The reality of living

The reality of living

Life doesn't favor us equally in different aspects of living. In a small town of Bayelsa, two adults used to complain about the condition they lived under.

They were staying in a well-built shack, they would always grumble about themselves not having shoes and fancy clothes.

They could eat cabbage for many days, they always felt shame on themselves and they couldn't stop blaming life for what it brought upon them.

 They wanted to live life to the satisfaction of their desires. They were definitely not happy about the life they were living; they were always grumpy making references to those who can afford to sponsor their living in every aspect.

One day they decided to go to church hoping maybe that will better their lives. They saw that it didn't work for them and decided to quit in two weeks of attending.

Walking on the street; the pastor noticed them and perceived in his heart that he knew them from prayer line in his church.

He then decided to stop his car to meet them. In a process, he enquired about their church absence, they then began to narrate their story telling him how hard and difficult life is for them and God is not working in their favor.

The pastor ordered that they take him to where they are staying, they did as requested.

Getting there; the pastor noticed that they were living in a shack, they had clothing, food to eat every day, they had two pair of shoes each and they had one bed to sleep on.

 He then asked to take them to a certain village, getting there; he took them to a particular tree and there he showed them people who used the tree as their place of refuge and home.

They then left to another place, along the way; they saw some children looking for food in garbage bins.

He stopped and asked them to look through the window. They continued their journey until they discovered a bridge where they stopped, they then went under the bridge and they discovered a woman with her two children who regard the bridge as their home.

Seeing them; the woman and her children cried out for help saying her and the children are four days without any food.

The pastor gave them some food parcels. They then left the place, 500 meters away from the bridge; they met with a group of leaners going to school barefooted (without shoes) and worst, it was those winter months.

He showed them and continued with their journey, on the way to drop them off, they saw a shelter with about 4 kids living there.

He then gave them a task to pass there every day for one week.

They did as commanded and what they could derive was that the kids always wear the same clothing every day and they slept on cardboard.

They went back to the pastor after a week; they told him what they saw. The pastor then asked them that concerning what they saw, what then their conclusion is.

They were very moved in their spirit with regard to the things the pastor exposed to them.

They then began to appreciate their life and content with what they had. They told the pastor to ask God for forgiveness on their behalf, for they did what they did out of ignorance.

Now they realize that someone is out there hoping and wishing for what they despise the most.

They cried and gave thanks to God for giving them shelter, food, and good health.

The moral of this parable is that; before we start complaining, we should think of the context.

* The person without shoes will always complain until seeing a person walking barefooted.

* The person who stays in the shack will always complain until he / she sees a person who lives under the tree

* The person with one eye will always complain until he meet a blind person

*The person with one leg will always complain until he sees a person without legs.