yielded

The decision loomed before the elders, heavy with the weight of tradition and the unknown. Nandi saw the conflict in their eyes—the struggle between honoring ancient customs and embracing the possibility that Malusi’s visions held a key to a future they dared not imagine.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that stretched toward the hills, the eldest elder finally spoke. His voice, though aged and frail, carried the authority of generations past.

“Malusi,” he began, his gaze searching the boy’s face as if seeking answers in his eyes. “Your visions are a gift from the spirits. They speak of a time of change, of peace. We will heed their guidance.”

Relief flooded through Nandi, mingled with a lingering fear. The decision meant her son would stay, at least for now. But the hills still whispered their ancient secrets, and the spirits remained elusive in their intentions.

As the villagers dispersed, murmuring among themselves, Nandi pulled Malusi close. She held him tightly, her heart overflowing with a mother’s love and a silent prayer for protection. For in the embrace of the village, under the watchful eyes of the elders, Malusi was safe.

Yet Nandi knew that the hills held mysteries that even the elders could not fully comprehend. And as she gazed toward the darkening horizon, she wondered what future lay ahead for her son, chosen by light and shadow alike.

One evening, as the sun dipped low behind the hills, the elders gathered in the center of the village. Malusi stood before them, his small frame tense with uncertainty. His mother stood beside him, her hand resting protectively on his shoulder.

“Malusi,” spoke the eldest of the elders, his voice grave yet tinged with curiosity. “Tell us again what you have seen for we know the gods have given you yet another vision.”

Malusi took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the faces of the villagers gathered around him. “I saw a light,” he began, his voice steady now with a clarity that surprised even himself. “It spoke to me of a time of change, of peace that could come if we listen.”

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of awe and apprehension. Such visions were rare, and never before had one spoken of peace. Yet tradition weighed heavy on their hearts, and the whispers of fear persisted.

“We must consult the spirits,” declared the eldest elder finally, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “They will guide us in this matter.”

Days turned into weeks as the village prepared for the ceremony of consultation. Malusi remained at the center of attention, a figure of both hope and uncertainty. His dreams continued, each night bringing new visions of light and whispers of a future yet unwritten.

On the appointed day, the village gathered at the sacred grove where the ancestors were said to dwell. The air was thick with incense and the murmur of prayers. Malusi stood before the sacred fire, his eyes closed in silent communion.

As the sun reached its zenith, a gentle breeze stirred the leaves overhead. Malusi opened his eyes, feeling the weight of centuries resting upon him. In that moment, he knew.

“The light,” he began, his voice ringing clear across the grove, “it speaks of a path we must choose. A path of understanding, of healing. A new way of living. A greater God than the ones we believe in.”

The elders listened in silence, their hearts torn between tradition and the voice of a boy who spoke to the light. Then after hearing this , a decision was made.

Nandi’s heart sank as the elders’ decision unfolded before her. Despite their acknowledgment of Malusi’s visions as a gift, they believed his path lay beyond the village, guided not by the elders but by the ancient ways that called from the hills.

The eldest elder approached Nandi with solemnity etched on his face. “Nandi, mother of Malusi,” he began, his voice a mix of sympathy and resolve, “the spirits have spoken. Malusi’s destiny lies with the priestess of the hills. She will guide him in understanding his visions. He will be there until she is satisfied with the process and has found the source of his dreams. We have decided and as a woman, our late brother’s wife, you have no voice. You are to accept this and prepare him accordingly.”

Nandi felt a cold shiver run through her. She glanced at Malusi, whose eyes shone with a mixture of fear and curiosity. He reached for her hand, seeking comfort in the face of the unknown.

“But…but … what does this mean?” Nandi stammered, her voice betraying her dread. “Will he return to us? He has to be in school. He is just 12 years old.”

”What is age? What is school? I am not learned and that does not change the fact that I can make decisions in this land. I have not come to ask you. I have come to notify you. I will take my leave. The boy must let go of his mother’s skirts!”

The elder put his bird feather back into his mouth. He walked a few steps , turned and said to Nandi, “I am still young. Giving you another child is something I can do. Let go of this one.”

Nandi fell on the ground and shouted, “NO!”

Your weaknesses show up before you daily to check if they’re still a weakness.

– Vanessa Ziyambi

Happy Friday belove’s. I am sending you big big hugs and lots of l love you’s. One of the things I have learned is, human beings have a lot on their plates and so the best thing to do is to make sure you don’t add to that “lot”. Selflessness also means putting yourself in the shoes of another. If they did to you what you did to them , would you like it? I love the golden rule. If we all lived by that rule the world would be so much better. No, think of it. That is the solution we’ve all been waiting for. First of all l hope you know the golden rule phela believers sometimes eiii.

