The Trap

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Sam Aka

Anger is one letter short of danger!

A carpenter went home after shutting down his workshop, a black poisonous cobra entered his workshop. The cobra was hungry and hoped to find its supper lurking somewhere within. It slithered from one end to another and accidentally bumped into a double-edged metal axe and got very slightly injured.

In anger and seeking revenge, the snake bit the axe with full force. What could a bite do to a metallic axe? Instead the cobra’s mouth started bleeding.

Out of fury and arrogance, the cobra tried its best to strangle and kill the object that was causing it pain by wrapping itself very tightly around the blades.

The next day when the carpenter opened the workshop, he found a seriously cut, dead cobra wrapped around the axe blades.

The cobra died not because of someone else’s fault but faced these consequences merely because of its own anger and wrath. It was trapped, not by external forces but by its own fatal emotionsI

Job 18:4 KJV says,

He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

Sometimes when angry, we try to cause harm to others but as time passes by, we realise that we have caused more harm to ourselves.

For a happy life, it’s best we should learn to ignore and overlook some things, people, incidents, affairs and matters.

 

A man and his wife had argument at home, after twenty (20) minutes, the man went to the bathroom to bath….

When he was having his bath, he slumped inside the bathroom. He called his wife, but his wife did not respond….

His wife yelled, “Don’t call my name, just leave me alone”

The woman did not know the reason why her husband was calling her, but she failed to answer him because she was still mad at her husband.

After one hour, she noticed that her husband had not come out of the bathroom, she called his name and there was no answer…

She left what she was doing and went to check him. When she entered the bathroom, she saw her husband on the floor…. yes, on the floor.

She called his name and shook him, the man refused to wake. She shouted and ran out to call their neighbours.

Her husband had already died; his body was cold. She was trapped, trapped by her emotions! And was ushered into a painful journey of widowhood!!

 

Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV says,

‘Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools’.

 

No matter how angry or sad you are, never neglect to attend to people who call you for help, if the woman had attended to her husband on time, she would have taken the man to a hospital and he would have probably survived.

When someone calls you on phone, do not ignore, or say you are too busy, because you don’t know the kind of information they want to pass on to you.

When you see their missed call, try to return it, just to know the reason why they called.

You may never know, if someone needs help or wants you to rescue or the person is in danger and wants you to contact security.

Don’t live a life of “I don’t care!”.

You may save someone’s life, when you are quick to attending to things…. CHECK YOUR ANGER LEVEL ALWAYS!

 

A man was working when his boss started shouting at him, it made him feel weak and useless, the man went home immediately and shouted at his wife, accusing her of spending too much money, it made her feel small and helpless.

So, the wife shouted at their son for breaking a plate, it made the child feel clumsy and stupid. So the child shouted at the dog and kicked it. The dog felt hurt and frightened. So the dog ran outside and bit a woman on the street, the woman was shocked and in pain.

She went to the hospital to treat the bite and shouted at the doctor because the wound hurts, the doctor felt frustrated and unappreciated, So the doctor went home and shouted at his mother for not having dinner ready, the mother stayed calm.

She stroked his hair and said tomorrow, ‘I’ll cook your favourite meal, you work so hard and you are very tired.

l’ll go and put new sheets on your bed so you could have a good night’s sleep, you’ll feel better in the morning’, she pecked him on the cheek and left him alone to rest.

And so the cycle of anger was broken with patience, forgiveness and love.

It’s so important not to spread anger If you find yourself caught up in the circle of anger, remember you can break it with patience, forgiveness and love!

Proverbs 16:32 KJV says,

‘He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city’.

It is not necessary that we show a reaction to everything. Step back and ask yourself if the matter is really worth responding or reacting to.

Try to be proactive in the affairs of life, and that will definitely give your life and destiny colour and value; your life will begin to count and add value to others!

 

At a wedding ceremony the Pastor asked if there was anyone who had any reason why the marriage shouldn’t go on; it was time to stand up and speak, or forever let them hold their peace.

That moment of utter silence was interrupted by a young beautiful woman carrying a child. She started slowly walking toward the Pastor.

