My true life story

 

MY TRUE LIFE STORY 

THE DAY I CAN NEVER FORGET

I was on the Ibadan Expressway that hot afternoon, seated in my wheelchair beneath the harsh sun, waiting patiently for the bus I had booked to convey my family and me to our destination. Life had already taught me many lessons about endurance, but nothing prepared me for what was about to happen that day. Cars sped past, kicking up dust and noise. Some people glanced at me briefly with pity; others simply ignored me. Then, suddenly, a woman walking along the roadside reached into her wrapper, folded some naira notes, and tossed them toward me as if I were a beggar. I was shocked. The money hit the ground beside my leg. I raised my voice gently but firmly, saying, “Madam, please, come and take your money. I am not begging.” She stopped, looked at me scornfully, and muttered under her breath, “Arrogant paralysed man.” Those words pierced my heart like a sharp blade. For a moment, it felt as though my world had ended. My pride, my dignity, and my strength as a man seemed to crumble. I bowed my head, speechless and numb. Inside me, a silent storm raged. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to ask God why He allowed such humiliation. But in that quiet moment, something remarkable happened. A scripture rose within my heart: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). I realised that my worth was not tied to my wheelchair or people’s opinions, but to the God who gave me life. The insult that was meant to break me became a reminder of my purpose. Sometimes, pain becomes a platform for revelation. As I sat there, still waiting for the bus, another scripture whispered through my spirit: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:10 KJV). That verse gave me strength to smile again. I decided that day that I would never let anyone’s perception define my reality. An African adage says, “When the lizard falls from the high tree and nobody praises it, it nods its head to praise itself.” I nodded inwardly, assuring myself that I was still valuable. That experience became one of my greatest teachers. It taught me that life’s battles are not always physical; sometimes, they are emotional wars fought in silence. It also reminded me that compassion without understanding can be cruelty in disguise. I learnt that human dignity must never be measured by appearance, condition, or circumstance. From that day, I made up my mind to turn every insult into inspiration and every pain into purpose. As Proverbs 24:10 (KJV) declares, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” I chose to rise stronger. Life may have confined my legs, but it could never imprison my spirit. That day on the Ibadan Expressway remains unforgettable—not because of the insult, but because it awakened a deeper strength within me.