As Iron Sharpens Iron

Good friends are a gift from God. We were never meant to do this life on our own. God places them in our lives to walk the journey with us,through the joys and pains, the good and bad seasons. They are there for all of it.

Good friends do not let us fall out of the race. Instead, they cheer us on, hold our hands and encourage us to press on toward the finish line.

Good friends are not only there for the good seasons,but even during the rainy days where we have nothing to offer them. Their love is unconditional. They are not in it for the give and take.

Good friends mention each other’s names in rooms full of opportunities. They do not compete against each other, but instead strive to see each other to the top. They do not become envious when another makes a stride forward, they instead take pride in each other’s successes, knowing that a win for one is a win for all.

Who wouldn’t want to have someone they know or are close to, in the high places? Not that they owe you anything, but imagine your friends also mentioning your name in the bigger rooms full of opportunities that they may rise to in the high places. Know that adage, “you are your friends?” If your circle is excelling, you are definitely the next in line. That’s the power of association!

Cheer your friends on in their different aspirations, clap for them when they succeed. Instead of harboring unnecessary resentment and envy, be inspired by them. Learn all that you can from them. May their victories be proof that all things are possible, that you are limitless. Take it as an encouragement that if they can make it, you definitely can make it too!

Good friends remind each other of their worth. On days that insecurity may get the best of you, they remind you of all that you are and encourage you to hold your chin up. They shine a light on all your strengths and abilities and encourage you to nurture them.They do not diminish your self worth. Instead, they speak life into you and bring to your attention the amazing person that you never knew you were.

Also, good friends rebuke you in love. If they notice that there are some patterns or behaviors in your life that might set you back from being your best, they take that risk and call you out even though that might jeopardize your relationship with them.They are willing to risk it all. They cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and watch you take a wrong path or waste your life.Their rebuke may not be appreciated initially, but with time you will be grateful that they did. Just as the Lord rebukes those He loves, good friends rebuke those they love as well.

Good friends are the wind beneath your wings, constantly rooting for you to see to it that you become everything that God created you to be. They do everything in their capacity to ensure that you live out your full potential, even if it means getting into the mud and rolling in it with you. They constantly challenge you to rise beyond complacency and mediocrity. Good friends are selfless, they are willing to lay down their lives for you. They do all this, not because there is anything in it for them, but because they love you. Love gives freely. It gives even when there is no benefit in it, love just keeps giving.

Good friends make our burdens lighter; with their listening ear, with their comforting shoulder to lean on, with their great words of encouragement, with their witty jokes. They make the journey of life more meaningful and colorful.

Just as iron sharpens iron, so do good friends encourage, question, coach and challenge each other to bring out their best versions.

Look Up, Child

“You are a child of God, has He not given you dominion over all things on the earth? Then why do you always look down instead of up?” These words from one of my mentors, keep resounding in my mind.

Fear is not of God. It is a tool that the devil uses to paralyze us and hold us back from being all that God created us to be. The devil feeds our minds with those negative voices that tell us how inadequate we are, and unfortunately we believe him.

My mentor had careful studied and noticed how fear gripped me from exercising the authority that I had been given; to influence the affairs of things and make decisions. I lived in denial of this authority. For me, It always felt like fake-authority, as if somebody else had the final power over these decisions. The devil held me there.

The truth though is that, we are powerful beyond measure. God created us in His likeness. He definitely wants us to thrive and have dominion. He wants us to be excellent and powerful, because that is who He is! We are His workmanship and as such, a reflection of all that He stands for.

He has equipped us with every good thing that we need to do mighty works, that He prepared for us in advance to do [Ephesians 2:10]. So, if He has equipped us with all that we need to live abundant lives, what then holds us back?

It is our own refusal to embrace the truth that we are limitless. We let everything and everyone else (including ourselves by the way), to define who we are and what we can or cannot do, but the word of God. Our identity should be found only in God, the potter who molded us. We are who He says we are – Powerful beyond measure, excellent beings, who have the authority over all things on the earth.

Dear child of God, do not look to the left or to the right, fix your gaze above.

At The Feet Of Jesus

When you feel too weary to stand, fall at the feet of Jesus.

When the burdens and cares of this life become too heavy to carry, lay them at the feet of Jesus.

