Rev Fr Anaclet Makaka CDKK

07/03/2026

Fruitful Lenten season

22/12/2025

17/10/2025

THE FROG SYNDROME

Imagine placing a frog into a pot of cold water, then slowly turning up the heat. At first, the frog remains calm, barely reacting to the gradual change. It quietly adjusts its body temperature, slowly adapting to the warming water, thinking, “This is still okay. I can handle this.”

As the water continues to heat, the frog tolerates the rising temperature, convincing itself that it’s still bearable. It adapts little by little, accepting discomfort bit by bit, believing it can survive whatever comes next.

But here lies the danger: when the water becomes unbearably hot—too hot to endure—the frog finally recognizes the urgent need to escape. It realizes, “Now, I must jump out to save myself!”
Unfortunately, by this time, the frog has already exhausted its energy simply enduring the increasing heat. It’s too weak, too depleted to make the leap to safety. Despite its desire to escape, the frog is trapped. Slowly, it succumbs to the boiling water, unable to save itself.

The truth is, the frog didn’t perish because of the water’s heat alone. It died because it failed to act early, failed to make the decision to jump out when it still could.

This phenomenon is known as the “Boiling Frog Syndrome.”
This powerful story mirrors many of our lives. We often endure injustice, neglect, or hardship step by step, telling ourselves, “I’ll tolerate this for now. I’ll deal with it later.” We accept small pains, dismiss warning signs, and adapt to worsening conditions, hoping things will improve.

But what starts as manageable discomfort can grow into overwhelming suffering. By the time we realize the severity of our situation, our strength to fight back, to change our circumstances, has often been drained. We lose the courage to stand up, to speak out, and to protect ourselves.

The lesson here is clear: Never allow yourself to reach a point where you lack the strength to break free from toxic situations.
When you sense discomfort or injustice creeping in, take action immediately. Set clear boundaries, raise your voice, and defend your dignity before it’s too late. Your mental and emotional resilience is your greatest ally—nurture it, protect it, and never let it be drained by slow, creeping harm.

Remember, life will often test your limits, but you hold the power to decide when to leap out of the boiling water. Don’t wait until your energy is gone. Act now, protect your peace, and choose survival on your own terms.

Because no one deserves to become the “boiled frog” — someone who wanted to survive but was too late to save themselves.

15/08/2025

I LOVE THIS ANALOGY:

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"Because someone bumped into me!!!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.
Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.
Whatevr is inside the cup is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"

When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?
Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting tendencies?

Life provids the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affrmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.

25/07/2025

SEVEN TYPES OF FRIENDS YOU SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS WITH

Not every friend is a gift. Some are lessons. The people you allow into your inner circle will either sharpen your destiny or sabotage it. Discernment is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for a focused, fruitful life.

1. THE ENVIOUS FRIEND – COVETS YOU IN SILENCE

An envious friend doesn’t always express hostility openly. Instead, they harbor silent resentment toward your progress. They admire you publicly but compete with you privately. Their compliments are veiled criticisms, and their support fades in your season of success.

If someone finds it hard to celebrate you or constantly downplays your victories, that’s not loyalty—it’s concealed rivalry. Such people can become stumbling blocks to your destiny. Where envy lives, betrayal is not far behind. Cut off what quietly corrupts your peace.

2. THE COMPETITIVE FRIEND – ALWAYS MEASURING THEMSELVES AGAINST YOU

This friend turns friendship into a scoreboard. They don’t aim to grow with you—they aim to outgrow you. Every story you share becomes a trigger for their comparison. Their affirmation comes with tension, and their presence breeds insecurity.

True friends rejoice when you rise because they don’t feel threatened by your light. But a competitive friend feels smaller in your greatness, and will find ways to make you feel guilty for shining. Real relationships are partnerships, not hidden rivalries.

3. THE JEALOUS FRIEND – THREATENED BY YOUR GROWTH

Jealousy isn’t just silent hatred; it’s the fear of being left behind. A jealous friend may not compete with you directly, but they grieve over your elevation. They desire your success but can’t handle when it manifests before theirs. Over time, their closeness turns toxic and their words become subtly undermining.

When someone begins to act distant or passive-aggressive in your moments of breakthrough, understand—it’s not always your success they hate, but the insecurities your success exposes in them. Protect your joy from those who can't handle your answers to prayer.

4. THE GOSSIP – BREAKS TRUST AND BREEDS CONFUSION

A friend who talks about others to you will eventually talk about you to others. Gossipers are double-tongued; they are messengers of division and erosion. They destroy trust with their lips and damage reputations with their narratives.

Your name deserves honor in your absence. If someone leaks your secrets, misrepresents your struggles, or enjoys discussing your life casually, you are not in safe company. True friends protect your story even when you're not there to defend it.

5. THE BACKSTABBER – PRETENDS TO LOVE YOU BUT WORKS AGAINST YOU

This person shows you kindness but speaks against you behind your back. They play both sides, always shifting according to convenience. To your face, they flatter you; to others, they assassinate your name.

Such a person is not confused—they are calculating. Backstabbers often thrive in proximity. They position themselves near enough to know your weaknesses and far enough to judge you harshly when you fall. Beware of those whose presence is warm but whose loyalty is cold.

