Today marks the ninth year since his departure to glory, yet the memory of Papa Chris still lingers like morning dew in the garden of my heart. His voice, laced with wisdom and humor, echoes gently in my mind—especially when I sit under trees, just as he loved to do.
It feels like just yesterday that Papa Chris sat beneath the old Muhacha Tree, sharing stories that stitched together the past and the present with golden threads of meaning. My father’s storytelling wasn’t just entertainment—it was legacy, it was guidance, it was pure, distilled wisdom from a well that never ran dry.
The day he shared the story of The Controversial Suitors remains etched in my heart, not just because of its drama, but because of the timeless lesson it carried. I remember that afternoon well: the birds chirped softly, a breeze played gently with the leaves, and Papa Chris, with his crown of gray hair glinting like silver in the sun, leaned forward with that mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“There once was a girl,” he began, “a beautiful damsel from Temeria in Mashava—her name was Chenai. The kind of beauty she had was not common; it was the kind that summoned men from hills and valleys. Suitors came in swarms like bees to honey, each eager to claim her hand.”
He paused and looked at me with that knowing smile. “But beauty alone is not a compass, my child.”
Chenai’s father, Mr. Gera, was no ordinary man. He was a leader respected for his insight and revered for his discernment. When his daughter asked for advice on whom to marry, he wisely told her to bring two suitors of her choice—only two—for he had a test in mind.
Chenai chose Themba and Thamae—two impressive young men. They dressed well, spoke well, and drove flashy cars. By all appearances, either could have been the ideal husband.
But Papa Chris leaned in, “What the world sees and what the heart hides—those are two different things.”
When the suitors arrived, Mr. Gera did something peculiar. Without warning, as Chenai introduced each man, he gave both of them a ferocious backhand slap.
I remember laughing in disbelief. “A slap, Papa? Just like that?”
“Yes,” Papa Chris nodded with a chuckle. “Life sometimes needs a jolt to reveal the hidden truth.”
Themba, calm and smiling, responded with sugar-coated words, “A slap is nothing for the one you love. In fact, sir, you can slap me again if it pleases you.” His smile was almost too sweet, too perfect.
Thamae, on the other hand, exploded in anger, demanding to know what kind of welcome that was. He was raw, offended, and clearly not playing to impress.
Mr. Gera, seemingly unfazed, later pulled Chenai aside.
“Choose the one who showed you his true heart,” he told her. “Not the one who wore a mask of sugar while hiding a volcano inside. Themba may appear sweet now, but it’s in the hidden places that bitterness brews. Thamae was honest—even in anger, he showed you the man you would live with.”
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Chenai, trusting her father’s judgment, agreed. And sure enough, the moment they announced their choice, Themba’s mask fell. He hurled insults and curses, not just at Mr. Gera, but at Chenai too.
Chenai turned to her father with eyes wide and said, “Thank you, Baba. I almost married a stranger in disguise.”
Papa Chris paused, looking off into the distance, the story now done but the lesson lingering. “That day, my child, I learned something,” he said. “Marry someone who’s an open book. Because masks don’t last—but character does.”
Now, nine years since his voice fell silent in this world, I realize that Papa Chris never truly left us. His stories still teach, still guide, and still make us laugh and think all at once. Every time I pass the Muhacha Tree, I see him there, legs crossed, hands gesturing, wisdom flowing like a river. Papa Chris continues to rest in glory, but his stories and wisdom live on.
No wonder the bible says wisdom is the principal thing. Wisdom is what builds Godly and enduring homes. Wisdom is what holds the pillars of the universe. A wise leader sees trouble from a distance and avoids it, but a fool rushes into trouble. Jesus Christ remains the wisdom of God and the Ultimate leader, let us follow Him and many will follow us.
Dr Ted Msipa is Pastor, Author, Visionary, Entrepreneur and Public Speaker based in Maseru, Lesotho. He is a leading voice in leadership, personnel development, organisational thinking, transformational leader and people builder in sub-Sahara Africa and Beyond. He writes here in his personal capacity and views shared here do not necessarily reflect those of Africa News 24. Dr Ted can be reached on Coachted117@gmail.com or on +266 63177309.