Everything quickly turned to chaos. The bride slapped the groom. The groom’s mother fainted. The bridal trail scooted towards the door. The groom’s men huddled together like a bereaved flock, wondering how best to help save the situation.

The Pastor asked the woman,

“Can you tell us why you came forward? What do you have to say?”

The woman replied, “I can’t hear from the back.”

Please always hold judgment until you you’ve had all the facts. However, many times we fire the shots too quickly and beautiful relationships are ruined!

 

A certain family was having dinner, and their six-year-old girl, Joy, started telling a story.

Joy: On my way back from school, I saw dad with a girl…

Father: Shut up! Don’t talk with food in your mouth…!

Mother: No nono. Let her talk…

Joy: Dad, you went in to the bush, I followed you and you started kissing and undressed her and then…!!!

Mother: And then what baby? Say it. I’ll get you a bunch of chocolate…

Joy: They started doing what you did with uncle Daniel when dad was not around….

Mother: Shut up, your dad has told you not to talk with food in your mouth. Stupid child. No table manners…….

….. . please always hold judgment until you you’ve had all the facts, don’t run into hasty and most of the times erroneous conclusions!

 

A woman also was driving an old Volvo car when she mistakenly hit a 2016 Range Rover.

A lady came out from her Range Rover insulting the other lady for not being careful, asking her to repair her Range Rover.

The woman with the Volvo called her husband, he replied that he was busy, that she should try fix up things and that they will meet later at home.

The lady with the Range Rover called her man and said,

“Sweetheart, someone just hit the birthday gift you gave me, I am so angry, please come over.”

Few minutes later her boyfriend arrived. Guess what? He is the husband to the lady with the Volvo.

 

Questions:

1) If you are the Volvo woman, what will you do? Get trapped in the web of anger, or ………?

2) If you are the man, what will you do? …….

 

Just pip into this man’s travails from his own narrative…

If I had known, I would not have played the America visa lottery. The lottery I played had put indelible scar on my heart, causing me pain daily as I move closer to the grave. I am now 64 years of age. My undoing was the visa lottery I played in 2007.

Prior to this time, all was well, and going smoothly in our family. I had married my wife in 1985. We were blessed with 3 boys and a girl. The girl, Moyosore was our first child. She was born in 1986. The boys came thereafter in 1988, 1990, and 1994.

My wife was a full time house wife. She had everything at her request. A chauffeur driving (driven) car, two house helps, and other conveniences were at her disposal(s). I was a senior management staff at the defunct NITEL. A trained and accomplished electronic engineer. I travelled round the Nation. My assignments most times, were between the Federal Capital Territory, and Owerri in Imo State. I however ensured am in Lagos at least twice a month to see my family. This was between 1986, and 1997. I retired in 1999 to start my own private company, which has continued to triumph to God’s glory.

In 2007, I joined several other Nigerians to play the visa lottery of the United States. I was part of the few thousands that won. I was happy, not because of myself, but because of my two younger children who will have the benefit of automatic citizenship of America. My older children; Moyosore, Aanuoluwapo were already schooling in Canada as at the time.

Hmmmmm, one of the major conditions of granting the visa is blood screening, and conduct of DNA for beneficiary’s dependants. I had submitted necessary documents, and made payments for our screenings at the popular St. Nicholas, Lagos Island. We did the tests as recommended. The results were to be sent to the Embassy.

I got a letter at a later date that I should present my passport and my wife’s for visas. On enquiry, they said the kids I presented weren’t mine.

I almost lost my sanity! My kids weren’t mine? ‘Is that possible’ was my song. I find (found) it difficult to comprehend. Because, it happened near my birthday celebration, I invited Moyo and Aanu home under the pretence that they were coming to celebrate with me, and had their DNA carried out. Alas, only Moyosore was my authentic child!

I became sick, and almost passed on. I was hospitalised for a month. I eventually lost the opportunity to complete the processing of the visas, as I was no longer myself. A bi, of what need is the visa without my kids?

