HOLD ON! A STORY
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
-- Harriet Beecher Stowe, author
One major reasons why people do not succeed, is giving up not only on their way to success but also giving up too soon. I will illustrate this with a story.
Long ago, there lived in a small village an old carpenter called Makanjuola (Makanjuola means never be hasty or in a deadly rush to get wealthy) he and the wife were so poor they could not afford three square meals but he was known for being truthful.
A man of high integrity he continued to work hard to cater for his beautiful wife and their son whom they named Iforiti (Iforiti means endurance) for so many years.
One afternoon the young son told his Father, "Dad, I will love to go to the big city and acquire skills for which I can make a living and find my path" The Dad agreed and off he went leaving his Mum with tears in her eyes.
In their son's absence, the couple continued to live and work hard despite their poor conditions.They were poor for many years expecting the return of their son, who never came back.
They grew old and lived in their old hut for so many years.
One fateful night the old man was called upon by the Village's chief for his assistance, he was to help a stranger who has lost his way pass the night till the next day when he was going to retrace his path.
So they went off to Makanjuola's house.
on getting home the couple apologized for not serving dinner as they had no food. The stranger was kind enough, so he opened his box which they found was full of money and he gave them some cash to buy some food, the stranger bid them goodnight after the dinner and went to bed.
At midnight the wife woke up the husband and they spoke in very low tones. " My husband if we do not get rich tonight, it might as well be the end for us ever" "how do you mean? he asked.The wife explained their need to kill the stranger so they could have all the money in the box.
So they went ahead and killed him and kept the money.
When the chief came for the stranger in the morning they lied to him that the stranger had run away.
The chief was surprised and told the couple the stranger's story and his name was Iforiti. When Makanjuola heard this he fell to the ground and died. When the wife also realized they killed their son,.she screamed,confessed and died.
Like iforiti- Endurance is a virtue needed in holding on.
Keep holding to GREATNESS!
Emmanuel Ayeni
If you are on instagram you can connect with me on @emmanuelayeni_inspires
