DON'T BE AN ADESUA

I was thinking this morning..... It was a regular Sunday. The service had just ended, and we were having FAF (fellowship after fellowship) just outside the auditorium when a middle-aged woman walked over, asking to see me. Her eyes were filled with a mix of hope and desperation. 'God bless you, Pastor,' She said, with her voice trembling slightly. 'My name is Maria. I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment.' 'God bless you too,' I responded as I took her aside. 'How may I be of help?' I asked.

Maria took a deep breath before launching into her story. "It's about my daughter, Adesua. She finished secondary school two years ago and has been trying to get into the university. But we're having trouble with the admission process. We don't know who to meet to help, and I'm worried we'll miss the deadline again."

I nodded sympathetically, recognizing the stress and uncertainty etched on her face. "I'm not sure if I can be of help, but tell Adesua to call me," I said as I wrote my phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to her. Days later, Adesua called. I got more information about her choice of university, and we made a few calls. With the help of God, Adesua got admitted.

Months later, Maria called again. This time, she was worried about the possibility of Adesua dropping out of school because they were unable to raise the money to pay her fees. Adesua reached out, and we made a commitment to help with the fees until she graduated. Years later, I referred a friend's daughter seeking admission in the same university to Adesua, who was in her final year at the time. To my chagrin, Adesua did not only decline to assist, she told the young lady we didn't really do much for her. That all she got was by her hard work.

Really? After helping with her admission and paying her tuition for 3 years, Adesua said we didn't really assist. Wow! Adesua, why? We were disappointed and almost regretted helping Adesua. I learnt a lesson never to regret showing kindness to those who may not appreciate it. Not everyone you assist will appreciate it. The fact that your good deed is not appreciated does not make it less of what it is - kindness. Alway remember that your good deed reflects who you are and must be unto God. Keep being kind, whether it is appreciated or not. Remember Galatians 6:9.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy New Month!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

NA SO I TAKE KNOW..

I was thinking this morning.... I woke up early last Thursday, had my quiet time, and commenced preparation to leave for the office. After dressing up in my spiffy new outfit, I put my charger and reading glasses in my bag and zipped it up. I looked around the bed and shelf to be sure I wasn't forgetting anything. I got into my car and zoomed off.

I was in the office within 10 minutes, parked in my usual spot, and got out my bag and access card. It was a short walk to the first floor where my office was located. As I walked into my office, I got out my laptop, reading glasses and charger. I connected the laptop to the desktop monitor and powered it on. Next was plugging the charger into wall socket, placing my notepad to the right of my desk, and taking my seat.

I took a deep breath as I pressed Ctrl-Alt-Delete on my laptop to kick-start my day. The login page appeared, and I entered my login details with the next step being to approve login on my phone. I reached out to get my phone but couldn't find it. I checked my pockets and emptied my bag but it wasn't there. Yea! Na so I take know say I forget my phone for house.

As I dashed out of the office for the 7-minute drive back home, I remembered a conversation on the radio the day before where a lady had got social media talking about how she knew she was getting married. She had written, 'My partner called me one evening and said, I have taken my leave for July and will be going to see your parents. Just like that. Na so I take know say I wan marry o.'

Many have been strung along into marriage by what they thought was genuine. Shortly after the wedding, they started seeing a completely different person. Na so dem take know say dem don enter one chance.

Sometimes, life does not give you a clear and direct message. You will have to deduce it from the prevailing events, words, or tone. It is important to be sensitive and alive to goings on around us. Many have realised too late that danger was lurking around. As we begin the Ember months, I am trusting that your target for this year is still on track because Proverbs 6:10 says, 'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, na so you go take know say poverty don dey come.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy New Month!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

EDUCATION NA PREGNANCY

I was thinking this morning.... I woke up this morning reflecting on the looming deadline for me to pay another school fee before the beginning of the September session. 'Na wa o! When will this school fees project end?' I soliloquised. I did a mental calculation to estimate the end date and was relieved to know it isn't far off. Then it dawned on me, educating your child(ren) is like pregnancy.

To conceive, nurse, and deliver a baby requires a high level of love, commitment, and discipline. I remember a period when my dad was out of a job and had zero source of income. He did not as much as suggest that we drop out of school. He went as far as borrowing just to ensure we continued with our education. There are some that have terminated their pregnacies just because they lost their source of finance to care for the pregnancy. It takes a deep commitment to see a pregnancy through. Educating your child is like pregnancy.

There was a time when my dad had exhausted all his credit lines and could no longer borrow. We thought it was over, but not yet. My mum, who also sold out to the ideals of educating the children, started selling off her Judge and Singles wrappers so we could continue schooling. Some ladies have resorted to aborting their babies because their partners or support system abandoned them. Don't tell me school na scam. School na pregnancy.

The good news is that for every pregnancy, there is an EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery). Sometimes, the EDD is passed, and the labour pain is severe, but thinking of the joy of holding your baby gives one the strength to keep pushing. For as many that may be struggling with paying of school fees, be encouraged. Like a difficult pregnancy or false labour pain, bear it because the EDD is near.

My parents gave their all to educate us, and today they are resting. I am doing my very best to educate my children, and my eyes are set on the EDD, by the grace of God (BTGOG). As we approach another school fees week, keep pushing and faint not because it won't be long. Your EDD will come. Galatians 6:9 says, 'And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' Toiling to pay your children school fees is a good thing. Do not faint.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

BORROW-BORROW

I was thinking this morning... The 2024 Paris Olympics have come and gone, but one incident got me thinking deep. It was the incident involving Nigerian cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye. She was called up at short notice to represent Team Nigeria in the Kerin & Sprint event. Unfortunately, she had no bicycle to race with on the tracks. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team came to her rescue by lending her a bicycle.

As I read the account of what happened, I recalled my experience as a student in Uniben. We were preparing for an upcoming exam and all I had were my class notes. At some point, I realised I needed the textbook to study. I couldn't afford it at the time. I approached my buddies to lend me their copy, but they all said they needed it to study. I was left with no option than to approach Jane, one of the young ladies I liked but had 'no liver' to 'toast.' 'Hello Jane. I was wondering if I could borrow your textbook,' I asked trying to sound confident. Instead of the expected yes or no answer, Jane gave me this snide look and said, 'You want to borrow my textbook? Again? Hmm! Borrow-borrow.' I felt my face heat up and literally heard an explosive sound, as my ego shattered into a million pieces.

Chai!!! Calling me borrow-borrow was bad enough, but coming from a love interest was a killer punch. I thought about promising myself never to borrow again, but deep down, I knew it wasn't feasible at the time. I consoled myself with the fact that I wasn't borrowing for vanity. In other words, I wasn't a 'Borrow-Pose.' While I felt slightly better, the 'borrow-borrow' label? 'O enter gan,' in the voice of my Ijesha friend.

It is not a shameful or bad thing to borrow. What will be shameful is to borrow to satisfy your lust. Borrowing to invest or develop oneself is actually good. While some persons borrow clothes, cars or even money to show off, the smart ones borrow to invest. Ese borrowed a bicycle to become the very first Nigerian cyclist to participate in the Olympics. I borrowed textbooks to study to become a graduate. What are you borrowing for? If you must be called a borrow-borrow, what will it be for? Borrowing may not necessarily be a bad thing, but you can live a life free of borrowing. Remember Deuteronomy 15:6.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

HAVE YOU BEEN IFANGELISED?

 

I was thinking this morning.... Recently, I went out for general evangelism. We had arrived early in church to go out in small groups to distribute tracts and win souls for Christ. As we approached people on the streets, some were willing to listen to the good news, but others would not even as much as accept a flyer or tract. They were too much in a hurry or too busy to even listen for a minute.

Humans have been in the business of winning people to their side since time immemorial. There are different terms to describe winning someone over to ones conviction or to accede to your views. If someone is preached to and he or she accepts Christ, that person has been evangelised. If it is a different religion or conviction, that person has been proselytised. If scammers in Nigeria succeed in convincing their victim to take their bait, it is said that the person has fallen mugu or he has been mugulised.

As we returned, I imagined how challenging it is to win people over. I was still brooding on this when I came across a Hiace bus with the word 'Ifangelism' boldly written in front of it. What does 'Ifangelism' even mean? Is it a new vocabulary in the lexicon? Oh, I see. It is most likely Evangelism misspelt. Hmm! Me I don add am join my vocab. While I define evangelism as spreading the good news or winning people over to a good cause, Ifangelism to me means winning people over to a bad or lost cause.

