Johnny Broke The Siege. Story with an all lifetime lesson

    

Jonny was only five years old when he lost his father Agbeli Dzidepo. The mother’s name is Asinyo Esinam, a woman of value but unfortunately financially handicapped. Even before Mrs Esi lost her husband, life has not been easy for this household even though her husband was a teacher in Living Academy Preparatory School. Johnny was a handsome and a respectful boy who took exactly after his father’s good moral. His parents were very particular about his moral upbringing and his growth academically. Unlike children who turn out to be a disappointment even when their parents work tirelessly for their upkeep, his attitude was different. At home, he is the type that would run errands for the mother and made sure he reads his notes after and before school. Johnny learnt a very common saying one day which gingers him to aspire higher even as a child. “Reading makes the man“ and “Practice makes man perfect.“ He never went a day without saying this after his morning devotion with the mother. He was in class three when the father  kicked the bucket and Mrs Asinyo didn’t stop praying for her child because she knew that her child was very determined to climb heights in life.

Johnny sitting just after he has woken up and finished praying.

 In his upbringing, his single parent always went to the house of God with him. Johnny pays keen attention every time he went to church; his Sunday school teacher Auntie Doro, as she was popularly called taught the children out of love. Her narration and teaching of Biblical stories and real life matters that concern children is one thing about her the children love. The room is always full every Sunday as she is friendly towards all the kids and their parents as well because she never discriminates. One Sunday as she commenced teaching after doing praises and adoration, singing of action songs and Bible verses(memory verses), she taught the children how God loves them and offers a wonderful plan for their lives. Matthew 18 The text that describes how Jesus taught the disciples to allow children come to Him as the kingdom of God is for them. There was intense joy and happiness in the room as the teaching was full of fun and insight which made it all enthusiastic for the kids. 

Johnny learnt both in school and church of his duties as a child and for which reason he helps the mother with her chores and always makes effort to assist her even when she declines. One afternoon he was helping the mother to wash some clothes as they conversated happily with each other. The mother washes for people sometimes and the payment is what they live on. He said, “Mama, I want to be a great farmer in future“. The mother’s face looked quiet unhappy when he spoke so he was a bit worried. He asked the mother why she looks unhappy with his vision for the future because parents always want the best for their wards. So, she replied, “It is because I want you to become a doctor for me“. He laughed and then began to explain to her mother that it takes hardwork to be a farmer. He knew very well that no one including the doctor can eat or survive without the farmer at work. His vision was to be the one to put smile on the faces of his community members and the country such that he wants to be of great support to human sustainability under affordable living conditions. After all his insightful talk, the mother got to understand the greatness of the value in the vision of her only son. However,  she couldn’t sleep the night since her son wants to be a farmer which strongly contradicts her plan for the son. In fact, she was astonished pertaining to how such a young boy like Johnny could understand professions that he made-up his mind on what he wants to be even at his tender age. She at last agreed to support her son achieve his goal as she has carefully pondered over the matter over and over again. 

   Interesting enough there was a piece of land the father of Johnny owned so he planted maize and took good care of the farm at age 10. The maize grew well as the land was fertile and well supplied with rainfall and weeded as the need arose. He also reared fowls at this time and so they do not buy fowl for domestic consumption and in school, he loves Mathematics and Science; when a topic about Agriculture is been treated, he always had many questions to ask so that he can improve his farm but the colleagues didn’t know the driving agent behind his questions. The teachers also were most of the time surprised at the questions he asked because he was so tender but mentally he was a guru. His humble demeanor at school makes him loved by his friends and teachers. Gradually, as the years advanced, Johnny also progressed in his basic education which he never played with and his attitude towards academic work was very exceptional which differentiated him from the colleagues. With his consistency in the study of God’s word and his textbooks,  he had an open mind and was able to accumulate a lot of knowledge especially in his choice subjects which also contributed immensely to his profession or career. Finally, he has been promoted to JHS 3 and he couldn’t wait to finish school for him to concentrate and achieve his aim in life. He learnt very hard to pass without struggle even though he knew he cannot further his education by any means because the daunting financial challenges on them were very strenuous. Johnny has been encouraged by his beloved mother, teachers in school and in church. Many of his friends looked up to him for assistance in their studies and he’s always ready to help because he feared God and loved to help people also. The day of the final examination came and they started the paper and everything went on smoothly. He paid close attention to the examination even though he would not further due to situations beyond the family to solve.

His mum is washing

    After completion of his Basic Education Certificate Examination, he did not venture to continue but stayed with the mother and attended to his farming business. Day by day, this young guy increased in knowledge of farming and the economic status of his household also began to take a turn. Mrs. Esinam now realized the value of the vision the son wields and is nurturing so she also joined hands with her only son to farm. She initially taught it would be very difficult and impossible for them to make a living out of cultivating a piece of land. Now, her idea of what farming is has been  a total contradiction all these while and her initial fear about her son’s aim was as a result of their financial standing . Indeed, it was a really intimidating time that her household endure but God has blessed her with a son who carried a God-given inspiration to better the life of the family. Few years later, Johnny sat down under a tree in their house and was introspecting about life as a whole and the situation of his family because he was very responsible the very reason why it concerns him. He was thinking of God’s miraculous works and his faith was kindled that if God blessed Abraham even when he was not in his homeland, then He is able to change his life and that of the family because God never changes. He now got to realize the “SIEGE“ on his family but the cause of this hindrance he cannot fathom, so, he prayed continually to God for help. One day he sat down under a tree in their house and read Deuteronomy 15:6 “For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you and you shall lend to many nations but you  shall not borrow and you shall rule over many nations but they shall not rule over you“. Though his current situation looks difficult, he believed in what God can do and kept trusting in Him. Mrs. Esi and her son worked very hard to plant crops like pepper, maize, cassava, carrot, plantain among others as they did mixed cropping. Fowls, ducks and goats and other animals were also not left out. The farm land at this point has been extended and people were employed who labored in the farm together with Johnny and the mother.

People came to buy from their farm and send to market for sale because they have become one of the major foodstuff suppliers in the community. Due to the God-fearing nature of them, they developed good relationship with people of different religious backgrounds. People testified about them that they are good to do business with. God also blessed them and the SIEGE on the family has also been broken and they have been liberated from financial constraints.

All the hardwork and determination of Johnny has been duly recognized by stakeholders of the community because he has helped the community a lot. Formerly, common foodstuffs had to be brought from neighboring towns which created hikes in prices of goods but because of his selfless dedication to helping the community, food prices became stable as he produced in abundance to sustain the whole community and beyond. In his twentieth year, as young as he is, he was nominated for best farmer and young entrepreneur of the whole Agbozume town. People rallied behind him with full support and he won the two awards. On the day of the celebration, his mother was very happy as she sat beside her son at the front and it was a joyous moment for all.

Hardwork and determination have been the drivers of Johnny’s vision and inspiration to aspire higher. The family after years of confinement in a small mud house now built a two storey building with a small swimming pool and a garage with car which was to aid in food transportation and it was very wonderful after long years of strive and hardship. Mrs. Esi and the son’s farm has now turned into a major supplier of foodstuffs and animals for the community and beyond. Johnny was periodically invited to conferences to speak to people and even professors sat to listen to him as he speak while he was just a JHS leaver. People were marveled at the proficiency level of his spoken English.