My mum once told me a story, during one of her lectures to us. I always disliked such moments, especially the talk on puberty and boys. Gosh! it made me feel like throwing up. I guess she was trying to be a better mom, and we or should i say i, didn’t understand.
During one of her boring sermons on how to be a lady, my mom told us this beautiful story. Back then, i didn’t understand the moral of the story until now. I will tell you about it and you decide for yourself if it has a true lesson.
She began like this;
Long ago, she had a neighbor whose husband was known to be an adulterer. On several occasion, the wife had washed lipstick stains of his clothes, found condoms and hotel receipts in his pockets etc. Yet, she would not complain or raise an eyebrow, rather she showered her husband with so much love and care.
Once, her husband told her he was traveling to Abuja for a business trip. Some days later, she found her husband’s car parked in front of an hotel. Rather than raise an alarm, she went home, took the spare key, went back to the hotel, and drove the car home.
The husband thinking the car has been stolen went home after his escapade. To his shock, he found his car parked in his garage. Tails tucked between his legs, he went in to his waiting wife. The following conversation ensued:
Wife: Welcome home my love
Husband: eh, where did you find my car?
Wife: Ha, honey lets thank God.
Thieves, stole your car and brought it to Lagos, I found it and brought it home.
Husband: ah, this woman.
You found this car in a hotel,
Wife: Hotel ke!
No, i found it on the road. what will my husband that went to Abuja, be doing in a hotel. Honey, you told me you were going to Abuja,and i believe you. I know you went to Abuja.
Three months past, and the wife never mentioned the incidence. Rather, she continued to be the faithful, and loving wife. When the husband couldn’t take it anymore, he called for the members of the extended family. He told them to plead with his wife that she wanted to kill him, that’s why she had not reacted to all his escapades.
The woman stood up, went in, and brought a small bag. In these bag was all the rubbish she had picked up from her husbands clothes, and some of his boxers that had lipstick stains on them. She then replied, ‘if i complain of lipstick today,and condom tomorrow, how many will i complain of. I will end up making the matter worse, and loose him totally to this weakness of his’.
Whoa! Her husband stood still. He couldn’t believe his ears, that day he vowed to be faithful to his wife.
As a teenager, i never understood what the story meant. But, as a young adult i understand better. The ability to make a better husband or father, lies within us as women. We just have to be wise, and make good use of our gift as women and mother’s.
