RESEARCH SPONSORED by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)
Lusumo lwenulo lulilola munhu ohakaya imo, uyo alinihanga lyabhubhi. Abhanhu bhamunzengo gokwe bhagab’izaga b’adantogagwa, kulwa nguno ya lihanga lwakwe, ilyab’ub’i linilo, umunhu ng’wunuyo.
Aliyo gashinaga, abhanhu abhahakaya yakwe, abhahang’wawe bhantogilwe duhu, iki aling’wana obho. Abhoi bhandeb’ile nu mkajile kakwe, nguno umunhu adulile gub’iza alinihanga lyab’ub’i, aliyo inhungwa jakwe jilijawiza.
Ukubhanhu, ulusumo lwenuno, lulidulanga gub’iza na nhungwa jawiza umukajile kise, umuwelelo munumu. Inhungwa jinijo hija kub’iza na bhutogwa ukubhanhu, nguno pye ise dulibhana bha Ng’waMulungu uyoodusumba.
Hangi, ulusumo lunulo lulilanga bhanhu gunshokela Mulungu bho gulumbwa ishibhi, ulubhab’inzaga amalagilo gakwe.
Luka 15:11-32
Isaya 49:15.
Mathayo 7:11.
KISWAHILI: MTOTO HAWI MBAYA NYUMBANI KWAKE
Methali hii inaangalia mtu wa kwenye familia moja ambaye ana sura mbaya. Watu wa kijijini mwake huwa hawampendi mtu huyo, kwa sababu ya sura hiyo mbaya.
Lakini kumbe wale wa kwenye familia yake, yaani, wa nyumbani mwake, wampenda tu kwa vile ni mtoto wao. Wao wamfahamu kwa mwenendo wake, kwa sababu mtu aweza kuwa na sura mbaya, lakini tabia yake ni njema.
Kwa watu, methali hiyo hutufundisha kuwa na tabia njema katika mwenendo wetu humu ulimunguni. Tabia hiyo njema, ina upendo kwa watu, kwa sababu sisi sote ni watoto wa Mungu aliyetuumba.
Methali hiyo pia, hufundisha watu kumrudia Mungu kwa njia ya kutubu dhambi, baada ya kuvunja amri zake.
Mfano Wa Mwana Mpotevu
“Yesu akaendelea kusema: “Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aliyekuwa na wana wawili. Yule mdogo akamwambia baba yake, ‘Baba, nipe urithi wangu.’ Hivyo akawagawia wanawe mali yake.
‘‘Baada ya muda mfupi, yule mdogo akakusanya vitu vyote alivyokwa navyo, akaenda nchi ya mbali na huko akaitapanya mali yake kwa maisha ya anasa. Baada ya kutumia kila kitu alichokuwa nacho, kukawa na njaa kali katika nchi ile yote, naye akawa hana cho chote. Kwa hiyo akaenda akaajiriwa na mwenyeji mmoja wa nchi ile ambaye alimpeleka shambani kwake kulisha nguruwe. Akatamani kujishibisha kwa maganda waliyokula wale nguruwe, wala hakuna mtu aliyempa cho chote. ‘‘Lakini alipozingatia moyoni mwake, akasema, ‘Ni watumishi wangapi walioajiriwa na baba yangu ambao wana chakula cha kuwatosha na kusaza, bali mimi hapa nakufa kwa njaa! Nitaondoka na kurudi kwa baba yangu na kumwambia, ‘Baba, nimetenda dhambi mbele za Mungu na mbele yako. Sistahili tena kuitwa mwanao, nifanye kama mmoja wa watumishi wako.’
Basi akaondoka, akaenda kwa baba yake. “Lakini alipokuwa bado yuko mbali, baba yake akamwona, moyo wake ukajawa na huruma. Akamkimbilia mwanawe, akamkumbatia na kumbusu. “Yule mtoto akamwambia baba yake, ‘Baba, nimekosa mbele za Mungu na mbele yako. Sistahili kuitwa mwanao tena.’ “Lakini baba yake akawaambia watumishi, ‘Leteni upesi joho lililo bora sana, mkamvike pete kidoleni mwake na viatu miguuni mwake. Leteni ndama aliyenona, mkamchinje ili tuwe na karamu, tule na kufurahi. Kwa maana huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa na sasa yu hai tena, alikuwa amepotea na sasa amepatikana!’ Nao wakaanza kufanya tafrija. “Wakati huo, yule mwana mkubwa alikuwa shambani. Alipokaribia nyumbani, akasikia sauti ya nyimbo na watu wakicheza. Akamwita mmoja wa watumishi na kumwuliza, ‘Kuna nini?’ Akamwambia, ‘Mdogo wako amekuja, naye baba yako amemchinja ndama aliyenona kwa sababu mwanawe amerudi nyumbani akiwa salama na mzima.’ Yule mwana mkubwa akakasirika, akakataa kuingia ndani. Basi baba yake akatoka nje na kumbembeleza.
Lakini yeye akamjibu baba yake, ‘Tazama! Miaka yote hii nimekutumikia na hata siku moja sijaacha kutii amri zako, lakini hujanipa hata mwana mbuzi ili nifurahi na rafiki zangu. Lakini huyu mwanao ambaye ametapanya mali yako kwa makahaba aliporudi nyumbani, wewe umemchinjia ndama aliyenona!’ “Baba yake akamjibu, “‘Mwanangu, umekuwa nami sikuzote na vyote nilivyo navyo ni vyako. Lakini ilitubidi tufurahi na kushangilia kwa sababu huyu mdogo wako alikuwa amekufa na sasa yu hai, alikuwa amepotea naye amepatikana.’” ” (Luka 15:11-32).
““Je, mama aweza kumsahau mtoto aliyeko matitini mwake akinyonya? Wala asiwe na huruma juu ya mtoto aliyemzaa? Ingawa anaweza kusahau, Mimi sitakusahau wewe!” (Isaya 49:15).
“Ikiwa ninyi basi mlio waovu mnajua jinsi ya kuwapa watoto wenu vitu vizuri, si zaidi sana Baba yenu aliye mbinguni atawapa vitu vizuri wale wamwombao?” (Mathayo 7:11).
ENGLISH: THE CHILD IS NOT BEING BAD AT HIS/HER HOME
The above proverb looks at someone in one family who has a bad shape. People who look at his/her appearance in that village, normally do not like such person, because of that bad shape. But those who live in his/her family, that is, people of his/her household, just love him/her because he/she is their baby or family member. They know him/her in his/her behavior. One may have a bad shape, but his/her behavior is good.
The above proverb teaches people on how to have a good character in their behavior that enables them to behave well in the world. Such good character, contains true love for other people in societies, because we all are children of God who made us.
In addition to that, such proverb also teaches people to turn to God by repenting their sins after going against his commandments.
Parable of the Prodigal Son:
“And he said, “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found'” (Luke 15:11-32).
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. “(Isaiah 49:15).
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).
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