A young boy was settled by his Master in Easter of a particular year in line with the Igbo apprenticeship system (i gbaa boi). In the December of same year, this boy came home with a brand new Toyota car, accompanied with a bottle of gin (hot drink) which he presented to his Father for fraternal blessings.
At this point, his mother was thrown into frenzied excitement, singing and dancing, calling on neighbours to come rejoice with her on the success of her son. The father stood silent with the bottle of drink in hand, his reaction was shocking and quite unexpected. Note, this man is not a Christian. He is an adherent of the African Traditional Religion (ATR).
“My son, you were settled in Easter, and this December, less than 7months after, you are coming home with a car. Did you steal your Master’s money?” Everyone was surprised and momentarily saw the old man as a wet blanket.
The son denied stealing his master’s money and even tried telling the tale of how fortune smiled at him. The father returned the bottle of hot drink to him, told him that he would reserve his blessing until his Master comes here to confirm that he did not steal his money.
The young man was sad, but knew the value of his father’s blessings. So, he went to his master who returned with him to his father, confirming that the young man did not steal his money. But, that he provided him access to their suppliers abroad who gave him goods on credit that he sold, made good gains and decided to buy a vehicle for operational use.
It was at this point, his father requested for the hot drink, and used same to bless the young man and his new car. According to him, if he had blessed his son without clarifying things, “Ani ga e ti gbu m”. Every blessing is predicated upon the observance of a commandment. Even the blessing of life, “thou shall not kill”…
I’ve adapted this story to tell us nothing. But just so we know something about everything we must do to keep humanity going.
— Mazi Ejimofor Opara
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