When you feel like an outcast, when you are battling feelings of condemnation, when your heart is too heavy you can’t find the words to speak, come and sit quietly at the feet of Jesus.

When you need a friend, when you need someone to vent to all that you may not comfortably be able to vent to anybody else, you can trust Him. He is always willing to listen to all that you have to say, you don’t have to worry about being judged, He is a faithful friend.

When you are filled with fear and anxiety, not sure about what lies ahead. When you are in doubt and in desperate need of guidance and clarity, take it all to Him our prince of peace. He gives a peace like nothing the world could ever give you.

When you just lost your loved one and filled with a void that no human being can fill, a grief that no one can take away, when you can’t find the words to express the pain in your heart, there is one who gives a comfort like no other. Just lay at the feet of Jesus and He will give you rest.

At His feet, we are shielded.

At His feet, our strength is renewed.

At His feet, we find comfort.

At His feet, we find healing.

At His feet, we find freedom from bondage and condemnation.

At His feet, our chains are loosed.

At His feet, we find our Identity.

At His feet, we find a friend so faithful.

Whatever you do, wherever you go, be sure to never leave His presence.

Imposter Syndrome

I can’t believe it took me such a long time to find an accurate description for persistent feelings of inadequacy despite one’s evident success. Imposter syndrome is basically feeling that you are actually not as competent as other people perceive you to be.

For me, it has been the story of my life for as long as I can remember. All through my school days, the feelings of inadequacy always engulfed me. I just could not believe that I could be too good at anything.

I remember how at school, I’d score highly on an exam, and immediately attribute it to sheer luck. And I’d almost immediately start worrying about whether I would be as lucky in the next exam. I was that kid who feared to raise their hand up and share their opinion with the class when a teacher asked a question. I was always sure someone else had a more correct answer, or that I was going to embarrass myself. To me, there was always a more complex answer to the question than I could ever know. There was a Mathematics problem that I had figured an easier way of solving, back in high-school. Somehow it was such a common examination topic, I would pass my paper highly. So, one time my classmates organized a discussion and I was requested to lead through that particular math problem and teach them how I solved it. I turned down the request and told them I gambled my way through the math problem and didn’t think my way of solving it was really correct. I felt like I was going to mislead a whole class with the wrong solution. I felt I was not the best person to take them through the solution, I was convinced there was someone more qualified to do it. I of course came off as selfish to my peers, but little did they know that a deep feeling of inadequacy gripped me.

This syndrome spilled over all areas of my life, including the Work space. I have never wanted to draw attention to myself in any way, so even at work, I preferred being on the low and keeping in the background. One time, a key management position fell vacant and I was being considered for the position. When I caught wind of this, I started to panic. Many thoughts and questions bombarded me; Who had recommended me? What had they seen in me? Did they really know me, what was inspiring that kind of confidence in me? Did they not see that there were many more competent people around who would be best fitted for the role? Were they trying to test me, was it a set up? I guess this is the time my cover is going to be blown. Finally they are going to realize I am not as competent as they had assumed. In fact, I tried to pull that self-sabotage card when I listed all possible reasons why I thought I was not the best fit for the role. It did not work, Management was confident of its choice. I was quite sure It wouldn’t be long before they regretted their decision, before I was relieved of those duties, for failing to measure up. The fear of failure gripped me. But a week went by, a month, and before I knew it, a year had gone by! Surely, luck could not have sustained me this long, I started to believe I was not such a bad choice after all, I guess I was doing something right.

I have always had dreams; I have always known I was naturally drawn to writing. God had put this gift in me, there was no doubt. I journaled a lot. I penned down many interesting things that I felt the need to share with the world. I flirted with the idea of starting a blog and perhaps one time becoming a published writer. But each time I thought of putting my content out there, a fear of inadequacy gripped me. What if my content was not good enough? I was totally intimidated by all the great writers before me and I felt I couldn’t measure up. I felt like a fraud in this whole writing thing. So, I wrote my stuff and kept them in my journals where they were safe from criticism. Putting your content out there also requires you to have a certain degree of vulnerability, which I was definitely not ready for. But one day, I challenged myself to start the blog I had always wanted to start and share this gift God had given me with the world. It was very scary. It felt so uncomfortable. Would I even have enough content to keep it going? Would anyone care to drop by and read what I was sharing? And all other insecure thoughts you can imagine. But I dared to start. It has been almost four years since, I have written and published about sixty articles since, and still going strong! With each passing day, the subscribers to the blog increase, and I have people who indeed take some time to read what I put up. I couldn’t be more grateful.