The Golden Rule is the ethical principle of treating other people as one’s self would prefer to be treated. If people spoke to you how you speak to them, if they played with your feelings how you play with theirs, if they were as inconsistent as you, if they did not show up for you as you also stopped showing up for them. If people did a copy and paste of you, would we have a better world, a better community , a better family or would we have to pray for mercy?
The many demands we have and the desire to always have it done perfectly for us; if tables were turned would you go to through the same – for others? Many people will say yes but hmmm. Only The Lord knows our hearts including mine. If God played a dvd of the things we’ve done to other people – we would have a horror series.

““Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭MSG‬‬

If you love people, tell them. If you miss them, make a plan to see them or call them. If they always give you gifts and do favours for you, reciprocate. If they always uplift you and make you feel special, chances are they’re giving what they wish to get, so give back. Our feelings always show in our actions that’s why you always need to watch the actions. What makes movies more interesting is the fact that we can see them acting, different scenes, they laugh and cry , it really seems real! Imagine if they played a movie and all the actors were sitting in one room and all they said was a couple of words , no action, for the whole 2hours, I bet many of us would find “another” movie. That’s how people have replaced you and how you have replaced them. The golden rule.

The human heart is inherently selfish. Even our most seemingly unselfish acts come from a desire to feel good about ourselves and look good before others. We paint a perfect picture of ourselves and we forget that the real you will repaint the picture. This is why we need to reflect and be transformed!
While people may appear to be unselfish, the deepest motive of the human heart is not to help others but to help our own image and self-esteem. I say l love you – a lot! Like I can say it more than 20 times a day. I had to think of it, why am l saying it? To be liked? But I felt the love in my heart 🤷🏽‍♀️ I really do love people. The golden rule.

I need us to reflect on this. Let’s not even start with very far places. At home. How do you relate with your parents? I hope we are fully aware of the legal Angel of death that takes out those who dishonour their parents. We think God was joking? Oh no! There are people who have eaten up their years because they don’t respect their parents. They think the verse is for decoration. From home to everywhere you go. Let’s teach ourselves the golden rule, remind yourself in moments that seem to demand selfishness out of you. I will close by saying, if you have been asking God for forgiveness and yet you refuse to forgive others; you have not read the verse correctly.

You know we can’t close Reflection Friday without this question;

How’s your heart? How’s your mind? Why don’t you cast the burdens on Jesus today? And hey, I love you.❤️ let’s meet tomorrow for part2 of our Novel.

I am sorry. Had a hectic day BUT as l promised; the first chapter of our fictional book is here. It’ll take most of our chilled Thursdays. Hope you enjoy it.

PART ONE

Young Malusi stirred awake, the lingering mist of his dream slipping away as his mother gently shook his shoulder. The small hut was dimly lit by the dying embers of the fire, casting flickering shadows on the thatched walls.

“Malusi, my son,” whispered Nandi, her voice soft yet urgent. “You were calling out again in your sleep. What did you see?”

Malusi rubbed his eyes, still half caught in the realm of dreams. “I saw a great light, Ma,” he murmured, his voice filled with wonder. “It was like the sun, but it spoke to me.” Nandi’s brows furrowed with concern. In their village nestled among the rolling hills of Southafrica, dreams were taken seriously. They were believed to be messages from the ancestors or the gods. But a light that spoke? That was unheard of.

“Tell me, Malusi,” Nandi pressed gently, “what did the light say to you?”

Malusi hesitated, his mind racing to grasp the fleeting fragments of the dream. “It said… it said I must prepare,” he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Prepare for what, Ma? I don’t understand.”

Nandi held her son close, her heart heavy with worry. The elders would need to be consulted. Dreams of this nature were not to be ignored. But as she gazed into Malusi’s earnest eyes, she saw something more than fear or confusion. She saw a depth of conviction that spoke of something beyond their understanding.

In the days that followed, whispers spread through the village like wildfire. The boy who spoke to the light. Some spoke in hushed reverence, believing Malusi had been chosen for a great purpose. Others murmured darkly, fearing that he was marked by the spirits of the ancestors for sacrifice. They said he would be killed and given to the gods as food. 

Nandi watched her son, Malusi, standing before the elders in the flickering light of the sacred fire. Her heart clenched with fear as she saw the gravity etched on their weathered faces. The murmurs of the villagers swirled around her, a mixture of anticipation and unease.