6. THE SADIST – FINDS PLEASURE IN YOUR PAIN

There are people who feel a strange satisfaction when you're down. They never show up when you're winning but become surprisingly present when you're struggling. They don’t encourage—they remind you of your failure with a smile.

Sadistic friendships drain your confidence and feed your shame. These are people who cloak their cruelty in concern, and often mask their glee behind phrases like “I told you so.” Do not confuse their monitoring for care. Sometimes your fall is their fuel. Withdraw your trust from those who rejoice over your wounds.

7. THE UNTRUSTWORTHY FRIEND – BREAKS CONFIDENCE WITHOUT CONSCIENCE

Trust is the lifeline of every relationship. When a friend constantly leaks your personal matters, jokes with your pain, or shares your weakness in the name of "prayer requests"—they are not just careless, they are harmful.

An untrustworthy person damages more than your image; they expose your inner battles without mercy. Relationships must be safe spaces. If someone cannot handle your scars with discretion, they should not be allowed access to your heart. Preserve your peace by guarding your secrets.

LIFE PRINCIPLES FOR GUARDING YOUR FRIENDSHIPS

1. SET STRONG BOUNDARIES – LOVE SHOULD NOT COST YOU YOUR SANITY

It is not unloving to draw lines where peace is violated. Friendships without boundaries become burdens. You were not created to carry people who constantly hurt, drain, or manipulate you. Protect your time, your mind, and your destiny by saying no to repeated dishonor.

2. LEARN TO LET GO WITHOUT EXPLANATION – GROWTH DEMANDS SEPARATION

You do not owe everyone a place in your future simply because they were part of your past. Some people are assigned to your history, not your destiny. When God elevates you, He often prunes your circle. Letting go is not hate—it is health.

3. OBSERVE CONSISTENCY OVER TIME – LOYALTY IS PROVEN IN ABSENCE

Anyone can act right for a season. But true character is revealed in the long run. Don't judge friendship by charm, charisma, or shared interests—look at consistency, support, and how they handle your weaknesses. Watch what people do when you have nothing to give.

4. CHOOSE FRIENDS WHO CHAMPION YOUR DESTINY – HONOR IS A LANGUAGE

Your circle should stir your spirit, challenge your growth, and defend your name. Friends who love God will help you love Him more. Friends who honor you will protect what you carry. Life is too short to walk with those who don’t respect your purpose.

5. PRAY FOR DIVINE ALIGNMENTS – GODLY FRIENDSHIP IS DESTINY INSURANCE

Some people are God-sent gifts wrapped in flesh. They intercede for you, speak life into you, and stand with you when storms come. You don’t just find these people—you discern them. Ask God to align you with those who sharpen you spiritually and emotionally.

FINAL THOUGHT

You become like the people you surround yourself with. Walk with those who build your character, feed your faith, and celebrate your calling. The wrong relationship can delay your life. The right one can preserve it. Choose wisely. Let peace—not pressure—decide your circle.

16/07/2025

THE SILENT BATTLES OF A PRIEST

While parishioners are encouraged to nurture their faith and spiritual well-being, priests are expected to embody strength, patience, and availability at all times, regardless of their inner struggles, and yet they are often judged harshly

—if he begins mass on time, his watch is advanced;
if he’s late, he keeps people waiting;
if he renovates the church, he spends too much;
if he doesn’t, everything falls apart;

if he’s with women, he’s a pl***oy;
if with children, he’s a pe*****le;
if with old women, he’s a mama’s boy;
if distant, he’s a snob;
if with old people, he’s out of touch;
if with young people, he’s out of place;

if he takes long in confession, he’s slow;
if short, he’s uncaring;
if he preaches long, he’s boring;
if short, he’s unprepared;
if his voice is loud, he’s shouting;
if soft, he’s hard;

if he owns a car, he’s worldly;
if not, he’s impractical;

if he visits families, he’s neglectful;
if he doesn’t, he’s uncaring;

if he asks for donations, he’s materialistic;
if he doesn’t, he’s proud;

if he’s young, he’s inexperienced;
if old, he should retire;

if he says sorry, he’s insincere;
if he doesn’t, he’s callous.

And through all this, the silent truth remains—priests are always wrong in the eyes of many, yet they carry silent burdens, emotional fatigue, and vulnerabilities that often go unnoticed, needing support and compassion just like anyone else.

We need to understand that priests are people too—men with strengths and weaknesses, capable of mistakes, deserving of prayers, and burdened by unrealistic expectations.

It takes a special man to answer God’s call to the priesthood, and in a world that glamorizes power, pleasure, and self-indulgence, their courage, sacrifice, and self-denial often go unrecognized, making it all the more important to remember that priests, despite their human flaws, are serving as God’s messengers.

Let us pray for and support our priests not just during obvious challenges or difficult moments, but also during the seemingly good times when everything appears smooth and peaceful.

It reminds us that priests face ongoing struggles, inner doubts, and hidden burdens even when life seems favorable. Supporting them consistently—through prayer, kindness, and understanding—helps them stay strong, grounded in their faith and vocation, and acknowledges that their spiritual journey is ongoing, requiring our ongoing care and appreciation regardless of the circumstances.