The list of the scenarios in my life where I have felt like an imposter could go on and on and on. I simply cannot exhaust it all here.

Lessons I have since learned through the above scenarios and more?

If God placed me in a position, it was because He knew that He had equipped me with all that I needed to excel at it. The timing might seem off, I might have felt too young to get on board, I might have felt underqualified for the position, but by the time I was considered for it, then there was something within me that got me considered. God does not call the qualified, rather, He qualifies the called! [1 Corinthians 1: 27- 29]. If He brought me to it, He will see me through it. All I have to do is trust Him.
My passion for certain things like writing and music are no mistake. These are God given gifts. He placed them within me for the glory of His name. I may not feel the most talented, but there is a purpose for these gifts, and I will pursue that purpose.
Sometimes nothing holds us back more than ourselves. I can only imagine how many opportunities that I missed due to the self sabotage and unbelief in self over the years. There’s a quote that puts it quite well. “While you are busy shrinking yourself, someone who is less talented, with far less resources, is out there making strides and getting things done,” -Unknown.
No one has it all well figure out. So, you cannot wait till you feel very ready to start on something. You may not be able to view the entire staircase, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking the first step towards the top. Also, growth is a journey. It begins by taking the first step in the right direction, consistency and continuously seeking knowledge to help you get better. The people you are so intimidated by invested and sacrificed a lot to get to where they are. Always remember that they were once armatures too. Run your race with grace as you draw as much inspiration from them as you can.
Find your identity in God. When I look back, one of the biggest reasons I constantly felt inadequate was because I had not found my Identity in God. I was not aware that He had already sowed a seed of greatness in me. I did not know that I was divinely appointed to the places and positions that intimidated me so much. I was not aware that the strength and wisdom required to do all that I had to do, comes from Him and not from myself. When I realized this, I became boundless. Whenever I get tempted to disqualify myself when great opportunities arise, I remind myself that I am not my own, but God’s. And that He has equipped me with all that I need to thrive wherever I may find myself.
We suffer more from our imagination than reality. Many times we blow situations out of proportion. We imagine the worst and fail to step into greatness because of fear. But ask yourself, What is the worst that could happen if I showed up for that job interview? You will realize that the worst would be you not being offered the job placement. Your life will continue on regardless. In fact, you will have built more experience in interviews and maybe do better on your next. You will have added to your networks too. The situation is never as bad as we may make it seem often times.
Self awareness goes a very long way. Be aware of who you are; your competencies, your values, your strengths, your weaknesses. This even builds your confidence. You are so aware of who you are that people’s definitions of you do not really phase you as much as they would have if you didn’t know who you were. Even your weaknesses cannot easily be used against you because you are aware of them, and you can actually turn them into your strengths.
Imposter syndrome holds you back from being all that you are meant to be. You never fully spread your wings because you do not believe that you actually have the potential to fly. It makes you feel like you don’t even deserve the wings. It basically robs you of experiencing greatness and living out your full potential.

A few weeks ago, I listened to a great teaching – Rightfully Mine, by Bishop T.D Jakes. It was the inspiration behind this article by the way. In his teaching, he encouraged us to step into our blessings and embrace them. To stop the self-sabotaging and disqualifying ourselves. Because if these blessings were not for us, God would not have let them come to us in the first place.

Stop struggling with what God has given you. Stop feeling unworthy of what God has given You. Stop wrestling with what He’s about to release in your life. Stop feeling ashamed because of the mistakes of your past. You may have showed up late, you may have got pushed aside, you might have been told you are too young, but God chose You!

So, stop feeling like an imposter. Be bold, hold your head up high, walk and live in your blessing, because it is rightfully yours!

Isolation Chronicles

I am sitting on the balcony at home on a lazy afternoon. I’m alone except for maybe; the recently re-vanished old family chair, my mat, pillow, notebook, pen and a bottle of water. I have this wave of peace sweeping over me…the moment feels so surreal.

My world had literally slowed down. I was now breathing in and out, and actually noticing it. My skin just glowed differently from all the rest and peace of mind I have been having lately since I came home a week or so ago. My coming home was for “home isolation” following my positive COVID-19 test result. I had been unwell for a couple of days preceding the test. But I had shrugged off the symptoms because I thought I had so much to get done, I couldn’t get sick right now.

My life had been on some sort of rollercoaster, I just couldn’t catch a breath. Work was drowning me among other things, as we may know life. Everything seemed to be weighing down on me, I felt the spark in me grow dim, I was losing touch with self. Lord knew I desperately needed a break! When I got sick, my fast moving train with no brakes suddenly came to a halt. Everything had paused.

So today, I feel liberated from the world and its cares.

I could hear the birds chirping and tree leaves rustle.

I could hear cars hooting in the far distance.

I was spending more time with my family. I am always away and even when I visit, it’s usually for not more than three days. But here I was, for two weeks!

I could afford to notice the sightly mountain ranges and the sun rising and going down on them.

Some nights, like last night, I lie down on a mat with all lights out and fix my eyes on the galaxy of stars as I listen to some of my favorite songs like Christopher Cross’s sailing.

I had all this time to appreciate the beauty all around me.

What had initially set out as a health battle was actually my blessing in disguise. The break I was in desperate need of was actually here now! I was spending more time with my family, listening to my baby sister’s priceless stories and just being present in each moment.

I would wake up, this time not in such a hurry as usual trying to get to work, but to bask in the morning sun (because well, I needed some Vitamin D). My dad would check on me every now and then ensuring that I was taking all my medication on time. My mum would send a glass of juice to my room in the afternoon. There was so much love and care all around.

My recovery process got me appreciating the true meaning of family and the things that really mattered. It got me meditating upon and counting my blessings one by one.

I reignited my spark for writing. Lord knows how hard it had become to steal a moment to pen anything down!

I now had all the time in the world to get absorbed in my favorite book series Chicken soup for the soul. The stories carried me away and warmed my heart as they always do.

I am much stronger, recovering steadily. I will be back on my feet any time now. Back into the crazy fast-paced routine again. Only, I’ll be more rejuvenated by the magical ordinary days and moments I had during the divine heaven sent two weeks break I had.

P.S:

I wrote this sometime last week. I am now fully recovered. I tested negative for Covid-19 about a day ago! The Lord has been faithful. Tomorrow, I will be a year older. What better gift than life itself would I ask for?

Do We Ever Grow Too Used To Goodbye?

Tears well up in my eyes every single time I have to say bye to my loved ones. The parting never comes easy. I keep wishing I could stay longer in the moment with them.

I remember how my parents used to drop me off at the beginning of a new School term. I dreaded the moment they’d have to depart and leave me there. I could hardly fight back the tears as they gave me their final hugs, got into the car and waved at me as they drove off. Sometimes I wish I could skip that goodbye part.

I wonder whether other people share the same sentiments or am I just too emotional.

Now, I am an adult…but I still feel the same way about goodbyes like I did 15 or so years ago. It might have got worse even (Wink).

I could have had some disagreements with my loved ones or just generally felt I could use a little time away from them, change environment and all. But whenever the departing time came, my heart would melt and a lump would form in my throat.

No matter how many goodbyes I’ve experienced all my life, I just never seem to grow so used to this moment.

Curse God And Die?

It is easy to praise God when things are going all right in our lives, but what of the times when rock bottom seems to be reckoning? On the days when nothing seems to go right? It is easy to give up hope and give in to fear, helplessness and anxiety. We panic because we feel we are helpless and are losing the grip on the matters of our lives. We so easily give in to frustration because we are desperately trying to get things done in our own might. We go to God with our own agendas and become oblivious to God’s agenda for our lives.

Just like Job in the Bible (a man of such admirable faith!), most of us are dealt with trials in our day to day lives, and sometimes the pain is too much to bear. We are tempted to ask, “But where is God?”

The devil’s aim is for us to become so disillusioned and resentful of God, and believe that He actually doesn’t care for us. Unfortunately, he succeeds oftentimes. Job went through all sorts of tribulations but his faith remained unwavered. His world was crushing to the extent where his wife’s disillusionment led her to say to him: “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Lately, life has been seemingly overwhelming. Everything just seemed to be on a downward spiral. Was trying to keep my head above water, but the waves seemed to be overwhelmingly rough.

