ANGER IN MY YOUTHFUL YEARS
Incident #17: As A Teenager
Many years back while growing up among other teenagers in Yaba College of Technology, where we lived and my parents had worked at the time, we had the privilege of cultivating sweet potatoes, tomatoes, maize and some vegetables etc.
Our Dad was one of those who farmed on some unused parcel of land. We always had and enjoyed plenty produce coming from what our parents planted; and wanting to farm like they did, we also would plant some little crops as mentioned above. But most of the time we never really got to harvest what we youths planted. You get to the farm one day only to discover that the whole farm is messed up, I mean, the crops being completely uprooted.
Excess release of adrenaline is triggered in one or two of our friends because of offence, thus making the offended run into the farm in anger, using both hands and feet at the same time, pulling and kicking out the tender crops. Soon, one or two others joined in the destruction, and before long all the remaining youths joined the bandwagon, and within minutes, no food crop remained alive all because of anger. Some of us would then get there only to see the mess and hear the full story.
But believe me, in less than one hour, we will all come together to play and have fun. I think we had always one thing in common, ‘life is full of fun.’ We would therefore not allow our differences to deny and rub us of our enjoyment. How I wish that many believers, especially married couples, would learn to become like little children, discard their differences, forgive and merge together with Jesus at the center of their marriage.
Incident #18: Giringory And I
I have had one or two fights with few friends just within the confinement of where we resided at the time, but not as much as I had with my immediate younger brother, Gregory (fondly called Giringory). We were always fighting. He was so stubborn to everybody that crossed his path then. My fight with him as a gentle boy was only to defend my seniority. He was always tough on me and a ‘big bone to break’. His anger was like a rocket fired and he would not rest until he grabbed his opponent to have his pound of flesh, even if he was the first person that started the provocation. The only thing that I used in getting off his hook was to give him head-butt. My head could deliver heavier blows than my fist. Today, as I write and since he met Jesus, his life is a total contrast to what it used to be, with numerous persons testifying to this. Praise God, he stands today as a child of God and one of our pastors in our church.
Incident #19: My Dad And I
I have also had some anger outbursts against my Dad many years back. I misbehaved, and in reaction, while trying to describe my attitude, he made a negative statement in our native dialect meaning ‘You are a hemp smoker’ Of course, I never really knew how to smoke, even after one trial of ordinary cigarette. Upon hearing this I became very angry, and since I knew that those who smoke hemp don’t seem to be normal, I quickly reacted and said to him, I will show you that am crazy.’ With rage, I got up, walked into the living room and began to tear up all the calendars I could lay my hands on. My Dad, upon seeing my crazy display, went into the bedroom and soon emerged with a cutlass. You know the story! I became wise not to tarry there.
Incident #20: Ridiculous Denial (with an attempted suicide), But Guilty
Many years ago while growing up as a teenager in Yaba College of Technology, I fired or should I say shot a stone using my catapult in a bid to kill birds as we used to do in those days. Regrettably all those beautiful birds and the green vegetation are long gone, now replaced with building structures. I remember that particular day as I shot the catapult while inside a compound we called ‘Indian compound”, very close to the quarters where my parents were living at a time.
Believe me, the stone didn’t kill a bird, but only landed on the head of the Dispensary Officer who was working at the College clinic at that time.
Promptly they all accused my brother of being the culprit since he was labeled the black sheep in the family because of his notorious disposition. While I was still pretending not to know anything about the incident, I really didn’t know how they figured it out that it was the gentle ‘Bomboy’ (as I was fondly called in those days) who committed the act. I continued to deny vehemently. But since I felt I had betrayed their trust in me as the ‘nice Bomboy’ they thought I was, I asked my only junior sister for the kitchen knife. She handed me the kitchen knife and went away unaware that I wanted to use it to kill myself so I could prove to them that I was innocent. But for the cold metal I felt from the tip of the knife on my stomach, and for God especially who wanted me for His glory, satan’s desire was denied. Each time I remember this incident, I do not cease giving God the thanks that He deserves. What a foolish way of wanting to use suicide, fueled by anger, frustration and pride, just to prove ‘innocence’.
How many people have died or killed themselves because of anger mixed with pride instead of owning up to their heinous crime and seeking pardon! Even if human being or the authority of a country doesn’t forgive you when you confess your sins, make sure you don’t die without asking God for forgiveness. A baby Christian in heaven is much better than a proud anointed Methuselah-man in hell. Remember, the Roman authority condemned two thieves who hung beside Jesus’ cross. One got justified by the Judge of all (God) to join Christ in eternal bliss, while the other went to hell. One chose pride and anger, the other chose humility and repentance.
A sticker comes to mind now; ‘DON’T BE CUT DEAD WITHOUT JESUS’. Don’t die without repenting from your sin. Everything has been paid for. Jesus used His blood to pay for our forgiveness in order for us to benefit heaven. Hell remains a place of payment for the disobedient.
Incident #21: My Boss And I -Downing Of Tools (Improper Resignation)
Sometime in 1975, I was working in a consultancy company as a clerk. I enjoyed my work then and could do anything my boss asked me to do whether within or outside the scope of my job. I did all printing jobs that were required for lectures through a table top printer bought from BEWAC at Apapa. It took me lesser period of time to be trained on this job contrary to the stipulated period by the company where my boss bought the machine, and my boss was very proud of me for this. I was enjoying this work until something happened. One day I just made up my mind not to go to work again. I didn’t tell my boss I needed a pay rise, I just decided I couldn’t take it anymore and so I stayed at home.
My parents asked me why I was not going to work and my only answer was ‘I am not going.’ After a while my boss drove all the way from Ikeja in his Volvo station wagon to our house in Yaba College of Technology to look for me. When my parents and Auntie told me this, I replied, ‘I am not going. My dad said, ‘At least go and tell him you are no longer interested. My reply was, ‘No’, and all the while I refused to come out of the bedroom. Later they told me the man promised to increase my pay but I still remained adamant. Throughout the time my boss spent in pleading with me to change my mind, I never showed my face till he left. I never saw his face again even till this day. I took everybody by surprise through this unbecoming behavior of mine because they’d known me to be very gentle and obedient person.
Today I remember this incident, and wonder the favor I would have gotten if I had related better instead of being driven by anger. If I have the chance of meeting him again I will definitely ask him to forgive my childish behavior. Anger can rob you of your dignity and favour.