As the eldest elder listened intently to Malusi’s recounting of his visions, Nandi felt a chill run down her spine. She had heard tales whispered late at night—of children who, blessed or cursed by visions, were taken away to the hills, never to return. Taken by the spirits, they said, to serve in ways mortals could not comprehend.She remembered the stories of mothers who had lost their sons in such ways. They spoke of grief that never healed, of unanswered questions that haunted their dreams. Nandi’s grip tightened on Malusi’s shoulder, a silent plea for him to remain rooted in the present, to stay with her where she could protect him.

But Malusi, unaware of his mother’s inner turmoil, continued to speak with a conviction that both comforted and terrified her. His voice carried across the sacred grove, weaving a tale of light and peace, of paths yet to be taken. He spoke so casually but his audience was getting more and more anxious as did his mother. What would it be? Would his life be taken like that of his friend Samu? The decision was left to the elders.

{Chapter Two – Saturday 27/07}

I have been stuck on this image of wheat for a little over a week now. When I feel choked by the emotions stirred up from current trials , I remember this and I’m strengthened. One of the hardest things to do is to worship in the valley. To praise when your voice is toiling off. How did Zechariah still serve as a priest , interceding, serving when his own promise was not yet fulfilled? How did Abraham keep building altars of worship to a God who said “l will” when it felt like “He was not.” How do you tell Hannah “we’re going to Shiloh,” knowing she has been going there and coming back without the one thing she wanted, a child because my darling people will ask. I’m reminded of a scripture by David in the book of Psalms;

“Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help, while my enemies mock me over and over, saying, “Where is this God of yours? Why doesn’t he help you?””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬

He says there are people who are not interested in asking how I am doing. They don’t want to know about any other thing. The only question they keep asking is “Where is this God of yours and why doesn’t He help you?” . In a time where you hang onto God not even knowing what is the cause of the storm , David says I have been hearing my enemies mock me. That these people are not only mocking David but they’re mocking the God of David. They did this to Jesus on the cross. “You have been healing people, why can’t you save yourself !” But He fixed His focus and attention on purpose – the cross.

Many believers stop worshipping in their waiting season because to us worship is not a commitment or lifestyle , it is a response to a testimony. People don’t show up for worship nights but call a warfare night , even the witch next door is there. Everyone wants to be where they “feel” they will benefit. When it comes to real commitment to praise, we ask why? “Why should l praise when my child is sick? Why should l praise when the person I married has turned me into a marah? Why should l bother myself dancing when life has given me lemons 😂 and the lemonade l tried to make tastes like poison?” If you think I’m bluffing, tell a Christian , “let’s praise God” their response would be “Why, what has He done?”.

Today I want to encourage my people who are in the season of transition from Moab to Bethlehem. Those like Naomi. The ones who had their hands full of beautiful things then they lost them and now it looks like you never had anything. Those who are in grief and are going through famine. How do you even cry? Or maybe Ruth’s. With an option to go back home and give up. With a choice to follow Orpah and maybe worship other gods or marry someone else but they stay and wait upon the Lord. The Ruth’s who choose God with no sight of a Boaz. They are walking by faith. They are not even focused on a man , theirs is to serve the God of Naomi. The people who have been a support system to others with nothing to gain! The Ruth who followed Naomi with no promise of a better future, not a vision, not a prophecy, nothing!

Ruth was not told that she would meet a whole Boaz in Bethlehem. She knew Naomi was old and couldn’t bear children yet she followed. Followers with no prophetic dream but they believe in God! Those who stand at cross roads and still choose the narrow path. After losing everything they still follow. After returning to Bethlehem with shame of not having a testimony after so many years, they don’t even care to lie to people. Listen, there is a purpose. If only we stay aligned, there is a purpose.

Take a look at that picture above. Does it look like it was once a dry field? Does it look like it was once all dusty with nothing that looks like wheat? But guess what? It started off as just land. Maybe people dumped their trash there. It probably rained or the ground was dried up by scorching sun. What if there was a time nobody took a second look at the land because there was nothing. Look at it now! I found it on the internet! Look at how healthy and beautiful and prosperous it looks! It looks ready to feed families and a whole city of more! It looks like the owner is very pleased! It sure looks nothing like how it was during the seeding time. The farmer must’ve been tired with the sowing and the whole process but what if he gave up?

I’m saying to you , stay in praise. Stay in worship. Stay locked in the ark. The rain will soon stop. The trials will soon come to an end. Esther losing your parents is not the end of life. There is a king that will favour you. Ruth , in a field of many candidates, there is a man of integrity called Boaz who will ask about you. Elijah arise and eat! Joseph interpret the dreams anyway, they may forget you but soooon! We don’t need a reason why, we are those who live a life of worship, NOMATTER WHAT! Find time to worship and praise Him today!

“Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭TPT‬‬