There was once a man who felt so forsaken that he felt he had to commit suicide. Apparently, he wasn’t making it in life’s struggles. Our friend was an African. In those days, Africans were very courageous. He was so dejected that he felt suicide was the solution.
Our friend bought a long rope. He then went to the outskirts of the town where he was so sure no one would see him. He clambered on a tree. When he got on top of the tree he tied one end of the rope to one of the branches of the tree. He then tied the other round his own neck. The idea was that he would have made a jump to eternity.
However, before he made his fatal jump, a man appeared.
The man was naked!
Stark naked!!
Apparently, he had been watching the would be suicidee. He then approached the man.
He said he wanted to beg him for something before he committed the act. Our friend was surprised, but he listened to him. The naked man then pled with our friend that he was not asking him not to do whatever he pleased with his own life, however, could he give him the clothes he was wearing so that he could cover his own nakedness?
Our friend thought it over and was ashamed of himself. He felt if a man so poor to the extent that he couldn’t afford to clothe himself could still have hope, why not himself.
Instead of committing suicide, he thanked the naked man. He then asked him to stay in the place and he would send someone to bring clothes to him. True to his words, when he got home he sent the naked man various clothes. He even added a tidy sum of money.
When one looks at the problems we encounter in this world, some of them are so heavy to the extent that those who are negative minded will be thinking of ending it all.
However, is that the solution? I tend to think people who commit suicide are selfish. They are selfish because they have not thought of what will happen to those they are leaving behind. I don’t think the relations and friends of suicidees will ever be free from emotional stress. For those who are bread winners, they will be depriving their dependants the economic support they had been providing.
Religiously too, it is not right. Most religions believe in life after death. So, a person who deliberately cuts his own life short may go and suffer in the next world.
Of course, suicide or the attempt to take one’s life is illegal in most countries of the world. So, why get condemned on earth and in the world beyond?
I’m not preaching religion but most religions have ways of taking care of their own. That is of course, if people make themselves available.
Another thing is that one must not be discriminatory as far as work is concerned. Even if the job is a form of underemployment, half bread, they say, is better than none.
For those who have emotional issues, please make use of the various health facilities. Nobody’s case is the worst.
We need to be going for counseling. I am aware that counseling includes group discussions. We also need to be friendly. When you have friends, you’ll be able to pour out your heart to them.
We should also not play with our leisure. We need to get out of our cocoons.
We should also be aware that we can only make it when we are alive. Always remember that, when the goings get tough, the tough get going!!!
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