About Last Night

Want to know what I think?

I think what happened last night in Paris is shocking and tragic and heartbreaking and yet infuriating. I think it's a very sad and unpleasant surprise to victims, their loved ones, and the world at large. I think we SHOULD pray for Paris. And pray for our countries. And pray for this speedily crumbling world of ours.

In addition, I think folks who are getting upset over the fact that Nigerians and others are encouraging prayers and solidarity and humane reactions to this show of cowardly cruelty on other human beings, are some of the most pathetic individuals on the planet. I've seen comments and posts actually shaming people for being concerned and upset about what has happened; their justification for such baseless insensitivity being that these Nigerians who are so concerned about what's happening in France were not supposedly as expressive or emotional or bothered when various attacks on Nigeria occurred.The belief system of these individuals follows the line of thought that Nigerians should be more bothered about all their many problems before they start acting like busy bodies and joining the bandwagon to mourn with and pray for Paris.

Wow. Just wow. 

I don't know where my disgust at such thinking should start from. I mean, I know we humans tend to be brutally selfish but this is quite deep. So, the pain and suffering of others becomes less relevant or even unworthy of any attention or feeling whatsoever simply because we have personal pains to deal with eh? Or we should all consider ourselves shameless and unpatriotic because we show concern for other HUMAN BEINGS who happen to live on another continent?

Can you not hear the folly in what you're throwing a tantrum about? It's disgusting that anyone would try to mask their innate disregard for human life and the well being of others, under some trash-worthy  twisted bants of national concern and the guise of patriotic fervency. 

If you think there is a problem with having a heart and letting it bleed at the hurt of others then you are cold and callous and in need of prayers yourself!

Of course charity begins at home and we should encourage our people to learn to value and cherish their own more. But this is the wrongest time to be teaching that lesson fam. And it's silly to be getting upset that (in your estimation) the world didn't turn off lights at attacks from Boko Haram or when they took our precious children for ages. For goodness sake, who goes around comparing tragedies and going: "My tragedy is more tragic than yours"?! Something terrible has happened. Period. If everyone who's ever suffered some hurt or pain in life (and I'm pretty sure everyone can claim they have) decided they'd wallow in their own sorrow and leave everyone else to theirs,  trust me, our world would be a lot less habitable.

Don't shut down your feelings. Please. 

Besides, as I informed someone earlier today, many of us are still yet to learn to value our nation Nigeria and the lives in it. Its not about posting the Nigerian flag on your instagram page on Oct 1, learn to love your country!! If I treat my things like trash and show disdain for my possessions, no matter how valuable they are, chances are my friends and others around me will learn how to mistreat and abuse my own things from me.

Its the same for us.

We don't do enough and try hard enough and pray often enough for our own Nation. Stop being bitter that somebody else isn't excelling in what you failed at! If you want to encourage folks to constantly keep our country and our leaders and our people in their thoughts, hearts and prayers then do so.But don't sit there acting like you love Nigeria so much when there's the high possibility you've slandered and cursed your nation by your words and actions just as much as the next guy. And even if your love is sincere, loving one doesn't make it impossible to love others. Plus if you're one of those who claim to learn the love lifestyle from the God who IS love, then you'd remember that He never put a limit to His loving so why on earth should you?

Please, enough with the spiteful insensitivity and selfishness. Because it isn't love if you only give it when you're getting it back.

Lord heal us from these afflictions we create.

Help us learn love and unlearn hate.

God help Parisians, lead them from the dark.

Lord be their comforter and the healer of every broken heart.

Amen.

"The Woman I Want To Be" series (5)

 The woman who is sensitive to the needs of others.

  We are instructed in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our cares upon you because you care for us. I want to be able to truthfully say I care for others just like you do Father. Let me live out the evidence of my love for you by taking active measures to feed your sheep as well as attend to those yet to become members of the fold. I refuse to be a self-centered, self-serving, self-absorbed waste of your creative energy. I refuse to lay the negative example of seeking to satisfy my wants and what I assume are needs, prior to doing what you desire. Use me as your instrument of encouragement, replenishment and healing, that my arms may ever be open to those you send to me and my heart ever unbiased to attend to them effectively. Let me make conscious effort to prioritize the well-being of your creations over my comfort and convenience and let me not turn away any person whom you have put me in the position to help.

I see humanity the way You do and do all I can to get them closer to fathoming your love.

I can say that this was probably one of the toughest for me...but then, that's why i'm not doing it on my own. I've met folks who feel insulted when you try to help them, and then there are others who have so many trust issues that any gesture just has to have an ulterior motive. Some imagine they can take advantage of you and make you their doormats while some others want to be spoon-fed till their old and gray.

And i could go on and on....

For awhile, i really struggled with trying to figure out how to handle each situation in the best way possible. Problem was, i had no idea what the best way was. Now though, thanks to a better understanding of God's word, i've realised there's always an answer in scripture with directives on how to respond to some tight situations where you're torn between being a 'good Christian' and just getting yourself frustrated. There are several occasions where a thorough analysis of the situation and careful plotting of an appropriate reaction doesn't help none. Just let Him lead you. Whether you're clueless or feel you can handle it yourself. My recommendation is that we just get into the word. Get in deep until we know it on a sub-conscious level so that when some cases arise and we're not-so-sure how to handle it, all the Holy Spirit need do is remind us of the things already buried in our hearts and give us guidance on how to apply them to the situation.

Well, i hope the series so far has been an encourager and blessing to someone. I might not complete it till October though, for variety sake. ;)
Anyway, I totally look forward to an amazing September with you all. Peace! :D

xxx, Kwiksie.~