While we thought 2020 had outdone itself, with the pandemic and all that, the thought of a new year 2021 was a ray of hope, a breath of fresh air, a chance for new beginnings. Well, our hopes couldn’t have been more mocked. 2021 came in swinging with a bang! Such a rude twist of events. To begin with, my entire family had contracted the novel coronavirus in the later months of 2020. As expected, it caused panic, great financial strain and depression in some family members. They had to go into isolation and all that. While still going through that, dad lost his job. As though, that was not enough, my aunt lost her husband! All this was happening in the first two weeks of the new year. My job too, was at its most stressful ever, I was so overwhelmed, I could feel every cell in my body giving way. Felt like we were being hit by unending hailstorms.

I remember dad asking, “But when do the good get rewarded? Why is it that bad people always seem to have their way?” I felt a lump form in my throat. What was I to tell him now? That their reward will be in heaven? I was lost for words.

Why is life so messy? Why is pain a part of us?

Reminds me of a joke a dear friend of mine often makes regarding Isaiah 57:21 – There is no peace for the wicked. “Sometimes I wonder, am I the wicked? Whom did I murder? I never seem to have peace!” And we’d burst out into hearty laughter.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – [Psalm 42:11]

I am reminded though, that we get so overtaken by the issues of this life because we are always looking around but never looking up! We refuse to raise our white flags and surrender our all to our faithful God. We refuse to trust Him and take Him at his word, to rest in His promises and believe that everything, good or bad, works together for our good! We forget that our ways are not His ways, that our thoughts are not His. We do not know the future, but we know who holds the future! And what more than that do we need to know? Reminds me of one of my all time favorite hymns; ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, just to rest upon His promise, just to know, thus says the Lord.

Oftentimes, we get so obsessed with our own agendas, in that when things don’t go as per our agendas, we get so anxious and frustrated! This obsession makes us blind to all the good things in our lives and the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. Like the blessing of having a family that is together and complete, the blessing of having a hearty laughter, the blessing of leaving home and getting back safely in one piece, the blessing of good health, the blessing of not sleeping on an empty stomach, the blessing of having a source of income, the blessing of having good friends to lighten the load, and so many other blessings, we could go on and on.

John 16:33 tell us:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!”

God did not promise us a life of no storms, but he promised to be there and walk with us through each one of them, He gave us His word, that we shall not be overcome!

I have countless testimonies regarding the accuracy of this particular verse. But the one I will share today is the one regarding my family’s COVID-19 invasion. It was quite the test, but hey! there was another standing right next to us in that fire! We did not get burned! My mum was the final one to be declared COVID free a few weeks ago. I can firmly say now, my family is Covid – 19 free! Believe me that experience took us to deeper levels of surrender and faith in God, to be still and know He is God, and also taught us to bear one another’s burdens with love and grace.

You may be out there on the verge of giving up, life has pushed you to the edge. Do not despair. May your strength be renewed. May God meet you in your hopelessness. Be reminded that He is still on the throne! May you find peace through the storms of life.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us! [Romans 8: 17 – 25]

God has shown us His face and power to save in countless ways. Just that we sometimes fail to see and acknowledge it. He is faithful, He has proven Himself over and over.

May His faithfulness in the past, be our hope and confidence for the unknown future. Be of good courage, brethren, He has overcome the world!

Daddy’s Little Girl

You are no ordinary man. You make me everything I am. Thank you for taking the time. Thank you for showing me the way. And for always being there when I need you. Thank you for every single day. Thank you for your guiding hand. Thank you for making my dreams come true. You’re an extraordinary man. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for showing me right from wrong.

Having lost your own dad at the tender age of seven to a gruesome abduction during the Idi Amin regime, you have given your children all that you would have wanted to experience with your own dad and more. You have outdone yourself as a father. Anyone who knows you can attest to the dedication you have towards your family. You have taught me to always put family first.

You have always looked out for me, protected me and been such a place of safety.

I always looked forward to those long journeys we’d have when we were younger. You’d always have a well selected collection of non-stop classics, the sing – alongs were so priceless. Reminds me of one, “Cherish” by Kool and the Gang, which became the family anthem. It always hit different on those road trips, on a highway at 180 Km/Hr ,and our hearts would be at peace, knowing we were safe. You have and will always be the best driver I know.

