A Rae Smith quote
No one gives birth to a child and names him or her ‘Enemy,’ thus, I haven’t met anyone yet called ‘Enemy.’ Yet an enemy exists, the reason the dictionary defines it: As a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
What causes enmity between people? I watched a program about a man who hates his neighbor.
According to him, his neighbor’s stereo was too noisy, and many times when he
asked him to reduce the volume, he refused to yield to his demand.
I
understand him, especially after the week’s hard work, you wish to have a happy
and quiet lovely weekend, reading your favourite books and newspapers, but that
neighbour of yours has denied you all those good moments you’re longing for.
At times, you might be an enemy or someone might hate you for doing no wrong, just
because of your efforts to live a happy life. Do you know that your hard work
can sometimes spark jealousy and hatred from an empire of deceitful enemies?
Do you know
that even your successful marriage sometimes makes you an enemy, because your
neighbour’s marriage is on the rocks? How do you handle such situations when
you haven’t done anything wrong but someone madly hates you?
I do hear people often say: The problem was beyond my
control, the reason I used food as a means of consolation, became an alcoholic
or a drug addict. That’s really a big mistake. When you’re experiencing problems,
you don’t live on destructive measures to solve your problems; you need to
fight those destructive elements.
Years back, when I arrived in Europe, among other foreigners,
I came to Italy at a time when I didn’t know anyone. I slept at the Central Train
Station in Rome for many days. (I have revisited Rome to see where I slept in
the early nineties) I saw that the hard conditions were taking their toll on some
of the homeless Africans.
Some became alcoholics, drug addicts, involved in drug
trafficking, and some decided to go back to Africa. I encouraged them to stay, but many of them returned to Africa. Today, I’m no longer an illegal immigrant.
Above all, I live with my wife and three children in Europe. I wake up every
morning at 5 AM and go to work like other workers, enjoying a happy union with my
family when I come back home.
I know what the enemy wants. I wasn’t ready to be a
destitute, alcoholic, drug addict, or courier. If I have made it, then you can.
Never blame anyone for your failure in life. Don’t let your enemy be happy.
Fight those destructive forces to make them mad.