Category: INSIGHTS

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THE HORSES ARE THREE OTHERS ARE DONKEYS

THE HORSES ARE THREE, OTHERS ARE DONKEYSTHE HORSES ARE THREE OTHERS ARE DONKEYS: AN ANALOGY OF THE TRIBES IN NIGERIA
I ran into a heated debate between Temi, Audu and Chidi. It was a conversation bristling in brilliance. The subject was identity markers. Temi said the Hausas are idiots. They put Nigeria where it is today. Audu said the Igbo’s are dubious. They commit just every unimaginable crimes in the world. Chidi said the Yorubas are cowards. Precisely why Awolowo reneged on their Agreement with Ojukwu on the civil war. The argument continued. The heat intensified.


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The Power of Love by Kelvin Ugwu

The Power of Love by Kelvin UgwuThe Power of Love

Some years back when I worked in Ile-Ife in Osun State as a young seminarian, I made effort to visit and pray with any of my parishioners anytime I am informed that they are sick. In one of those visits, I met Tunde. He had malaria. Though he was taking his medications, but for three days he refused to take his bath or wash his mouth. He wore same clothes for three days (so I was told). He was a student of OAU, but had his apartment outside the school.

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Food for Thought: 11 Things you didn’t Learn in School

 

Food for Thought: 11 Things you didn't Learn in SchoolFood for Thought: 11 Things you didn’t Learn in School

Rule 1:  Life is not fair – get used to it.
Rule 2:  The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3:  You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone, until you earn both.

Rule 4:  If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He doesn’t have tenure.

Rule 5:  Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping – they called it opportunity.
Rule 6:  If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7:  Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So, before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8:  Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9:  Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10:  Television is NOT real life (nor are video games). In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11:  Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

Food for Thought:  are wisdom words that guild us in our daily living

 
— By Charles Sykes, from his book “Dumbing Down our Kids”
Image courtesy: daddylife.net
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Building your House: Build Wisely!

Building your House: Build Wisely!Building your House: Build Wisely! A Test for Integrity

Building your House: Build Wisely! is a story about an elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house… my gift to you.”
The carpenter was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So, it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently.
 
But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.
INSIGHTS
This post Building your House: Build Wisely! is an inspiration for everyone. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Indeed, it is good to Building your House: Build Wisely!
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Your Inner Voice

Your Inner VoiceYour Inner Voice

My day started just like all the other days for the past 15 years where I get up, make some coffee, shower, get dressed and leave for the train station at preciously 7:35 A.M. to arrive at work by 8:30. While on the train I would always choose a seat away from the crowd so I can read the newspaper in peace and quiet. 

 

At work I am always being bombarded with questions from coworkers, suppliers, telephone and then those dreaded meetings so the last thing I need is some stranger to sit beside me and make small talk.


I don’t know why but for some reason when I got on the train today it was unusually full, something I don’t recall ever happening in the past. With hesitation I sat down in the only seat available beside a middle-aged man that had his head down and seemed to be lost in his thoughts. I was glad that he didn’t notice when I sat next to him as he just continued to look down towards the floor.

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Shortly after the train left for my 30-minute ride downtown I found myself wondering what this man was thinking about. What could be so important that he didn’t even see me sit next to him? I tried to forget about it and started to read my paper. However, for some strange reason this “inner voice” kept prompting me to talk to this man. I tried to ignore the “voice” as there was no way I was starting a conversation with a complete stranger.


As you probably guessed I eventually broke down and came up with an excuse to ask him a question. When he raised his head and turned his eyes towards me I could see that he must have been really upset as he had red eyes and still had some tears rolling down the side of his face despite his feeble attempt to wipe them away. I can’t describe the sadness I felt seeing someone in so much pain.


We talked for about 20 minutes and in the end he seemed to be doing better. As we were leaving the train he thanked me profusely for being an angel by taking the time to talk. I never did find out what was making his heart so heavy with pain but was glad I listened to the “voice” that day.


Several weeks had passed when I noticed an envelope on my desk after returning from lunch. It was not addressed to anyone and only had the word “Angel” written on it. My receptionist attached a note saying a gentleman dropped it off saying he did not know my name but had described me well enough that the receptionist knew it was for me. When I read the note inside the envelope I was so filled with emotions that I couldn’t contain myself. It was a letter from the man I met on the train thanking me again for talking to him and saving his life that day.


Apparently he had some very hurtful personal problems that were so overwhelming he was planning to take his life that day. In his letter he went on to explain that he was a religious person and in desperation screamed out to God that if God really cared about him he would send someone to prevent him from taking his life. In his eyes I was that someone, that Angel sent by God.


Not being a religious person myself I don’t know what that “voice” was that made me take a chance and talk to a stranger but I do know that it made a difference in someone’s life that day. So the next time you feel prompted for no apparent reason to talk to a friend, relative, neighbor or even a complete stranger please remember my story. You just may make a difference in someone’s life when you listen to your inner voice. 

 
Bob Eilers 

Further Reading: Reasons to Take a Vacation Every Year – It’s Not Just for Fun! (atravelikes.com)

 

 

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Giving a Chance to the Less Privileged

 

Giving a Chance to the Less PrivilegedGiving a Chance to the Less Privileged: Until his resumption as the principal of Future Hope Secondary School some fifteen years ago, only about two to six of the dozens of students finish their secondary education.
The rest simply dropped out. They are victims of drugs, cultural influence of early Marriage for the girls, but the underlying factor is that of poverty. Most of them came from below poverty level households. For the past 10 years St. Vincent de Paul Society has provided funds for skill acquisition and also for those who wanted to attend higher institutions.