When I got over the shock, I confronted my wife. She was mad with me. She called me unprintable names and a failure. I kept my peace and moved on. The following week, I invited her to a friend’s party. On our way back, I parked the car and pulled out of the road. She asked why, and I told her not to worry. I then raised the matter again. She rained abuses on me, and called me a drunk.

 

At that point, I pointed a pistol at her side, and threatened to kill her, and dump her on the abandoned road. I showed her copy of the DNA I got on Aanu, and the notification I received from American embassy.

At this point, my wife became (a) parrot. She swallowed her pride, and confessed. She said Aanu was fathered by David, a friend and colleague, who was more of a brother than friend.

We had been friends for almost 30 years. Tunde and Bidemi were sons of our house help, Kingsley. Kingsley was from Benue. He worked with us for almost 15 years. I had noticed my wife special interest in him, but never knew he was sharing her with me.

It has been 10 years after the ugly incident, and revelation. I survived the shock, but Adunni never! She died two years after. She couldn’t wait to tell the kids and sort out the problem and havoc she caused. Till date, the children are not in the knowing of my predicament. The children are doing good. The last, Bidemi now 23 is working in a multinational company. He graduated at 19. So also are the other brothers and their sister, who are doing great in Overseas.

Now, am 64. I have written my will again and again. I have deleted the names of the boys from my last will, even though I have not gathered enough courage to inform them that am not their biological father.

I have not told anyone either, and its killing me day by day.

Should I inform them all, or tell my only (my own) daughter? Or I should just die with the thought? I really need help

 

Let us Treat people with kindness even if they hurt us or not. People that show no inclination to change, are best handled with silence and prayer

 

A man married a beautiful girl. He loved her very much. One day she developed a skin disease. Slowly she started to lose her beauty. It so happened that one day her husband left for a tour.

While returning he met with an accident and lost his eyesight. However, their married life continued as usual. But as days passed she lost her beauty gradually. Blind husband did not know this and there was not any difference in their married life. He continued to love her and she also loved him very much.

One day she died. Her death brought him great sorrow.

He finished all her last rites and wanted to leave that town.

A man from behind called and said, now how will you be able to walk all alone? All these days your wife used to help you.

He replied, I am not blind. I was acting, because if she knew l could see her ugliness it would have pained her more than her disease. So I pretended to be blind. She was a very good wife. I only wanted to keep her happy.

Sometimes, it is good for us to act blind and ignore one another’s short comings, in order to be happy

No matter how many times the teeth bite the tongue, they still stay together in one mouth. That’s the spirit of FORGIVENESS.

Even though the eyes don’t see each other, they see things together, blink simultaneously and cry together. That’s UNITY.

May the Lord grant us all the spirit of forgiveness and togetherness in Jesus matchless and most powerful name.

 

  1. ”Alone I can ‘Say’ but together we can ‘talk’.
  2. “Alone I can ‘Enjoy’ but together we can celebrate
  3. ‘Alone I can ‘Smile’ but together we can ‘Laugh’.

 

That’s the BEAUTY of Human Relations. We are nothing without each other.

The razor blade is sharp but can’t cut a tree; the axe is strong but can’t cut the hair.

Everyone is important according to his/her unique purpose, never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

In 1896, Thomas Edison, the great inventor who invented the electric bulb, was working on an idea to design a car when he heard that a young man who worked in his company had created an experimental car.

Edison met the young man at his company’s party in New York and interviewed him about the car. He was impressed! He had the same idea as the young man but he was considering electricity as the power source while the young man used a gasoline engine to power the car. He slammed his fist down and shouted;

“Young man, that’s the thing! You have it! … I think you are on to something! I encourage you to continue your pursuits!”

With these words of encouragement from the most highly respected inventor in the United States at that time, HENRY Ford continued his work, invented a car and became wealthy.

On December 9, 1914, Thomas Edison’s laboratory and factory got burnt. He was 67years old and the damage was too extensive for insurance cover. Before the ashes were cold, Henry Ford handed Edison a cheque of $750,000 with a note saying that Edison could have more if he needed it!