You have always taken it upon yourself to remind my siblings and I of our worth and our capabilities. There was a time I did an exam and didn’t make the pass mark. I was quite disappointed. When I talked to you, you lifted me up, with a whole different perspective. While I was feeling less than, you told me that I didn’t miss the pass mark because I was dumb, it was only that I didn’t score enough to hit the pass mark. I was amazed.

You have taken it upon yourself to silence my insecurities. I had quite the issues with my body, I remember you telling me to take pride in what God had blessed me with, because there are many people who would give anything to have what I had but did not have the chance. Thank you for making me walk with my head a little higher.

You are such a proud father, you can’t even hide it. The pride can be seen in your eyes and heard in your voice when you talk about your children to your friends and anyone who cares to listen.

You are an honorable man; one who is principled and stands firm for his values no matter the cost. You have unconsciously passed these priceless attributes to us. You have constantly preached against complacency. You have constantly challenged me to spread my wings as far as they can go. And you have been there to cheer me all the way. Each time I’d fall, you’d be right there to help me up, encourage me and get me back in the race.

You have set the bar so high for what a real man or a real dad ought to be like.

You have shown me the way and your legacy will surely be passed on to the next generations. Angels indeed walk the earth, you have been mine.

I guess what I’m trying to say is;

Thank you for being my dad!

I Shall Use My Time

Rather than going through our lives bargaining for more time, we could make the most of what we’ve been given. The fact that we are finite beings, should be an inspiration enough for us to make the most of our days. No one knows when their time runs out, but when it does run out, may we have lived out our fullest potentials. Brings me to the question: How do I want to spend my numbered days? How would I love to be remembered? What legacy would I want to leave behind?

Instead of being afraid to let my light shine, I hope I can go all out and not settle for average. That at the end of my days, I would be able to give accountability for the time I spent here. I want to have been a faithful steward of all that has been entrusted to me by my Creator. That all that I will have done on earth would be to draw more people to the “Great I Am,” by setting an example in the way I lived.

I want to be the girl who left no stone unturned. The girl who dared to challenge the status quo. The girl who realized that she was created not to merely exist, but thrive. The one who explored and put to full use all of her God – given gifts.

I want to have shared the unconditional love of Christ with God’s children. I want to have shown the outcast that someone cares. I want to have brightened the walk of a weary person. I want to have restored someone’s hope in humanity. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood for truth, justice and fairness. I want to have been a voice for someone who was unable to speak for themselves.

I want to be the girl who inspired a new generation of story tellers. A girl who by telling her stories liberated many others to take off the clamps from their mouths and spirits, and tell their stories in their own voices.

I want to be the girl who defied stereotypes. The girl who was not limited by her age, society and other people’s ideas of what she was or was not capable of. A girl who saturated her mind with the timeless word of God, and let it be her guide. The girl who found her strength and Identity in her God. A girl whose faith was unwavering through the highs and lows of this life.

And in the end it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln

I want to have left the world a much better place just by having been in it. I want to have made a positive contribution to my generation. I want to have run a good race, and finished off strong.

I refuse to be plagued by the fear of the finitude of my life. But instead be encouraged by that fact to live my life and leave no stone unturned, while it lasts.

I shall use my time.

This Is Our Time!

Our grandparents ran their race, they passed the baton over to our parents. Our parents ran their race, and now, they too are passing the baton over to us. This is our time, to fight and keep the resilient spirit going. This is our time to secure the future for the next generation, just like our predecessors did for us. We cannot afford to just look on and fold our hands. We are the hope for the future generation. Every once in a while, we need to be reminded of this. It is a motivation to work harder. The things we do, the decisions we make, are not just for our own sake. They have a ripple effect. God help us to rise up to the challenge, to take up the mantle that’s been placed before us. Our parents/guardians (for us who are lucky to still have them with us), are becoming more and more frail by the day. Their energy levels are dropping and not filled with as much enthusiasm as in their youthful days. It is time for us to lend a helping hand. It is time for us to take the baton from them and run the race. When we feel like not getting up in the morning, when we feel like there isn’t enough reason to give our best, may we be reminded of the relay of life. The baton is in our hands, we are holding our families’ flags, we better not fail them. Let’s get up on our feet, rise up to the challenge and give our best while we still have the capacity to make a difference. May we run our race faithfully and victoriously, till we pass the baton over to the next generation. This is our time!