27/08/2024
THE MATTER WHICH WE ARE PREVENTING THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY FROM HEARING WILL, IN THE END, BE SETTLED BY HIM
ORO TI A NI BABA MO GBO, BABA NI YOO PARI RE
In a small village nestled deep within a vast forest, there was a family known for its wisdom and unity. The family was led by Baba, an elderly man respected by everyone in the village for his calm demeanor and fair judgment. Baba had lived a long life, guiding his family through numerous challenges with patience and insight.
One day, a dispute arose among the younger members of the family. It began with a small misunderstanding between two brothers, Ade and Tunde, over a piece of land that had been left to them by their late mother. The land was fertile, and both brothers saw great potential in it, but each had a different vision for its use. Ade wanted to plant a cash crop that would bring in immediate profit, while Tunde believed in cultivating the land with crops that would benefit the family for generations.
Their disagreement grew heated, and soon the whole family was drawn into the conflict. Everyone took sides, and what started as a small quarrel quickly escalated into a bitter feud. Fearing that the dispute would cause a rift in the family, the younger members decided to keep the matter from Baba. They believed that if he knew about the conflict, it would trouble him greatly in his old age. They hoped to resolve the issue among themselves, but the more they tried to fix it, the more complicated it became.
Days turned into weeks, and the tension in the household became palpable. The family dinners, once filled with laughter and stories, were now silent and strained. The children, who used to play together joyfully, now avoided each other. The home that had once been a place of peace and love was now shadowed by mistrust and anger.
One evening, Baba, sensing that something was amiss, called a family meeting. The younger members, still determined to keep the truth from him, tried to make excuses, but Baba was not easily deceived. His eyes, though aged, were sharp, and he could see the unease in his family’s faces.
“I may be old,” Baba began, “but I am not blind. I have seen the way you all avoid each other, the way the joy has left this home. Whatever it is that you are hiding from me, know that the matter which you are preventing the Head of the Family from hearing about will, in the end, be settled by him.
”With these words, the room fell silent. The family members exchanged guilty looks, realizing that Baba had known all along that something was wrong. One by one, they confessed the details of the dispute, each voice trembling with regret.
Baba listened carefully, nodding occasionally but saying nothing until everyone had spoken. When the last voice fell silent, Baba rose from his chair and looked at each of them with a gaze full of both love and sadness.
“My children,” he said softly, “do you not understand that a family’s strength lies in its unity? Disputes are bound to arise, but they must be faced together, not hidden away. It is not the dispute itself that destroys a family, but the unwillingness to resolve it together.
”With that, Baba began to mediate the conflict. He spoke to Ade and Tunde, helping them to see each other’s perspectives. He reminded them that the land was a gift from their mother, a symbol of the family’s heritage, and that it was their duty to honor her memory by using it wisely.
Under Baba’s guidance, the family came to a resolution. Ade and Tunde agreed to combine their ideas, planting a variety of crops that would bring both immediate benefits and long-term sustenance to the family. The rift that had threatened to tear them apart was healed, and the home was once again filled with laughter and warmth.
From that day on, the family learned the importance of openness and communication. They understood that while conflicts may arise, they must never be kept from the head of the family, for his wisdom and experience are the roots that hold the family tree steady.
And so, the family grew stronger, guided by Baba’s words and the lesson that no matter how difficult a problem may seem, it is through unity and the guidance of a wise leader that it will be resolved.
