads has it all to say in three simple lines.

Wisdom says, ‘You need divine intelligence to create and manage wealth. Absence of it invites poverty’.

Hardwork says, ‘You need to act your arts so as to materialize your plans. Absence of it invites poverty’.

Commitment says, ‘You need to be there for your dreams; for them to become realities.  Absence of it invites poverty’.

Before Commitment says his last word, Affluence cuts in... 'Yes, these are what I call the laws of success. They worked for me over the years and they'll work for you as they did for many others I’ve known for long. I therefore recommend them to you my humble friends.' Said Affluence.

The four fellows; Folly, Extravagance, Lazy and Poverty thanked Affluence and his grey-headed friends before leaving the Hills for their village. They were overwhelmed by the lesson they have learnt from the answers giving by the grey heads in Silicon Hills. They went ahead to apply the rules and started attracting fortunes of wealth in due times. Nothing is preventing me from applying these laws.

MORAL LESSON

Poverty; the state of lack, is not a dishonor in itself, unless it’s borne out of sheer laziness, extravaganza and foolishness.

@dzidefodepoet

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Friendship is Precious

A friend is someone who knows and understands you,
Sometimes, even better than you do
He is that special someone on whom you can count
To save you from yourself and from your blunt

Friends are special gifts from God,
They're destined to change whom we are forever
As precious as they are, nothing can take their places ever,
Because of the memories they write on our hearts

Your friend is the person that embraces your weaknesses,
Encourages you to go for what your heart desires
Friends provide us with that special companionship
Which keep driving us to our championships

How inconceivable, the quality times we share with friends,
And how indelible; those moments lasting lifetimes.
How immeasurable, the support we have from friends,
And how much more it means when they are gone.

A friend is an irreplaceable element of life;
That well seasoned ingredient which makes life, live-worthy
People find theirs in many things other than the human family
But no friendship can be compared to that of humans

So if you ever found a friend,
Please do everything you can to keep it alive
Because a friend is the best gift life ever have
And it's the force that keep the human family thriving.

©2017 Simon K. Amu
@dzidefodepoet

He'd See Us Through

Because the love of the Creator
Sinks deeper than deepest,
Because His graceful wings
Spread across every field,
And because His merciful arms
Reaches every edge of the Earth,
He'd always see us through!

Yes! He'd always see us through;
The fast days,
The slow months and
The long years
Through the lime lights,
The dark nights and
The blissful twilights
Through the fears,
The pains and
The failures
The Good Lord,
Will always see us through

Many, are those who couldn't make it,
To yet another beautiful end of year
Many are those who made it,
But in hopeless conditions
Many are those who made it with nothing short of joy
And many are those who made it with a renewed spirit
Because, the Lord did saw us through

Beyond our pitfalls and outfalls,
Before our enemies and frenemies,
We soar like eagles in the wild
Because the Lord is our guide
We conquer without fear,
Because He's in our Spear
And we trod in peace fro and to
Because He'd always see us through

Even when times get hard,
And things run out of control,
We still have the Rock of Ages!
We still have the Conquering Lion
He'll fight our battles without iron.
For He promised to see us through

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YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Once upon a time, there lived a wise king in a rich kingdom. He had three wives and many children. His third wife was very bitter and jealous. She simply hated everyone; particularly, the second wife of the king. She hates her so much because she appealed more to the attention of the wise king. 'Maybe she's using magic on him.' She'd thought.

One day, the unimaginable happened; the king died after a short sickness. On his sickbed, he was mostly cared for by his second son. Before the king died, he told his son a secret about a hidden treasure. 'Don't tell anyone about this until you are in my position; not sure of the future. You've earned this right because of your loyalty to me as a son.' He said. The young man did kept the secret.

After the funeral rites, family meetings were held and kin-ship questions were asked. It emerged that the first son will become the king. The second son was the next in line to fill that position. That further hurt the bitter queen. 'So my son will be the next in line with these 'brats' out of the way. We shall soon see!' She acclaimed to herself.

Months after the funeral rites, the third wife finally had a grand scheme to have the king and his next brother killed. 'That way, my son will become king and I can then rule in disguise.' She thought.

There was an invitation extended to the king from another kingdom, far across the stream. He announced he would love to honor it but with his second brother. The bitter woman thought she has finally found a way to 'kill two birds with just a stone in a hand.' She quickly arranged for tugs to be ready to assassinate the king and his brother on their way. 

