INTRODUCTION:
The inception of my most recent project, "Midweek Life Stories," represents a personal venture I have undertaken as a blogger in "FREECOMPLIMENTS".
I have opted to showcase narratives that explore historical and biological domains, incorporating both ancient and contemporary life experiences. With a sense of divine guidance, my goal is to release a fresh installment every Midweek.
Today, I will start with this topic, "The Endless Wonders".
This narrates the life events of two juveniles under the guardianship of a single individual. For security purposes, I shall conceal their true identities. This account holds significant moral, educational, and social values. I highly recommend reading until the conclusion.
THE NARRATIVE
This tale unfolds the experiences of two minors who served a gentleman in the Southern region of Nigeria. This gentleman hails from Igbo-land, specifically from my own homeland. The narrator of this account is an eyewitness to these events.
Mary and Joseph (i.e. the names I use to represent the two minors) were under my care, the narrator began. Not only were they not siblings by blood, but they also hailed from different local government areas, although they both belonged to Abia State in Nigeria.
Joseph, my biological younger brother, lived with me from the age of nine onwards. With our mother being elderly and our father deceased, Joseph had no one else to turn to but me. It was during this time that Mary came into our lives, on the very day of my wedding. She arrived with her sister's belongings, who had just married me. Mary was ten years old at the time, while Joseph was fifteen. Both children resided with me, and I treated them as such, unaware of the budding affection between them. It was astounding to discover that a fifteen-year-old and a nine-year-old had developed feelings for each other. In due course, Joseph learned a trade and pursued a career as an artist and printer, while Mary eventually relocated to Lagos, Nigeria.
MARRIAGE:
Upon reaching adulthood and contemplating marriage, Joseph approached me to reveal his intention for marriage. When I inquired who the lucky lady was, he pointed to none other than my own Mary. I was taken aback by his declaration.
Initially, I found it hard to fathom his proposal. Joseph was residing in his own rented accommodation, whereas Mary remained in my care. Mary returned to me after a brief stay in Lagos, and it was then that I learned of their mutual affection and desire to marry.
I conducted a thorough investigation to determine:
a) if they had engaged in any sexual misconduct,
b) why they felt an unbreakable bond akin to siblings, and
c) what led to their profound affection for each other.
Through my inquiry, I ascertained that their love was genuine and respectful, with Joseph affirming that he had not taken advantage of Mary, who also attested to this fact.
A pivotal moment in my decision-making process was when they individually voiced, "I would rather marry a familiar devil than a stranger- angel." This compelling statement swayed my initial refusal to an affirmative response.
Despite some of Mary's older siblings opposing the union due to their perceived closeness, I reiterate that they did not share the same lineage, family, village, or local government area, although they hailed from the same state.
They were genuine childhood companions who served the same individual as aides. Initially sharing a bed and bedroom as innocent pastor's children, they eventually matured and separated as they grew.
They triumphed over obstacles to unite in matrimony, a ceremony attended by distinguished figures from various spheres of life. Their union has since borne fruit in the form of three sons and two daughters, with their eldest son currently pursuing a degree in pharmacy at university.
LESSONS LEARNED
- Never underestimate the significance of young children.
- Imparting moral values and ethics to children ensures their safety and well-being as they mature.
- Determination is the cornerstone of self-discipline. Their resolve to uphold their morals until marriage and respect each other's privacy was their paramount.
- They were intimately acquainted with each other's strengths and weaknesses, both positive and negative attributes in behavior.