light reflections

light reflections Qualityor Quantity

Recently, a friend gave me gifts of lovely casual hats, and as I began to try them on, my daughter came in. She picked up the pink one, tried it on and said, ‘mom, am taking this one.’ It looked quite pretty on her and I couldn’t help noting that my baby was fast becoming a lady. Just the other day, my younger son asked rather casually, if the primary school I attended had swings, as if I belong to the stone-age. And then, only a few days ago, a close friend remarked that my grey strands were becoming quite apparent.

These are all loud but subtle hints that have jolted me to the awakening of how much I am getting older! For many women, it’s not a very palatable sign. And to think it seemed like just yesterday, when I got upset with my mom for mentioning that I was only 14yrs old. All of a sudden, you feel like being 21 all your life. How come we never want to think of getting older? Is it because we feel there is still so much to be accomplished or that getting old precludes us from certain life pursuits and pleasures? Or based on the assumption that attaining a certain age calls to mind the imminence of death?

The reality however, is that none of these would affect us so terribly if we have learnt to view life from the perspective of adding value to the world we live in and the life of others, rather than our personal gains and what we stand to lose by the additional numbers. That is, living a life of quality rather than quantity.

Pondering on this, I am reminded that Jesus lived for only 33½ years but made such an impact on humanity that 2000 years after His words not only live in our hearts but has become the essence of life. John the Baptist, Jeremiah ...the list goes on; they all died young. Even our own Bimbo Odukoya and many other dearly beloved sisters and brothers have gone too early, thus bringing a question to my mind- is life to be measured in the number of years or in term of accomplishments in God? Is it the quantity or quality of life you live that matters?

To us, the people listed above died too young, but to God, they died at the appropriate time. As far as our maker is concerned, no one is too young to die. He simply desires that your life would touch and transform others. Would you rather live like Methuselah and all that can be said about you is that you lived and died? Or do you prefer to live like Enoch of whom God Himself testified that he was a just man?

No one wants to die young and that is not God’s plan for us. We have a promise of living up to a ripe age but what if God’s purpose is different for us? Our times and seasons are in His hand. I think it is time to worry more about our years in eternity than the next designer bag you would like to acquire. It is time to stop worrying about the ‘carrots’ and ‘cucumbers’ too. Death comes to everyone at some time or the other. What life would you have lived when it’s all over? Would it have been a life of quality or quantity? On hearing the news recently, of the passing away of a dear woman of God, I couldn’t help wondering like many, why good people die young and why it seems as if the wicked get to live almost, forever.

If we had to choose, we would certainly pick from a long list of “wicked” people who should die instead of the good ones that have gone too soon. It turns out that I don’t have that prerogative. So I’ll say, try to examine your lives and let it begin to rub off positively on others, such that when you take the final bow, all will say in one accord that ‘it was a life well lived!’.

To the blessed memory of Pastor (Mrs.) Ifeyinwa Irukwu.

Is life to be measured in the number of years, or in terms of accomplishments in God?

Is it the quantity or quality of the life you live that matters?

Courage

It is a common saying that leadership is as tall as its courage. And it is naturally believed that courage is not an attribute of a woman. But women have been known to exhibit great courage in times of crises and brought the needed solution, when men had failed. Golda Meir, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Gloria Aroyo all emerged in their respective countries in times of deep crises and did what many considered impossible. So did Deborah, Zipporah and Esther in Bible times. It was Margaret Thatcher who said, “In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” No wonder the apostle Paul said, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty….” But the seeming foolish should at least be willing. Woman, the stage is set, the season is right. Just manifest! You can make a difference.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Pastor Taiwo Odukoya www.thewomanleader.org

• Inspiring Love •

How many ways do I love you? Let me count the ways in a view …… One… you are simply the one Two...Me and you the perfect two Three...With you I feel free Four...You keep giving me more Five...You make me alive Six, seven, eight...You are my fate Nine , ten, - I need a pen, to tell the world I found my best friend

Words culled from Kehinde Adollo’s upcoming book on inspirational poems and writings titled ”Perfect moments”

I just dey yan!

As I surf the boulevard of unrealised dreams and dashed hopes, I reminisce to a time when my candle of faith defied the winds which time blew in its face and stood strong, ablaze…..that was the rising of the sun, the beginning of my days…beautiful and uncorrupted by the polluting influences of the grime on life’s highway.

The years have flown by irretrievably and I watch appalled at what I have done with it. I wish I could hold back the years and correct the mistakes of yesterday but alas! That is more complex than simple.

I was told once, about the numbering of one’s days...I wonder which number I got to before I discovered I was in a crisis state…

I have fought many battles and my body is battered from the bashing that living has dealt it. I ache for a time when I can rest from my worries… I hear that is when I am done and gone from this present tide called earth...

This world, I tell you, has never given me any free meal without demanding for my whole kitchen in return

Someone once told me about this ferocious Lion of a tribe called Judah; I hear He fights battles which one may find too fierce to face...I was told that in spite of the size of one’s adversary, this Lion has never lost a war. I need to enlist His help on this journey.

Sometimes one feels defeated especially, when someone close dies, reminding you of the “briefness” of this realm ...We count on getting old before passage but believe me that too is fast becoming a mirage…

Apprehensive, I count the greys in my hair wondering what wisdom the years has bestowed on my tired mind aside from the migraines I get from juggling career and motherhood…

I used to think that like wine I can only get better with age, I believed it until I saw a roach in an old wine bottle and then I realised that the years though kind, also introduces various kinds of vermin to help us mature.

Did I tell you about the fire…the refining fire that through the years has reformed my form...the fire which burns one into a form which cannot be replicated as it is unique to each soul in transit?

This morning, as I sipped my coffee within my busy schedule, I paused; thinking of the twilight of life and the colours it will light to guide me on, the promises it still hides in its unfolding womb, I think again of the mercy of the Potter who has allowed the years to make me better even amidst persuading arguments to clutch bitterness to my breast.

Na wah oh, I tell you…but fellow travellers, pause, and ponder so that the years will not overtake you while your dreams are yet dreams BUT if pondering hurts too much I beg you, no mind me, I just dey yan...