Offence Will Come
Osareme was a nice village girl. Life had not been too kind to her. What with having to go to farm before she went to school daily – the daily meal was dependent on if they sold whatever they got from the farm. Life was hard, but it was just about to turn for the worse. Her parents died; now, the little hope was gone. What was she to do now?
The light came at the end of the tunnel, or so she thought. Her aunt Diana came for her from the city. Life was going to be good; she would go to school and then work and make a lot of money, loads of money. They get to the city, but school was just a promise. An empty promise! Work was strange; the men came in the night. Some were smelly, reeking of alcohol most of the time. Most were potbellied and bald. Their words were uncouth, they were rough, and curse words were a dime a dozen. She was ordered to be nice to them. It started with, serve them drinks, make them comfortable, and then show them kindness, with her body.
She did not understand; she was not allowed to question. The men were rough, the nights were long, her innocence was gone, and aunt Diana was treasurer. She only got enough for sanitary items. Life had become cruel. Another angry soul was unleashed.
He was nothing; he had nothing when they got married. All he held were potentials, dreams of a better tomorrow. Her parents were comfortable. They did not like him, but love for their daughter was strong enough to let him take her. She covered him with help from home. After all, ‘we are blessed to be a blessing.’ Every time he needed help, she was, quick to do something. They were yoked together and certainly in it for the long haul.
Ten years into the union, four sons after, our beau gets a break, and she was no longer pretty. Suddenly she did not know how to cook; nothing she did was good enough. Now that he was a big man, he needed a woman of his status and out she went, her four soldiers in tow. The pain was deep; the grief was much. What was she to do? Her parents were dead, and banks had taken over the inheritance. She was left high and dry with a broken heart and an empty pocket.
Tiki brought Sally into the office. She needed help at the time. What were friends for? Five years down the line, Sally became the bosses queen and gave Tiki the boot. The fingers were not only bitten but were roasted. Offences, what do we do with them?
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! (Matthew 18:7)
Can we avoid them? Jesus said, no, they have to come. Pity the courier He promised. Many times, offences drive us to God, they expose our vulnerabilities, they reveal our areas of need for a Saviour, and they help to bring out our inner virtues. If the olive was not offended, the oil would never have come out. If the orange was never squeezed, the juice would have remained inside. If we refuse to break the coconut, the cream would still be trapped inside. Rather than get angry, you need to thank or better still always bless your offender. They are agents of change in your life.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
(Matthew 5:14)
Are we to continue to hobnob with the offender? Hardly! Suppose the offender(s) were part of the family, a spouse, a child or a sibling. What should we do?
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. (Romans 16:17)
“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; (Isaiah 54:16)
Know this my dear, they are doing their job. At the end of it all you will come out as gold. No matter the heat, gold always comes out better. Bless your persecutors. They were employed for your good.
