Character Always Wins

By Edmundking Ogheneochuko

'Character Always Wins' reviews the intricacies of building wholesome character. While recognizing the challenges in our system and environment, the book presents character deficiency as the core problem of our narrative. The book seeks to encourage, equip and ensure the development of transformational character that will help individual fulfil their destinies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publiseer Publishing
• Release date: Sep 19, 2018

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Introduction: Character Always Wins

"M any years ago, there lived a great King. This king ruled his kingdom with wisdom and might, but he had a problem. There was no child to succeed him when he dies. He married many wives, but none of them could give him a male child.

He thought about it deeply and decided to choose a successor from the kingdom.

He told his town crier to make an announcement to all the villagers about his intention requesting that they present just one of their children to come the next day at the village square so he could make his selection.

The next day, the King's palace was filled to the brim with children from different homes in the community. The King handed each of them a particular seed and told them to go home, plant their seeds in a jar and nurse its growth for 8 months. Once the eight months were due, they should return to the palace and he would access how well they've done, then select the best as his heir.

There was a young boy from a poor home named Onome¹ who received his seed and returned to his village. When he got back, his mom helped him to find a vessel and put some soil into it. Onome made sure he watered his pot every day.

After each month, the children of the villagers who were given the seed would gather and compare their plants. All the seeds of the other kids have started sprouting and budding, but there was no sign of life in Onome's pot despite his efforts.

Onome was disappointed, but he kept watering his pot daily. A few months passed and now all the other children's pot really came to life. Some had short trees growing in them, some had beautiful flowers and some had leafy shrubs.

Still, Onome had nothing growing in his pot and the other children had started to make fun of him. They said he wasn't good enough and couldn't even grow a seed. They jeered at him and called him names. Onome was unhappy, but he didn't fail to water his pot even for a day.

Soon, the eight months was over. It was time for the king to choose his heir. Onome didn't want to go. He felt there was no need and sat down crying. All the kids were going back with beautiful plants that are all grown, but look at his jar... Nothing.

Why should I go to the palace? I have watered this seed everyday with nothing to show for it. Onome said to his mother with sadness on his face. His looked at him in the eye and told him to return and show the King his barren vessel, no matter the consequence.

Onome reluctantly went to the palace where he met other children dressed in their best and carrying their well grown plants with so much pride. He found more reasons to be sad from what he saw.

The wise King came out of his palace and started to walk through the crowd, looking at the many beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers that were on display by the children. The boys all puffed their chests out and tried to look as royal as possible, hoping that they would be chosen as the successor to the throne.

Then the King came across Onome, who was bowing his head in shame. He looked at his pot then he looked at him closely. What happened? He asked.

I watered the pot every day, but nothing ever grew. Onome replied nervously.

Then the King smiled, nodded his head in deep thought and moved on. After a few hours of reviewing other children's plants, the King finally completed his assessment.

He stood in front of the children and congratulated them on their efforts.

Clearly, some of you desperately want to be my heir and would do anything to make that happen, but there is one boy that I would like to point out as he has come to me with nothing. Onome, come here please.

Oh no, thought Onome. There must be another boy with his name with a grown plant. But the King directed his servants to bring him up. He walked slowly with a discouraged droop to the front of the group, holding his barren pot.

The King held up the vessel for all to see and the other children laughed. Then the King continued, "Eight months ago, I gave everyone a seed