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The Seasons of Life: Seeing Things in Perspective

The Seasons of Life: The need to view Things in Perspective

The Seasons of Life

 

There was a man who had four sons.  He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly.  So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

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BE GRATEFUL, DON’T WHINE

David Francis
BE GRATEFUL, DON'T WHINE

BE GRATEFUL, DON’T WHINE– THE NEED TO BE THANKFUL

 On that Wednesday morning inside a bus, when her life would change forever, Ezinne woke with a headache. It couldn’t have been because of the ‘bob Marley’ hair she made at the saloon a day before. She’d rush to the rest room, the very place that reminded her of Zaina hostel. She tried to put herself together amidst the wordless rage that boiled within her. She wished her life was laced with a purpose. It has been two years in Nigeria, and she couldn’t get her dream job. Even her best friend Enwongo grew tired of hearing her complaints, wails and worries. “Have you thought of writing an application to Zakka’s camp?” She asked Ezinne last week. “Ah, Enwongo, I studied psychology to get a proper job not to work in any IDP camp na,” she retorted. Later, that evening the thought of making a difference while working with the internally displaced persons would ‘haunt’ her again and again.

 

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How to Be a Confident Mom Part 2

Joyce Mayer

How to Be a Confident Mom Part 2

Nobody’s Perfect

Sometimes moms miss out on what could be joy-filled moments because they are concerned they aren’t measuring up to other moms. But God’s Word says it’s unwise to make comparisons (see 2 Corinthians 10:12).

He doesn’t want you to be like other moms. He wants you to celebrate the fact that you are unique!

How to Be a Confident Mom Part 2
 
Every person has special gifts and talents. And at the same time, we are all surrounded by people who have different gifts and abilities that we don’t have.
Insecurity and a lack of confidence will not only steal your ability to enjoy other people’s gifts—it will cause you to feel inadequate and may even keep you from pursuing the wonderful life that God has planned for you.
God made you one-of-a-kind and wonderful in your own way. So cultivate your strengths, gifts, and personalities, and pass that confidence on to your children by appreciating and encouraging their uniqueness.
You don’t have to be perfect. Just do the best that you can and remember that God will do what you can’t as you trust in Him.
It’s easy to get stuck thinking what could’ve, would’ve, or should’ve been, or spend time wishing things were different than they are. But like worrying, wishing is a waste of time.
Life is always more enjoyable and fulfilling when we choose to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and contentment.
I am not encouraging you to settle for situations that need to be improved, but I am urging you to accept the way God made you and the life He has given you.
The truth is, nobody has the perfect life.
How to Be a Confident Mom Part 2
Decide today to take the first step toward learning to enjoy your life by making the most of what you have. It also helps to embrace the ordinary—to delight in little things, to appreciate small blessings other people might overlook.
Whatever situation you find yourself in—and no matter what is happening with your children, you always have access to the unlimited, unconditional love of God.
Love is the greatest gift a mom can give. Yet all too often, moms are running on empty, trying to give their children what they haven’t received for themselves.
Throughout the years, God has encouraged me to get filled up spiritually in a variety of ways.
I started by studying what the Word says about His love, and made a point to declare out loud several times a day “God loves me.” It felt uncomfortable at first, but doing this helped me embrace the truth of God’s love. I encourage you to do this too.
Say to yourself “God loves me,” and let it sink in. Repeat it often: when you awake in the morning, when you go to bed at night, and throughout the entire day. Look at yourself in the mirror, point to yourself, call yourself by name, and say, “God loves me.”
You can also keep a book of remembrance filled with special things God does for you. Include the little things as well as major things. And read over your list at least once a week to keep yourself encouraged.
Read some good books about God’s love. After God gave me a personal revelation about His love for me, one of the first messages I ever taught was about the love of God. Through that experience I wrote a book called, Tell Them I Love Them.
Pray for the Holy Spirit, Who is our Helper and Teacher, to give you a personal revelation of God’s love.
Always remember, you’re not alone. God is always with you. Lean on Him for the grace and wisdom to follow His lead. He’s the best teacher, comforter, confidant and encourager there is, and He can give you all the peace, patience and confidence you need to succeed.
When your confidence is in Him, you can truly enjoy every minute of your journey.
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LIFE IS A LIE by Isaac Shemang

LIFE IS A LIE by Isaac Shemang
LIFE IS A LIE by Isaac Shemang
I had learnt from my parents that life was a mystery. It still is. I read from books that life is a mirage. Bristling with bits of knowledge we had picked while growing up, my friend told me that, ‘a mirage is a lie’. I made a summation. If life is a mirage, and a mirage is a lie, doesn’t it invariably add up that life is a lie? So I grew up playing around conflicting concepts to contest comfortable conventional wisdom. Life is a mirage. A mirage is a lie. True?

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How to Be a Confident Mom Part 1

Bringing Up Your Children with Peace, Patience and Confidence                                  How to Be a Confident Mom Part 1

At one time or another, every mom has felt lacking in her ability as a parent. It begins with caring for your newborn. Am I doing this right? And then continues with toddler tantrums all the way through the teenage years. Am I making the right decisions? Are my kids going to turn out all right? When they make mistakes, will they know that God is on their side? Even when our children are grown-ups, they’ll forever be our children.

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