In 1916, Henry Ford relocated his home to the building next to Edison’s home and when Edison couldn’t walk and was confined to a wheelchair by his doctors, Henry Ford also bought himself a wheelchair so that he could run wheelchair races with his friend and mentor!

Thomas Edison made Henry Ford believe in himself and got a friend for life!

 

Don’t ever be jealous of other people’s success.

If you can’t win a race, help the person in front of you to break the record!

Putting out the candle light of your neighbour in the dark will never increase the brightness of yours.

Your candle will not lose its light when it lights up another candle!

Getting the job done is more important than who gets the glory!

 

Be inspired, speak positively into someone’s life today, and possibly save a soul.

Only fools think they can succeed in isolation! When they see what looks like a drop of breakthrough, separatist attitude takes hold of them.

 

A rat swallowed a diamond and the owner of the diamond contracted a man to kill the rat.  When the rat hunter arrived to kill the rat there were more than a thousand rats bunched up and one sitting by itself away from the pack.

He killed the one by itself and that was the exact one that had swallowed the diamond. The amazed owner of the diamond asked: How did you know it was that rat?

He responded:

“Very easy…. When idiots get rich they don’t mix with others!!!” Consider others! Consider others!!

 

Husband and knife, oh please forgive my manners, husband and wife! Please consider others!!

WIFE: Darling why are you home this early wearing such a long face?

HUSBAND: Had a terrible day, I lost all my colleagues today at work

WIFE: Blood of Jesus! What happened?

HUSBAND: There was a fire out break down the tunnel and everybody died!

WIFE: What a pity! Darling I thank God for keeping U alive. How did you make it out my dear?

HUSBAND: Darling, it was God`s work. My stomach was upsetting me so, I took a break to ease myself in the toilet.

WIFE: Darling, thank God you are alive. What would have happened to us? I feel so much pity for their families, how are they going to survive now?

HUSBAND: My dear it’s a pity, but UNITED NATIONS has decided to give the families of the deceased $10 million each.

WIFE: What?!!! Ten million what? So because of your useless stomach upset and the foolish toilet and your refusal to die with your colleagues………make me miss that money?? I beg if you don’t like trouble, go back and die with your colleagues. Consider others!

 

“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”

– Psalms 41:1 (KJV)

 

Most times when we walk into big malls, boutiques, supermarkets, we never question their prices. We pay exactly what we see on the price tags and even hand out tips to the staff.

But the moment we are out of these shops and want to buy banana or those other little things, our bargaining game gets up to the roof.

Poor widow with twelve (12) hungry children at home tells you banana is N400. She even takes out her time to explain how difficult it was for her to even buy it, how the economy is so tough. But we insist that if it’s not N250, we are not paying.

Some of us even step back into our cars and make to drive away or use pseudo anger to manipulate them into submission.

But, because; ‘half bread is better than chin chin’, this woman is forced to call you back and sell to you at little or no gain.

In her heart, she cries, she’s worried about how she’ll survive with her children. She silently reassures herself that;

‘It’s well. God will definitely provide.

While you happily chop the luscious banana. Take some seconds out and think about this.

I’m always moved to tears when I see people who genuinely and helplessly hawk petty goods to feed and survive for that day, especially women and children.

Please don’t bargain hard with small vendors like this. Consider others!

They do business not to buy designer bags, trendy phones and watches, Gucci shoes and designer clothes but to LIVE and EAT for that day and the children share the remaining money to take to school the next day (that’s if there’s any left).

“He who gives to the poor lends to his maker”…it’s another way of spending in the will of God.

 

Help Someone Today! Consider others!! Consider others!!!

At a hospital’s intensive care unit {I.C.U}, patients always died on the same bed at 07.00am every day

regardless of their condition.

This puzzled the medical staff, so a group of medical doctors decided to observe the bed in secret and waited for the fateful hour.

Some held crosses and prayer books to ward off evil influences. While the less superstitious ones held cameras, tablets, smart phones to capture every moment of this hour.

 

At exactly 07.00 am, the door to the ward slowly opened, mama Sikira the cleaner, who usually starts her duties at 07:00am came in and disconnected the life support from the electricity 13amp socket and plugged in her Nokia phone charger!

