Just when we thought the drama in the South African parliament was over, things got more interesting. After referring to Economic Freedom Front (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, as a cockroach in a speech at the ruling ANC’s North West provincial conference recently, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, has now apologized for her comments. Malema’s response has not only been to fully accept the apology but, for his part, to issue his own apology to fellow politician, Helen Zille, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) for calling her a cockroach back in 2010. His words: “I now know how it feels to be called a cockroach”.
On the face of it, this seems quite possibly like the usual rhetoric of people in the game of ‘politricks‘ but it’s always good to learn lessons from whatever we can in life. I learned two things from this incidents and want to share them in this post.
Firstly, anyone who’s ever done wrong to another person knows just how difficult it is to say the words “I’m sorry”. There seems to be some kind of in-built pride in us that makes it quite tough for us to own up when we mess up. Something in us feeds us the lie that everyone else can fumble but not us. So, when we are able to apologize genuinely, that’s not something to take lightly. Forgiveness holds the key to so much freedom in our lives. Ultimately, it benefits both the one forgiving and the one being forgiven.
The second thing I learned from this particular story is how one act of humility can inspire another and create a domino effect. I wonder if Malema would have apologized to Zille if Mbete hadn’t taken the first step. Nobody really knows but it’s an interesting learning point all the same. Maybe when we withhold certain acts of goodness or forgiveness, we prevent other positive things from happening. Forgiving that person you hold a grudge against may yield much more fruit than you realise – bigger than just you and that individual.
Take some time to think and focus on the issue of forgiveness in your own life. Is that grudge worth you being so miserable and risking your physical, mental and emotional health? Probably not. The good news is that the perfect model of forgiveness has been taught to us in particular by a loving Saviour who, though He was the offended party, chose to pay the price. Through this kind of exemplary role-modelling, we can be introduced to a better way of life. To know more about discovering a relationship with Him and to make a decision to do so, please click on the banner below and watch the video that follows.