Last week, a man approached me after reading my stories in the Mirror newspaper. He said, “I felt compelled to share my true-life story with you in person.” His name is Tshililo, and this is his testimony.
Tshililo was married to a nurse named Lizzy. Together they had two children, and life seemed perfect — until whispers of betrayal reached him. A colleague claimed Lizzy was unfaithful. Soon after, an anonymous caller repeated the same accusation. Though there was no evidence, anger and jealousy consumed him.
Blinded by rage, Tshililo sought out an illegal firearm. His plan was simple but deadly: confront his wife during her night shift and kill her along with the man he believed she was seeing.
At midnight, he arrived at the hospital, armed and disguised. But as he entered the corridor, an elderly cleaning lady interrupted him.
“Can I help you, my son?” she asked kindly.
Irritated, he demanded to be shown his wife’s room. Instead, she gently invited him to sit. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she spoke softly: “I can see you are angry and about to do something very foolish. Please, listen.”
Her touch reminded him of his late mother, Vho-Selina. Overwhelmed, Tshililo broke down in tears. The old woman embraced him, assuring him that life could still be redeemed. She urged him to return home and visit her the next day.
The following morning, Tshililo went to her house. After prayer, she revealed the truth: Lizzy was indeed unfaithful, but not with the man he suspected. In fact, multiple men were involved. Then she confessed something that shocked him — she was the one who had asked a man to call him anonymously.
“I wanted to awaken you to what was happening,” she explained. “But my son, are you willing to destroy your life by killing them all? Were you born a killer? No — your true wife is still waiting for you out there.”
Her words pierced his heart. Wisdom replaced folly. Within a month, Tshililo divorced Lizzy and later remarried. He now has two children with his new wife. Lizzy eventually passed away from illness, but Tshililo’s life was spared from tragedy. The old lady has since become his adopted mother, guiding him with prayer and wisdom.
VKRA Remarks
This story is a living testimony to Proverbs 3:13: “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”
* Listening to elders: Tshililo’s life was saved because he humbled himself to hear the voice of an older woman. Elders carry lived experience, perspective, and spiritual depth that can redirect us from destruction toward life.
* Wisdom versus folly: Folly is fuelled by anger, jealousy, and rash decisions. Wisdom, often spoken through the gentle counsel of older people, brings calm, clarity, and redemption.
* Community guidance: In African tradition, elders are seen as custodians of wisdom. Their words are not just advice but lifelines that preserve families, protect futures, and restore dignity.
* Practical takeaway: When emotions run high, pause and seek counsel from those who have walked the road before you. Their wisdom can save you from irreversible mistakes.
As VKRA, we affirm that stories like Tshililo’s remind us of the priceless value of listening to older generations. Their wisdom is not outdated — it is timeless, and it often carries the very voice of God’s guidance.