If you do not have time for the good news but spend your time watching x-rated content on your phone, you have been ifangelised. You complain to everyone about tithes and offering, yet you spend all your money on sports betting. Don't worry about being evangelised, because you have already been ifangelised.

In this unrecognisable world where young girls sell their eggs for flex money and boys willing to sacrifice their parents for a car, we must focus on the root cause. The surge in the attention industry meant a lot more people are ifangelised through their phone than they are evangelised. How you use your time will determine if you will be evangelised or ifangelised. Ephesians 5:15-16.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

NO ONE IS A VIRGIN

 

I was thinking this morning.... Last Wednesday, a day before the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest began, I took my young wife shopping at the local market in my neighbourhood. I found a free parking spot by the bench of a lady retailing small bunches of plantain. As I focussed my gaze on the tray of plantain, lost in thought, the lady stood up and picked up a particular bunch that looked like they were going bad. I observed her as she lifted the bunch, turned it around, and looked at it, her eyes twinkling with worry and her face washed with fear and uncertainty.

I peeped at her from the side glass of my air-conditioned car and imagined what could be going through the mind of the woman. If that plantain gets bad, that will be part of her capital gone. How will she feed her children and pay their school fees? 'Oh God, please send a customer to buy this plantain today,' I can imagine her praying. How do people, particularly petty traders with families, survive in present-day Nigeria? Our leaders are really heartless and wicked to not feel the pain of the masses. As I kept looking for who to blame for the predicament of the lady, I had a whisper that says 'there is no virgin in a maternity ward.'

I immediately recalled my experience in 2003 when I was called one midnight to drive a neighbour in labour to the hospital. She sat at my back seat, clutching the husband's hand, even as she moaned, groaned, and screamed. As her husband whispered soft words of encouragement, she barked at him, 'Shut up. No be you do am?' Wow! How can you blame the man for your labour pain? There is no taking in without first receiving. Both the man and woman had a part to play. Truly, there is no virgin in a maternity ward.

When it comes to apportioning blame for our woes, most people see themselves as virgins in a maternity ward. It is very easy to point at leadership or someone else as the source of your problem. While leadership failure plays a key part, we all are culpable. Nigeria is like a maternity ward, and no one is a virgin. We contributed to our current woes by our actions or inactions and must take responsibility. Psalms 139:23 - 24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

And Sophia Cried

 

I was thinking this morning.... Last week Saturday, I was privileged to be the guest speaker at a graduation and Prize-giving ceremony of Havilah Gold School, a private secondary school at Epe, Lagos. There were speeches followed by academic and cultural presentations by the students. Great atmosphere it was. The high point was the presentation of awards to deserving students.

From one best in this to best in that, the roll call went on with loud rounds of applause. A young female student, Sophia Adeleke, sitting on the second row, watched her classmates being called upstage one by one. She was quiet, head looking to the floor, probably feeling the pangs of disappointment yet again and wondering when in this life, it will be her turn to be called for recognition and award.

Then she heard it 'And the award for the Best Improved Student in Junior Secondary goes to.... Sophia Adeleke.' There was a loud gasp from the students that drew the attention of everyone to poor Sophia. Sophia's jaw dropped. Her? Best Improved Student? She was confused. Did she just hear her name? She looked around, just to be sure, bowed her head and started crying. Everyone clapped, but Sophia was too paralysed by surprise to find her feet. With the support of her friends, she finally stood up, trembling, and with more tears rolling down her face, she slowly made her way to the podium.

Almost moved to tears myself, I imagined what could be running through the mind of the little girl. She was probably used to being at the bottom of her class. People may have called her 'never-do-well.' She may have waited for years to be recognised like others, but it never happened. She has accepted that nothing good can happen to her.

There are so many 'Sophia' out there that have waited all their lives to be recognised and awarded on any stage. They watch others every week climb up the altar and testify of one breakthrough or another and wonder, 'when will it be my turn.' It seems as if everything good passes them by, and they wonder why. The experience of Sophia Adeleke gave me hope that good things can happen to anyone. Give your best in all things, and 'Sophia' may just happen to you. Romans 4:18 - 'Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become...' Only believe.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey