Be wise

There is an important lesson I would like to teach you today: never engage in a fight with your enemy until you are fully prepared. No matter the level of provocation, if you are not ready for the battle, it is best to refrain from participating. Engaging prematurely not only increases the likelihood of losing the fight, but it could also cost you your life.

The adage "who fights and runs today, lives to fight tomorrow" is not a mere statement. It embodies a philosophy filled with wisdom and practical examples. Many have lost their lives because they dared to challenge forces greater than themselves. They approached formidable entities without adequately preparing themselves for the tasks ahead.

Let me illustrate this lesson using a personal example. My father happens to be the only son of his mother, whereas his father had another wife who bore him a son. Despite being the younger son, my father's brilliance endeared him to his father more than his older half-brother. Due to circumstances, my father's elder brother lived in Panya during his youth, which prevented him from becoming familiar with the boundaries of his father's lands and other properties.

Conversely, my father was very close to his own father, enabling him to develop a deep understanding of the culture and traditions of their land. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away when my father was just fifteen years old. Immediately after his death, the kinsmen of my father began selling off his landed properties. As a young man without parents, my father lacked the means to challenge these men. He was too young and powerless to engage with them, so he decided to lay low.

Over time, my father got married, and the attacks against him intensified. The kinsmen continued to assail him from various angles, selling off his father's land and dividing the proceeds amongst themselves without consulting or involving him. Faced with these challenges, my father made the difficult decision to leave our community and relocate to Orba. It was in Orba that he raised us, his children, and built our lives.

Occasionally, we would visit our ancestral home, but it was during one of these visits that my father realized it was time to take action. Together with my mother, he fought back fiercely, utilizing all the resources and connections we had as a family. We fought legally and adhered to traditional methods. In the end, the customary court ruling and the traditional chiefs council ruled in our favor, granting us the right to reclaim our lands.

This short story serves to illustrate the importance of waiting until the right time and being adequately prepared before confronting attackers or enemies. It is crucial to prepare, strategize, fortify yourself, and gather the necessary networks before taking a stand. Rushing to prove an unnecessary point, one that holds no real significance, is unwise.