When things were set for the journey, something came up. The third, instead of the second son will make it with the king. The bitter woman never learnt about this turn of events early enough. His killers succeeded in ambushing the king and his second brother. Fortunately or unfortunately, only the king and his chief guard survived the ambush. Everyone else, was killed, including the third son.

The bad news got to the kingdom; overwhelmingly tragic. The pain and sorrow was unbearable. The bitter queen could not hold it any longer. She suddenly started confessing... 'Aaooouuuuuhhhh.... I am responsible for this abomination. I killed my own child. I am very sorry for doing this. It should've been Samson and the king. But oh no! I have killed my own son. Hmmmm...what have I just done?' 

Among the observing crowd was a very old woman. She stepped forward and said... 'We're sorry for you, bitter woman! Yes, we really are! But, you've just reaped what you sowed. Don't dig a trap-pit, you might fall in it...

MORAL LESSON
Life is like a mirror, it reflects back to you how you live it.
You reap what you sow.
If you dig a trap-pit, you shall fall in it.

@dzidefodepoet

Please leave a comment below. Tell us what you have learned from this story.

Is the Universe Our Friend?

They say my shoes are old and blown
Yet, they never get me another one
They say I lack a home of my own
And that I may never drive a car of my own

Because I have holes in my shirts,
And that I sleep on the street,
They call me a misfit
And learning that very much, hurts

No one knows my story
How much suffering I deal with
No one cares about my pains
And for that alone, I am very sorry

You change your clothes everyday
And I am your witness
You buy new mansion everyday
And I have the street to impress

Maybe I just have to accept,
That the universe is not my friend
That whatever I desire for my sect,
She'd always conspire to destroy

I'm just another street boy in the press
With another touching story to tell
So if you think I'm not trying to impress,
Wait until you hear me ring my bell.

Credibility for the street seems too expensive
But with nothing more to live for,
I'm living to defend its last worth
Like the last man standing after the great walls fall.

Mysterious Death

Death, oh mighty death!
How mysterious your reign on earth,
That nothing living today can miss,
No wonder, you have earned your name
How cruel of you?
How unmerciful of you!
And how aggressive of you!
You alone takes what belongs not to you,
But yet, goes scot-free
You alone honors invitation not extended to you
You break the heart of people
Yet still, you answers to no man
You have no respect for age nor class
And the victims you prey on seem defenseless
Against your painful sting
You are deaf to the plea of the innocent
Reaping where you never sowed
You are like the thief that comes in the night
To steal what's dear to the heart of its owners
You destroy families and species
And you are the prime threat to our survival

Please there is only one thing you must know,
You can't continue like this forever
There is a Force that transcends your abilities
Your time of reign shall soon come to pass
And you shall be dead, like really dead
You shall be dead never to die again
And the human family will live never die again

© 2017 Simon K. Amu
@dzidefodepoet

Eulogy to Singapore

Singapore! Oh, Akuvi, why you?

You make me weep! I cry and I mourn.
Yes, for your lost, my good friend, Akuvi,
How depressed I became that dreadful morn,
When I first learnt you have left the living

My heart is since, heavily broken,
For your gentle soul, so stolen
Oh death! Look at me in painful surprise,
For the tragic lost of such an enterprise

My heart is bleeding; I'm filled with rage,
For the irreparable damage,
For the unbearable pain
And for the things I cannot explain

What happens to your big dreams?
Now that you have landed across the stream?
This isn't how anyone would've thought this.
But the Good Lord knows best, whatever it is.

Ooo how I wish you are just in a deep sleep,
That you will soon wakeup when the clock beeps.
Ohh, how comforted I would have been,
Because just like your mother, I'm deeply dying

Death is inevitable, it's every man's fate.
But no one thought you'll so soon be late.
Hmmmm, Singapore,
Though this agonizing, be your harsh demise,
My dear, be proud, for posterity'll endorse your enterprise

You were such a wonderful piece of life.
So may your journey across the stream be peaceful.
You were so adoring and tenderly accommodating.
So may you find rest in the bosom of the Almighty.

In loving memory of Setsofia Joyclyn Akuvi, a friend. #Painful_Memories

@dzidefodepoet