‘The knife for flaying an elephant does not need to be a big one, as long as it is sharp’
(Niger, Nigeria- Hausa)
If you don’t know, you can learn this today; it is not easy to flay an elephant. Yes! The elephant is not just any animal that anyone can find, pursue, beat or whip in the forest. Never mistake an elephant for a dog or goat that you can smash or hit with anything. If you must flay an elephant, your knife has to be sharp, I mean very sharp.
Also, there are many things/people that can represent an elephant in our lives today. Your children, spouse, close friends, academics, career, business, job or project may be your elephant in life. You don’t need a big brain to deal with them but a very sharp one.
The way you discipline your kids determine who they will eventually grow up to become in future. Children are not only disciplined by the way you beat, rebuke or criticize them; the values and morals that you instill into them after every whipping, rebuke or criticism go a long way in transforming their future. Don’t beat a child for no reason and never assume that your child knows that what he/she did is wrong, you need to convince the child about the moral or ethical implications of his/her actions. There are no small kids anymore, their thoughts, desires, expectations and projections in life are as big as an elephant. So, you need to be very careful when you deal with them. Every corrupt, immoral or hostile society in the world today is a product of indiscipline.
Your spouse, siblings, parents or close friends could also be the elephant that you need to flay before you become successful in life. Don’t assume that you know more than them and don’t ever disregard them for any reason. No matter how influential or successful you are, remember that you might not have gone as far as you are today without their little contributions and support. Don’t rebuke, condemn or criticize them because of some flimsy excuses and never assume that you know more than them. You can never be great in life if you don’t consider your spouse, siblings, close friends or parents as an elephant that has to be flayed with a very sharp knife (i.e. wisdom, intelligence and respect)
Your academics, career, business, job or projects are also the elephants that you need to smartly flay in life. If you are not very careful about the way you flay any of these elephants, you may end up being injured or disappointed in life. You need a very sharp brain, focused mind and unrelenting determination to pursue and flay your elephants. You don’t need to know many things in order to become a successful person in life (success is not determined by the big brains, it is by the sharp ones), you only need to know the right things.
As from today, don’t be tempted to flay the elephants of your life with a big knife, (a big knife doesn’t have any harmful effect on an elephant, it may even be too big for you to carry) you need a very sharp knife to do the magic.
Always consider the words of the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a weekly feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter, email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. or call 08180458852. May your days be plenty!
Another word from the source today. The lesson I learnt from this is that wisdom rather than strength is needed to deal with life issues. I purpose to seek out wisdom in all issues as from today.
ReplyDeleteThank you once again for these words.
Toyin
08034798926
The ancestors, thank you for today's word. Kindly ensure that the updates are done on daily basis.
ReplyDeleteMy take home from today is that wisdom is profitable to direct. Strength alone is not enough to win in the race of life but wisdom is more needed.
Thank you.
Betty
08151003966
Betty, thanks so much for your observation. We have almost decided to post only on Fridays so that our readers could have enough time to reflect on every single post of the ancestors. However, owing to your observation, we would continue to maintain the daily post henceforth. Thanks once again for your concern.
DeleteOur ancestors, thank you once again for this refreshing piece. The race is not to the swift goes a popular saying. Flaying an elephant is synonymous to our daily struggles in life. Its not about having the strength alone but about having the sharp knives (wisdom) needed to excel in the race of life.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this and like others before now, I will make use of it in my daily endeavors.
Ibukun
08121031171
Good Morning Ancestors.
ReplyDeleteThrough today's post, I have understood that you need to know the kind of person you are dealing with so as to know how to relate with him or her.
You do not have to say because when you were relating with Mr. A, this is how you do so because of that, You should relate with Mr. B in such manner.
Firstly, know the kind of animal you want to flay that is what determines the knife you would use.
You can never compare the knife you would use to flay a Fowl with the one you use to flay a cow talkless of an animal.
Ann(08186453903)
Our ancestors, may the fountain of your wisdom never go dry. My take from today is that one should make time out to sharpen one's knives before setting out on any journey. Wisdom is profitable to direct.I purpose to sharpen my skills and wisdom before embarking on any journey from now on.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir.
Samuel
08025782402
Please sir, I have your page bookmarked on my mobile with the hope of getting daily updates. Pls can u post more often?
ReplyDeleteThe lesson I learnt from today's write up is the place of preparation in life's endeavors. Time should be made out to sharpen the knives needed for flaying the issues we are about facing. Sharpening of knives might include reading of books, mentorship and one on one discussion. This will ensure that the requisite knowledge required is available before setting out. Thank you.
Oluwaseun
07030709758
Oluwaseun, thanks for the bookmark. We appreciate the fact that you expect us to post more often. We promise to continue feeding you richly with our daily posts. May your days be plenty!
Delete