A Wife's Respect

King Saul had done a lot for the people of Israel. He had been chosen by God, in spite of his weaknesses and put on the throne of Israel. While we may all be aware of his failure to fully obey God and the subsequent anointing of David to take up after him, I think one of the lowest moments of his rule were the words he spoke to his son Jonathan. These words reflected his inner person. They indicated his failure where it really mattered, at home.

You and me can agree that no son regardless of how evil, would stand anyone speak so disrespectfully against their own mother. In fact any man that has been in a delivery room can never utter such words against his wife. If you cannot respect your wife for whatever reason, respect her for the fact that she is the MOTHER of your children. 

I have been in the LABOR WARD severally in my brief years in marriage and that is not a place you go and come out smiling. The experience there does provoke deep thoughts, its heart wrecking. As a man you want to be helpful yet feel so useless. You cannot understand the situation. The pain, the tension and anxiety are almost unbearable and nothing relieves it better than the first cry of your baby, the good news that a son has been born to you. A son, your very own son, one that will bear your name, the crown and pride of his mother, your wife.

            While raging in anger Saul raves at Jonathan, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?” (I Sam 20:30)

These words must have cut deep into Jonathan’s heart, but he was a true son, not so useless as his father’s selfish and wicked heart would have us believe. He was indeed his greatest army general, a faithful son of integrity to be proud of. One that the mother would watch with a great sense of self-importance and fulfillment as her mind vividly remembered the day of his birth.  He was far from being a failure as the father so wrongly alleged. He was brave, wise, dependable, loyal, humble, a man of great foresight and high sense for justice. Not just intelligent but also spiritual, a discerner of times, a man with ability to see potential and how to tap it. Yet the very important person in his life, a man who could not be replaced by any other, his own father opened his mouth and spoke so disparagingly not only against him but against his own mother.

Perhaps Saul’s failure was not so much the lost Kingdom of Israel but the estranged Kingdom at home. He had failed here and this failure manifested in his relationship with God and the way he treated other people. He could not lead successfully because he had failed to honor the people that really mattered. If charity begins at home then it is true that it fails at home too. Great leadership must be attested and seen to work at home. It should be reflected in the way you treat your wife especially. With honor, respect especially before your children. For this, your children will be grateful the rest of their lives. Lack of it, will become a ghost that haunts them forever.

 I honor and respect you Mama John.

The Broken Bridge

On Friday April 19, 1996, I walked into Taifa Hall at the University of Nairobi but came out a new man. I was then a 1st year engineering student. Today is Friday April 19 and is my spiritual birthday and would like to share the following poem I wrote on 17/10/2000 to express my gratitude to God for His initiative to rescue me from sin and to become one of His own.

A great fire kindled by sin, rebellion and selfishness
consuming every member, the bridge went under
as massive traffic watched, their hope to cross over to the other side swept
by the rushing current of the mighty waters below

Many days they watched and wished,
the Architect and Maker seemingly unavailable
hopelessness and despair creeping in, a great struggle with fear and nolstagia
A longing to be home again, to the flourishing garden, East of Eden.

'Twas a good idea turned sour, an exciting adventure, really dangerous
disregarding the creators will and warning, the sentence of death versus wisdom and power
but her hand extended, touched and picked, and the mouth opened to receive
a new deadly delicacy

The Architect watched and was dismayed
the coming down of the bridge he'd made
and when He called to find out their plight
Somewhere on the other side Adam answered
too ashamed and separated to show his face
the poison of shame, 'cause of the broken bridge

Across, away from home, cold and no shelter
just afew leaves to cover the shame of their wisdom
but a consignment of some relief was send
to the refugee across the river of shame
two wonderful tunics of skin for clothing
succeeding the atoning blood shed, 'cause of the broken bridge

An emerging design conceived, Slowly unfolding with a promise of war
a great combat between the deceiver and the deceived
a fatal bruise on the head of the deceiver
crushing his head with fury and indignation,
lamenting his bruised heel, 'cause of the broken bridge

And so a precious seed was sown, died, germinated and luxuriantly flourished
bringing to reality the conceived design,
planned over ages past
opening the way for the massive traffic,
 to the flourishing garden East of Eden

Thank you Jesus for your free gift of salvation