The good Lord is the key

By Vatapuia Maiava and Ilia L Likou 25 September 2016, 12:00AM

Problems will arise no matter how well you think you’re doing, but according to Ali’itasi Taupau Esau from the village of Vaoala, prayer is the key.

Aged 70, Aliitasi runs a small roadside vegetable stall to help look after her family and with her strong faith in the Lord; she has no worry in the world.

Greeted with a gentle smile when the Village Voice approached, Aliitasi says that the key to life is having the Lord in it.

“The only thing I ever teach my children is to always serve the Lord and put him first in all that we do,” she said.

“The sentence that Digicel uses – Family First – is wrong. You have to put the Lord first; who gave you life? The Lord did. Your parents come second after the Lord then your children and then the rest of your family.

“That’s how things are supposed to be and I know that to be true.”

Aliitasi admits that her family does go through their fair share of hardships but her trust in the Lord keeps a smile on her face.

“My family has no father head,” she said.

“So I have taken both roles and with that, I stand in the gap of my children and the Lord and I pray for them.”

“There are many problems if you don’t lead your children to the Lord. If you make their lives consist of just eating, making them go here and there then that’s where problems start.”

“Always remember that they are not your children, they are the children of the Lord. Lead them to the Lord. There are many issues in life but all we should do is pray.”

Asked how life was in general Aliitasi says everything is great.

“I love the life in Samoa,” she said.

“No matter what we get from overseas, we will always know how to make it work out. We individuals should just know how to decide what’s good for your family and what’s not.”

“Always pray about everything in life. Life in Samoa is great for us elderly folks.”

“The way it was for our elderly back then is the same for us now, but for the youth of today, I see the struggle their lives display.”

“Parents are having a hard time instilling life lessons for them and it is proving to be very difficult. My children on the other hand are all grown up and are doing well for themselves and their own families.”

By Vatapuia Maiava and Ilia L Likou 25 September 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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