Desiring Love
“There are very few good Swazi men around” Pastor Gift explained to us.
This was the reason given for the fight that happened between two women at the care point that previous day. It happened as suddenly as we were sitting around with the children after receiving their plate of cornmeal. Shouts and then fists began to be thrown. A slight separation to calm them down and discuss what happened only caused them to move down the path a bit. More explosions erupted and a brawl was occurring.
In the meantime I had one of the fighting woman’s niece in my arms. She began crying and calling out to her Auntie. It was heart breaking as I was trying to shield her away from the event. What a traumatic thing to see your family giving and receiving something that is causing harm.
It took a couple men and a stick branch to whip at them to separate them for good! There was a quite tenseness in the air. At a certain point in time Zendlle asked me if I was ok and whether I was afraid. Honestly, I told her that I have had to separate several fights in my time but that my fear came more for her young daughter (the women’s niece) and what she had to see.
The truth behind the fight was that they were both arguing over a man. The one gal saw the other talking to him and had already claimed him as “her man” so therefore the other was stepping into her territory. The sad thing was, the man was married! He shouldn’t have been fought over because he was already taken by his wife!
Ironically, these women are just like me. They want to be loved, desired and taken care of. This situation brought up a similar memory, involving me! Years ago (in our college years) my sister and I got into a major fight over a guy. This guy being someone who probably didn’t even really know our names! At that time it seemed reasonable and justifiable but as I stepped outside of it, realization hit. It was actually rather ridiculous and embarrassing! We were fighting over the concept of being loved.
The point is we were created to be loved and wanted. Unfortunately, we naturally go to man for that. My heart burdens for them and the fact that “there are only a few good Swazi men.”
Before I left I was able to pray with Zendlle’s sister. My ultimate desire and hope is that she would be able to be satisfied and turn to the Man who can in deed give love abundantly. In fact, I wish that for us all.
