Tag: #Love

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With a Heavy Heart…

With a heavy heart and total submission to the will of God, we regret to announce the passing away of our husband, father, brother uncle and friend, Late Architect Edikan Uwem, who slept in the Lord…

‘Eya, he must have been a good man’, Ejiro interjected with a sorry look on his face. ‘How do you know he was a good man Ejiro? Have you met him before?’, I asked, rather irritated. ‘He’s dead Bisola! The least you can do is sympathise!’. ‘Sympathise with who Ejiro? With the wife I’ve never met or the children I don’t know?’. ‘Bisola, what did this poor man do to you? Isn’t it sad that he’s no more?’. ‘Ejiro, I’m just surprised that all of a sudden, he’s a good man. Why do we even wait for people to die to say good things about them? I bet if you’d walked past the man on the road, you wouldn’t realise that he’s ‘so good’ a man as you say’.

Ejiro went quiet and he pondered on my words. I rose to take a seat beside him, taking his hands in mine. ‘I’m sorry if I sounded harsh. I only wish we could all love more, smile at people more, care more, appreciate people more while we still can and not when they are no more. I am guilty of not doing all these too so it’s a big boat and all of us are sailing on it’. Ejiro sat in silence as we listened to an aeroplane fly over at a distance.

Finally, Ejiro broke the silence. ‘Get dressed let’s go out for dinner’. ‘Wow! He’s taking me out in like forever! Today must be my Remembrance Day!’. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll live to die another day’, Ejiro responded. We let out a hearty laugh as I stood to get ready.

Endnotes

  • Edikan is a name common among the Ibibio tribe of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Edikan means victory.
  • Uwem is a name common among the Ibibio tribe of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Uwem means life.
  • The name, Ejiro, is commonly found among the Urhobo people of Nigeria, particularly those in Delta State. It is a short form of Ejiroghene, which means ‘praise God’. – AI Overview
  • Bisola (spelt as Bísólá) is a Nigerian unisex given name of Yoruba origin which means “born into affluence – Wikipedia

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Dear Christians, (Pt.4)

Everything about the Christendom is not a competition. If you must compete, compete with yourself. Unhealthy competition is blinding. Even more blinding is the constant ill-checks to see what the other person is doing to ensure you’re doing better than them.

The energy you exert on keeping up with social media could be channelled into other useful life endeavours. I’m not writing to you from a place of perfection but as an alarm clock reminding you to constantly put this behaviour and conscience in check.

Agree with yourself today not to push your way to the front to the detriment of others. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage, for everything about the Christendom is not a competition.

Image Credit: The New York Times

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AWAY FROM THE EASTER EGG

Can we sacrifice for people? If we say yes, how much can we really sacrifice especially for people we have no ties to? Naturally as humans, we seek gains and returns but, I met a man…

A man who agreed to leave His comfort zone to help others. A man who was rejected by His own people and taunted by the very custodians of laws and religious leaders. A man who healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons and did not discriminate between rich and poor, classy and classless. A man who did not care that He was betrayed by His friends and the very people He came to help. A man who was eventually killed for no justifiable reason. A man who ultimately, returned to His comfort zone and still promised to keep helping despite everything.

This is the man I met.

Looking at the life of the man I met, I see sacrifice, I see love, I see selflessness. Daily, I strive to be like this man; you should too whether or not a day or four is set aside to remember this man… A man far more valuable than Easter Egg.

Image Credit: Aleteia

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Dear Christians, (Pt.3)

Christianity does not start and end in the church on Sunday morning. Being Christ-like should be part of you; embody Christ especially in your daily interactions with people.

We act the sweetest and ‘bless you sister, bless you brother’, but in our workplaces and public spaces, we exhibit characters that make people wonder if we are truly Christians that we claim to be.

We oppress our workers, inflate finance, lie and backbite yet we lift up ‘holy hands’ in the sanctuary. Our names are never mentioned in the same sentence with love, honesty and humility. We are the first to say, ‘Do you know who I am?’.

If our heavenly Father did as we do, the case would be different; He didn’t, so why do you? A new week unfolds with possibilities and life. Remember Matthew 7:12 in your dealings with people: Do to others what you would have them do to you.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Dear Christians, (Pt.2)

I come to thee this day, not to judge but to appeal and remind thee to show an act of kindness. I have a bone to pick with thee because thou art not walking in this path I speak of.

Hear ye this day that thou shalt be nice to the inhabitants of the Earth just like Christ is, giving His all selflessly so thou mayest be rich.

Thou shouldst consider reaching out to people and making it a habit without waiting for Christmas. If I mayest suggest, thou can call people just to say hello or check on them, for a storm rages in the heart and household of many.

Thou can squeeze a tiny seed of love offering into the hand of people. Lookest around thee for thou shall see; some clothe their misery, hurt or pain and wear a smile on their face. So brethren, I urge thee to look deeper and let the Holy Spirit showest ye who to help for they are among thee.

Thou can hug with reassuring words of comfort, and smile often at people. Thou can offer food, clothing or shelter if thou can afford these.

By all means, thou must do better, be better and act better. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Image Credit: Mojo Media Labs