Greetings!
The biblical saying that says, “obedience is better than sacrifice is nothing but the truth. One of those things that has been affecting the human race is our act of disobedience and this has led many to destruction and retrogression.
Some are where they ought not to be now just of their stone hearted spirits towards obeying simple instructions. Though, not all instructions are to be followed to the letter, but there's some that one must not joke with, most especially those instructions that come from the people of wisdom ( the elders). These kinds of instructions are to be taken with due diligence and strong determination.
Having talked about obedience and determination, I would like to share my little experience on how my disobedience to instructions and advice affected me negatively.
Some time ago, when I wanted to start a business, I told my dad about my plans and how I would like to do the business. But when he had listened to me, he asked me not to embark on the business till i finished my NYSC. He said,
“Sam, I would advise and instruct you not to embark on this business till after your NYSC, as that would be the best time for you to start something.” I asked him, “Why sir.” He said, “by then, you would have known where you would settle at and also you would have gathered enough experience.” “Thank you sir,” I replied.
Although all he said was good, since I have made my plans already, I decided to neither obey his instruction nor dance to his advice. So, I started the business and for the first six months, but immediately after the six months, everything began to change, this time around, not for good but for loss.
It's when things began to nosedive that I got to know what he meant about me not starting the business when I went to him for advice at the start of the business.
Although, I thought he was only trying to discourage me, but it's later that i got to know he was only talking from experience.
As for my dad, he's someone that will not force you to do his will. He will not even ask you if you've done what he asked you to do or not to do. His own advice is to advise you once. It's now left to you to take the best decision you think best suits you.
So, it's after all these losses that I got to understand the popular saying that says, “ what an old man sees while sitting, a young man would not see even if he climbed to the top of a tree.” That's just the truth of the matter.
Although, I could not go back to him to tell him my regrets, but even at what happened, I have learnt my lesson and the lesson I have learnt so far is that, obedience matters and it can save one from losses. Had it been I listened to him, maybe I would have found myself in the mess I later found myself in, but thank God it wasn't more than that.
In conclusion, one thing I have so far realized about people that disobeyed is that, they would and have always lived in regrets of “Had it been?” or "if i had known."
Thanks for reading.
Picture sourced from metaAi.