SONSHIP

 

My parents' room were usually under lock and key all the time when we were kids. The keys to their room were like hidden mysteries. The only time you can access the room legally was when they were inside the room or you were specifically sent by any of them to get something. If they mistakenly leave their rooms open, the moment they come back, they will be in suspicion as to what may have gone wrong in their absence. One will ask me: How do you expect your parents to leave their room open when they find it difficult to leave the parlour open when they leave?

Thinking back on these facts keep me in wonder as to how all those have changed. Not just changed to the point that one can enter their room in their absence without their permission but that the very keys to the room can be left in one's care. My God!

When one speaks of paradigm shift, I believe this is what is being referred to!

The answer that flashed into my mind like a picture was: The benefits of sonship.

Sonship does not deal with physical development but maturity in mind and character. It is built-up with time and has general recognition. It does not have to do with age but stature. It deals with a person's capacity to take responsibility for little things which transcends to being committed with greater things.

If you are not faithful with a few, you cannot be faithful with much. Nobody can trust you with important concerns of their lives when infinitesimal issues are taken for granted by you.

When one has come to understand the value of life and count things important, it reflects in the way one lives. This is the reflection that people see and hand over their lives to such one.

The issue of trust is a matter of sonship. 

It will get to a point where you will wonder why people who barely know you trust you. That is the manifestation of sonship. They believe that you will not fail their trust because your nature and character have matured to the point where you are unable to intentionally abuse their trust.

For instance, the major reason my parents kept their rooms under lock and key is so they will not have to lose things. It is in the character of children to take things without permission, with the intention of not revealing it, which is tantamount to stealing. To prevent that, they had to put their rooms under strict vigilance and security. 

Childishness is a character which can be exhibited by adults. This is the opposite of sonship. Infact, this is where people should grow out from to come into maturity of mind and character. You will rarely trust children to take care of themselves while you are away. Their decisions are usually questionable and have always proved to be faulty because they count as important things of no value. They do not understand that the future is more important than the present and the present should serve as a preparation for the future. They live for the pleasure of today and can rid tomorrow of its worth in order to satisfy their present desire.

Sons reason differently. That is why they are entrusted with weightier matters of life that one may consider to be higher than them.

Sonship enables access, unrestricted access. One who has attained the level of sonship can be intimated with top secrets without fear of abuse. What follows access is accountability. When a man entrusts his affairs into your hands, it accrues of accountability. To give proper account, one must be responsible in discharging and executing the demands placed on him/her. 

The expectation on a son is higher than that on a child. Some excuses will seem inexcusable for a son owing to the maturity of mind he/she has attained. It still remains a benefit, owing to the fact that what you do is of consequence. Your opinion, ideas, decisions, instructions, etc, are of consequence, regarded and considered.

It is pitiable that some people prefer living "off-record" for safety purposes. By off record, I mean that their words and actions are of no consequence and cannot be referenced because they are not regarded or considered. 

-They prefer to remain stunted with childish character and not grow to sonship in a bid to shirk the demands of trust and responsibility. 

-They prefer being excused from errors in life than taking responsibility for their mistakes and striving to make a difference when offered another chance. 

-They prefer living for the present than utilising the present to build a better future. 

Sonship entails that at every point a gift appears in your life, it should be nurtured, else it will spread its wings and fly away.

Best regards,

Chiderah Beulah Ojukwu.