IF YOU THINK EDUCATION IS EXPENSIVE TRY IGNORANCE!

 

No one succeeds in isolation. You need others, and others need you!And, you need God!Profitable relationship is an essential and integral requirement to a great and successful life pursuit!

A boy stood on a sidewalk waiting for a bus. A man walking by spotted the boy and gave him some gentle advice.

“Son,” he said, “if you’re waiting for the bus you need to move to the street corner. That’s where the bus stops for passengers.”

“It’s OK,” said the boy. “I’ll just wait right here and the bus will stop for me.”

The man repeated his advice, but the boy never moved. Just then, the bus appeared. Amazingly, the bus pulled over to where the boy stood and he hopped in. The man on the sidewalk stood speechless. The boy turned around in the doorway and said,

“Mister, I knew the bus would stop here, because the bus driver is my dad!”

When you’ve got a relationship with the bus driver, you don’t need a bus stop. If you’ve given your heart to the King of Kings, you’re in a royal family of unspeakable proportions.

Today I would like to remind you that when you know the Driver of your life you can take the bus of life anywhere. He will stop and pick you up where people think it is not possible.

Whether some are thinking that you are not in the right frame of mind, or the right position or the right career to succeed but this will change when the success giver is your father and friend.

 

Whether you are unemployed, broke, single or married, or childless or divorced, or widowed. What matters is that you know Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we can think or even imagine.

However, the BIG question is:

“Is the Driver your Father?” “Are you still His child?”

You can only get that privilege if He is your Father. He can bypass protocols because you are His child. He has done it before. He can do it AGAIN and AGAIN. And guess what? It does not matter what anybody feels or thinks.

Enjoy the ride with your Father.

God knows the best, He does the best, He gives the best because He’s the best. May He make you achieve the best in everything you do in life now and forever. God loves YOU

 

About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales, England. As a result of this, many missionaries came from England to northeast India to spread the Gospel.

The region was known as Assam and comprised hundreds of tribes. The tribal communities were quite primitive and aggressive. The tribesmen were also called head-hunters because of a social custom which required the male members of the community to collect as many heads as possible.

 

A man’s strength and ability to protect his wife was assessed by the number of heads he had collected.

Therefore, a youth of marriageable age would try and collect as many heads as possible and hang them on the walls of his house.  The more heads a man had, the more eligible he was considered.

 

Into this hostile and aggressive community, came a group of Welsh missionaries spreading the message of love, peace, and hope of Jesus Christ. Naturally, they were not welcomed.

One Welsh missionary finally succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children.  This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity.

 

Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers.  He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man sung his reply,

“I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.”

Enraged at the refusal of the man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children.

As both boys lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked,

“Will you deny your faith?  You have lost both your children. You will lose your wife too.”

But the man replied, again singing,

“Though none go with me, still I will follow, No turning back.”

 

The chief was beside himself with fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down.  In a moment, she joined her two children in death.

Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.”

 

In the face of death, the man sang,

“The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back. No turning back.”

He was shot dead like the rest of his family. But with their deaths, a miracle took place.  The chief who had ordered the killings was moved by the faith of the man. He wondered,

“Why should this man, his wife and two children die for a Man who lived in a far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago?  There must be some supernatural power behind the family, and I too want that supernatural power.”

 

In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!”

When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole village accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

 

What have you ever done for Jesus Christ?

Jesus wants you to make that decision to genuinely follow Him today because tomorrow might be late.

Proverbs 16:17-19 KJV:

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

 

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 KJV:

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

 

Dear GOD, If I hurt someone, grant me the humility and the courage to ask for forgiveness.

Good morning! Psalms 30:5

#iamfreshfire!

 

Continued here.

 

About author

Sam Aka

Sam Aka is a prolific writer, Public Speaker and Author. A member of the American Society of Criminologists (1985 Batch) and World Association of Detectives (1986 batch). For comments (sms only): +2348033053006 or E-mail: pastorsamaka@ymail.com

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