MAKE THE CHANGE THAT COUNTS.

It was Friday prayer meeting and I was restless. I couldn't understand nor dislodge this sense of urgency in my spirit. I really wanted the service to be over so I could go home and get "fierce" in my private prayer closet. More than ever before, I had this pressing desire to burst (not pee but "birth pangs"). I didn't stay for the usual chit-chat after the meeting but made a quick dash for home. You would think that that'd I'd jump straight into my prayer closet as planned but I didn’t. Rather, I made a detour to my library and picked up this book written by my good friend and professional colleague OLUDARE MAYOWA titled MAKE THE CHANGE THAT COUNTS. I've known Mayowa for eleven years and he put me through the ropes when I was transferred to the business desk at my job. I was a total green horn at Stock issues and he introduced me to the best reporters at the capital market. MAKE THE CHANGE THAT COUNTS caught my attention and blew my mind. It is an intellectual discourse that can hold its own on any international bookstand. The issues are underpinned with Christian principle yet not overwhelmed with religious dogma. It is a practical guide for people that truly desire a mind-set and life style change. The book has a universal appeal as the issues addressed are directed at people in every sphere of life- christian and non christians,professionals, students, singles and married people who desire a change that will impact their lives and environment. You see human beings have a way of taking one another for granted probably because of presumed knowledge about the person. We lock people in a box and define them based on our knowledge of their past and experiences. This is not unlike how Jesus was treated when he went to Nazareth. The bible recorded that Jesus could not perform many miracles in his home town because of the people’s unbelief. “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.” Mark 6:3. After reading this book, I have a new found respect for my dear friend. My mind was opened to read a book written by someone close to me. I did not allow the prism of my knowledge and relationships with Mayowa prevent me from reading the book. This simple but deliberate step therefore unlocked the change that I so crave and write about. Change is possible even if the path is overrun with challenges. The outcome of your change is determined by how bad you desire the change, the principles that fuel your goals, the relationships you keep and your ability to be focused and not give up on your dream of a BETTER YOU. The themes in this book resonate with the experiences I’ve shared on this blog and offer more; acknowledge your past, learnt from it, forgive, heal and MOVE ON . It doesn’t matter how you got into the rut in the first place or who put you there. We’ve read so much about how Jacob cheated Esau off his birth right. My study shows that he set the spiritual challenges rolling himself by selling his birth right. He came back from work tired and hungry and exchanged his inheritance for food! Gen 25:24 clearly states that “Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew”. He ate and drank, and then got up and left”. Esau never considered the wider implication of that seemingly mindless action but later blamed Jacob-say what? Some of us are reeling from the consequences of seemingly harmless actions. If you over eat, you get fat; you have unprotected sex, you get pregnant; you dabble into crime, you get caught and go to jail. It’s as simple as that! However you can determine to break free from the chains of the past and be a brand new you. Esau did. After he lost his blessings to Esau, God said he will be beneath Jacob until he tires and BREAK FREE. "And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, that you shall break his yoke from your neck.” Gen 27:40.. The choice was his. Fast forward years later in Genesis 33, the lord had blessed him too. Until you become restless with the status -quo, YOU CANNOT MAKE THE CHANGE THAT COUNTS. In the journey to a better me, I’ve made some dietary and lifestyle changes. The result might not be visible yet but it will soon show. Dare to make that change today.

A MOTHER'S DILEMMA

"Dinaaah", Leah called out. "Where is that lazy little missy? she asked the servant sweeping the courtyard. "She's gone visiting the women of the land", the servant girl answered. "This girl will not bring the death of me", Leah said and went back into the house. It was a bright, sunny day and the heat was in its element. Leah had all sorts of plans laid out for the day. The boys’ clothes needed mending and there was lunch to prepare. It’s not easy running a house full of boys; she could barely catch up with their huge appetite not with their constantly changing and diverse needs. Pheew! She muttered as she wondered what she could drum up for them that would not start a quarrel! She really was not in the mood and the heat was not helping matters. Suddenly, Leah heard a commotion outside. Out of curiosity, she looked out of the window and almost fainted. She drew her robe around her and ran outside. It was Dinah being carried in by the servants. Her worst fears were confirmed! Her daughter was dead! With her heart in her mouth she moved closer to the servants who were clustered round the still figure of her daughter. The servants cleared a path for her as she drew closer. "What happened to my baby", she wailed. At the sound of her mother's voice, the still figure on the ground moved and opened her arms for the comfort that only a mother could provide. With tears in her eyes, Leah hugged her baby as the young girl cried like her heart was broken. Indeed her heart was broken. She'd been violated! Raped! Leah pulled Dinah into her arms praying the pain away, wanting her daughter's pain to be HER PAIN. She wanted to be the one who's was violated. She could bear the pain but Dinah was her little girl too young for life's pain or any pain. Without a word, she led the broken girl into the house and gently stripped off the blood stained clothes from her body. The water cleaned her body but it could not wash the damage that had been done to her little girl. Leah gently led Dinah into her room, wrapped her in a blanket and tried to warm a young heart that had gone cold. "Lord, where did I go wrong? leah wondered. She'd suffered all her life. Ridiculed for her "weak eyes" while growing up and unloved by her husband...not to mention having to share the said man with her sister. She'd done her best to protect her kids now this! What would people say? "God why? “Mummy I'm sorry", Dinah whispered and started to cry again. "It’s ok, my darling", Leah reassured her. But she had her fears. "Hush little baby, don’t you cry," she sang. "mamma's gonna buy you a mocking bird, and if the mocking bird wont sing, mamma's gonna buy you a diamond ring". She continued singing until she heard the quiet but husky breathing of her little girl gone to sleep. This "assumed scenario" in Genesis 34 played out in my mind as I watched Joshua play with the toys in the Doctor's surgery. I'd noticed something was wrong when he was less than a year and I'd shared my concerns to my GP who referred us to the children's hospital. This visit was a confirmation of my fears-A MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE. Every parent desires the best for their children and worry when something goes wrong or a child does not grow as expected. The initial feeling is SELF BLAME and the questions start to roll. Where did I go wrong? What have I done to deserve this? Could it be something in my Past? Then ANGER, BITTERNESS,DISAPPOINTMENT, REGRETS,SHAME SELF PITY AND RECRIMATIONS, DEPRESSION etc. Can you understand the pain of being ashammed of your own child and disappointed? I felt all that and more. In all I have learnt it was not my fault neither are the challenges you face your fault. Sometimes this thing happen that we might NEED GOD AND LEAN ON HIM. Even if it was your fault, all the more reason to NEED HIM like I do now more than ever. It’s been a challenge with Joshua but it’s a good challenge (I wouldn't exchange the experience for the world). I sometimes worry when I'm not with him and hope other kids don’t take advantage of Him. These concerns are normal but since I'm not OMNIPRESENT or OMNISCIENT, I gladly hand over the situation to one who IS-PROBLEM SOLVED. Leah could not control the actions of her sons when they heard about what happened to their sister but she could ease the pain of her baby girl. I have learnt in the process that the best thing I can do for my baby is to leave him In God's hands and not worry my head off. Worry never changes the situation but GOD CAN. He is FAITHFUL TO HIS WORDS. I daily bless Joshua with the word and declare God's promises upon His life. I lay claim to Healing scriptures because it’s MEDICINE TO OUR FLESH “For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh”. Proverbs 4:22 I have also let go of the VICTIM'S MENTALITY AND EMBRACED THE VICTOR'S ATTITUDE because I know “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Rom 8:28.